Warbirds Over Wanaka 2008 announced

30 August 2006: Warbirds Over Wanaka will once again be held at Easter 2008, the dates being March 21 22 23. The web site will be updated later this year and passes will go on sale early in 2007.
 
Song Birds at Wanaka’s War Birds

10 April 2006: Wanaka: As the 10th anniversary of the War Birds over Wanaka International Air Show kicks off next Friday, it will be the song birds on the ground who will also be bringing the audience closer to the 1930 - 40’s.
 
Christchurch trio, Frankie, will be returning to the event which attracts around 100,000 visitors, to bring the music of the era to rekindle what is arguably the most unforgettable music of the early twentieth century.
 
Lead member, Lois Trenberth, says the trio, which includes the experienced singing, dancing and acting talent of Nadine Hoskins and Angela Tainui, have a show that brings back the music, dance and costume of the entertainers that kept up the soldiers morale during World War 2.
 
“We have modelled ourselves on the famous Andrews Sisters trio, and have worked hard toward putting our own unique spin on their performances,” she said.
 
In the early 1940’s the Andrews Sisters entertained soldiers posted to Europe with their upbeat repertoire of songs such as ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’, ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo’ & ‘Mr Sandman’. Other popular entertainers of the era include the ever sunny Doris Day’s ‘Sentimental Journey’ & ‘Tea for Two’, Vera Lynn’s ‘White Cliffs of Dover’ & ‘We’ll meet Again’, Ella Fitzgerald’s ‘A Tisket a Tasket’ & ‘Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off’ and Big Band great Glenn Miller’s ‘In the Mood’ whose special genre of music will also be performed.
 
“Each of us has an affinity with the era having grown up listening to the songs our parent’s parent’s listened to.”
 
“And World War 2 was especially significant for New Zealanders because of our involvement and tragic losses. The music that was bought direct to the soldiers was a way of boosting morale and combating homesickness,” said Lois.
 
“Most of the soldiers, some as young as 18, missed their mothers, sweet-hearts, or wives terribly. It’s hard to imagine the personal suffering that they went through to protect their country,” she added.
 
As Anzac Day celebrations show, with their growth in attendance over the past years, interest (especially by the younger generation) in this important time in history continues to grow.
 
Sixteen year olds, Anna Jack and Emily Trenberth, will be supporting Frankie with backing vocals and their own rendition of popular songs of the era.
 
“It’s a neat thing to be involved in and people are really moved by the music and performances,” says Emily.
 
“I’ve seen some people crying while others are getting up and having a great boogie when we perform. It’s the kind of music that seems to bring people from all ages together,” she added.
 
Show Coordinator A Well Seasoned Kiwi Aviator

31 March 2006: Wanaka: Formation flying will dominate the action at Warbirds Over Wanaka this Easter, according to the man who holds the challenging task of coordinating the flying display, John Lamont.
 
Close to seventy aircraft, from simple vintage machines to high-tech fighters, will be moving around the airfield each day. It is the highest number ever seen at the show which has been running for eighteen years.
 
Coordinating the flying display for Warbirds Over Wanaka was an interesting exercise, Mr Lamont said, particularly with such a large number of aircraft involved.
 
Preparations were well on track, however, and pilots were building up practice hours whenever possible.
 
Mr Lamont, who lives in Wanaka, retired in 2005 after thirty years service with Air New Zealand, most recently as a training captain on Boeing 747 jets.
 
He first took to the sky in a Harvard as a young RNZAF trainee, and is now one of the most experienced warbird pilots in the industry. By the end of the airshow weekend he will have reached an incredible tally of 20,000 flying hours including 1200 on helicopters, 1800 on Harvards and 250 on WWII fighters.
 
He has been involved in all ten Warbirds Over Wanaka shows, co-ordinating the flying programme for the last six.
 
Mr Lamont said formation flying was exciting for spectators, and it also helped organizers display large numbers of aircraft within a manageable time-frame.
 
Display pilots, particularly those involved in formation flying, had to have a certain level of experience to be permitted to fly. Many suffered a few pre-show nerves during the early performances of their careers but for those who now ‘had a few grey hairs’ this was not such an issue, he said.
 
