Warbirds Over Wanaka 2006

This is reputedly the Southern Hemisphere’s largest Warbirds Air show. It’s a 3-Day event with Friday being an official ‘practice’ day (but open to the public nonetheless).

Friday has always been my favourite day – there are fewer people and the pilots seem to put on a more relaxed display. But then I usually go to all 3 Days so I don’t miss anything anyway!

The backdrop of mountains, lake and the semi desert of Central Otago must make this one of the more spectacular air shows with many unforgettable sights.

This year my list of ‘unforgettables’ would include:

• The Fokker Triplane and the Sopwith Camel dogfighting over the airfield

• The aerobatics of Svetlana Kapanina and Jurgis Kairys in their Sukhois

• The Hawker Hunter making a low level approach over the plains to the east

• The RAAF F111 making a great deal of noise whilst doing a spectacular ‘dump and burn’ display.

• Sir Tim Wallis’s Spitfire bidding its farewell to its home of the past few years

Of course the performances of Wanaka’s own Andrew Sisters did much to add to the overall ambience of a great weekend!

Looking ahead, those in the know, will know that after every show there are many rumours claiming the show just past may be the last.

This year was no exception, the rumours being fueled by the knowledge that Sir Tim Wallis’s Alpine Deer Group Team are handing future shows over to a Community Trust.

But I’m sure that Trust will be well aware of the huge legacy they have been handed – and I, for one, have made by bookings for 2008.