There was a lot, however, for any pilot to think about pre-flight, not least the weather conditions.
 
“The idea is to put the plane in front of the crowd and you have to make allowances for wind. If you are in something like a Tiger Moth you can start a loop and end up in another part of the sky a long way away from the crowd.”
 
Pilots who flew many aircraft types with entirely different controls and performance abilities often had to take time to re-familiarise themselves with whichever machine was put in front of them on the day.
 
“If I haven’t flown something like a P-40(Kittyhawk)for a while, say six months or a year, I’ll do a review of its emergency systems and flight limitations and maybe spend some time sitting in the cockpit going over the controls.”
 
Mr Lamont said most of the pilots coming to Wanaka were current or retired airline pilots or had long military or other flying careers.
 
The last formation display to be set on the programme is a group of jet aircraft which all emerged on the world scene from the end of WWII. Two Vampire jets, a Cessna A-37 Dragonfly and Wanaka’s resident jet, the A-39 Albatros will form an impressive group at Easter.
 
Mr Lamont recalled when the RNZAF first bought Vampire jets to New Zealand and he and other aspiring aviators were in awe of these fast, agile fighters.
 
“They were the first jet fighters that New Zealand had. As kids we loved them, we thought they were just the bees knees”.
 
As well as a Kittyhawk, Mr Lamont will fly a Russian Lavochkin LA-9 fighter, which is the only airworthy example of its type. He knows the machine well after test flying it post-restoration - an exercise made more interesting by the lack of operating manuals or instructions from any previous pilots.
 
The piston-powered machine is scheduled to team up with the L-39 Albatros jet for a high-powered display combining the two engine types.
 
The show begins on Friday, April 14 with a practice day followed by the two main show days on Saturday, 15th and Sunday 16th.
 
Four WW1 Fighters to fly at Warbirds

21 March 2006: Wanaka: The only airworthy example of a rare German Halberstadt fighter plane will be displayed at Warbirds Over Wanaka for the first time this Easter.
 
Displays by WWI aircraft had proven very popular with past Warbirds Over Wanaka crowds, and organizers were pleased to be bringing more of the types to Wanaka this time, according to airshow manager Gavin Johnston.
 
Only three of the Halberstadt D.IV models were ever made, at a time when the German’s were trying to improve on earlier versions of the tiny WWI fighters.
 
The aircraft is one of two WWI-era machines that will be making their first appearances at Wanaka, the other being an attractive French-designed Nieuport 24, he said.
 
The Nieuport’s lower wing was half the width of the upper, earning it the description as a ‘sesquiplane’ rather than a biplane.
 
Both aircraft were developed around 1917 and served as fighters and fighter trainers. The pair will be displayed with fellow WWI fighter, the Sopwith Camel that was considered the most famous British fighter of the Great War. The Camel, with its unusually small wingspan, claimed the highest rate of victories of all Allied aircraft at the time.
 
A Fokker Triplane similar to that which appeared at Warbirds Over Wanaka in 2004 will complete the display. These compact and lightweight machines are extremely maneuverable and were renown as good performers in dog fights.
 
Mr Johnston said all the aircraft were full-scale reproductions owned by the Blenheim-based Omaka Fighter Collection.
 
F-111’s to add Excitement to Warbirds Airshow

14 March 2006: Wanaka: After years of planning organizers of the Warbirds Over Wanaka Airshow have announced that the Royal Australian Air Force will be bringing two sophisticated F-111 fighter bombers to Wanaka at the Warbirds over Wanaka Airshow at Easter 2006.
 
The F-111 which can travel at twice the speed of sound is known for its fiery ’dump and burn’ display where raw fuel is ejected at the rear then set alight.
 
New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum Director and head of airshows commentary team, Ian Brodie, said he would never forget seeing the machine in action at an Australian airshow he attended about ten years ago.
 
“It is loud, and it’s a really awesome sound, but the most spectacular thing was the dump and burn- there was a sheet of flame about 200ft (over 60 metres) long”
 
The jets will be flown from their Royal Australian Air Force Amberley base near Brisbane, but are not able to land at Wanaka as they require more runway than the tiny airport can provide, instead they will make a dramatic entrance appearing over the mountains and swooping down over the runway.
 
“It is very cool”, Mr. Brodie said. ‘Not to be missed.”
 
The RAAF have been operating the F-111 since 1973 and it remains the fastest and longest range combat aircraft in the region, Mr. Johnston said.
 
Powered by two Pratt and Whitney TF-30 turbofans each producing 9500kg thrust, it has awesome firepower, state of the art weapons, navigation and avionics technology.
 
It has received numerous up grades during its time with the RAAF, helping it fly close to the ground at supersonic speeds, and operate night or day in any weather.
 
The F-111 requires a crew of two, the pilot and a navigator who operates the weapons systems.
 
The ferry range is in excess of 5500km and flight ceiling over 50,000ft.
 
It is affectionately known as ‘The Pig’ due to its ability to hunt at night with its nose to the ground.
 
Airshow General manager Gavin Johnston said organizers had been trying for eight years to get an F-111 to Wanaka and were excited that those efforts had paid off. “ I too have seen the F-111 display on numerous occasions at the Australian International Airshow at Avalon Airport near Geelong and this is one awesome aircraft.”
 
Worlds Fastest Indian Heading for Warbirds

6 March 2006: Wanaka: One of the bikes built to portray the now famous ‘Worlds Fastest Indian’ motorcycle will be re-enacting Burt Munro’s Utah adventures on the Wanaka Airport runway this Easter.
 
The Roger Donaldson-directed film, which tells the story of Munro’s remarkable motorcycle racing career, premiered in Invercargill last October and has become a huge box office hit overseas.
 
Invercargill engineer, Noel Atley, who will ride the bike at Easter, built three of the five motorcycles used in filming. He also accompanied the film crew to the salt flats at Bonneville, Utah to help test the machines prior to filming.
 
He said the machine was fitted with the streamliner shell similar to the original motorcycle, and was 3.65m long(12ft). The Fastest Indian team will also be bringing for static display the original ‘Munro Special’ - the 1920 Indian Scout bought new by the 21 year old Burt Munro.
 
It is the same bike which Munro raced in New Zealand and contains the engine which he transported back and forth to the USA for various races, Mr Atley said.
 
The bike was altered time and again by Burt in his backyard shed in a relentless quest for more speed. It was in the USA that he gained the world record in 1967 in a class for bikes under 1000cc, traveling at an incredible 293.7kmph(183.5mph).
 
Airshow general manager, Gavin Johnston, said he was very grateful to the team for providing a public display of the bikes, particularly Neville Hayes who had been a strong supporter of the film project.
 
The lunchtime display would be exciting viewing and a great tribute to the enterprising Southlander Burt Munro, who died in 1978.
 
Meanwhile, a Kiwi homecoming act among the flying stars at Warbirds, will be bring the total number of aircraft appearing to 64, the most ever displayed at Wanaka.
 
Robert Fry, who has been living in Japan for close to 30 years, will be joining his friend Jurgis Kairys in a spectacular aerobatic display, both flying their own Sukhoi aircraft, Mr Johnston said.
 
Fry and Kairys - who is a world champion aerobatic pilot - had created a popular performance flying as ‘The Sky Bandits’ at numerous overseas events.
 
Mr Johnston said Mr Fry would be staying on in New Zealand after the show and would be a welcome addition to the Kiwi aerobatic scene.
 
RNZAF in Force for Warbirds

27 February 2006: Wellington: The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) will be in the South Island in strength over Easter (14-16 April) for Warbirds Over Wanaka.
 
All of the RNZAF’s assets will be taking part in the famous event, with both air and ground displays taking place.
 
The C-130 Hercules, Boeing 757 and P3 Orion are an impressive sight in the air, and will thunder past the crowd demonstrating the capability of the big aircraft.
 
An Iroquois helicopter will complete a role demonstration, while Kiwi Blue, the RNZAF’s parachute display team will drop in to the event.
 
The precision flying of the RNZAF’s elite aerobatics team, the Red Checkers is always a crowd pleaser; they will perform their traditional mirror formation as well as some moves not seen at Wanaka before.
 
Two Navy Seasprites will round out the air displays.
 
On the ground the public will get the chance to have a close up look at some of the aircraft, talk to RNZAF personnel about life in the Service or talk to the Recruiters about joining up.
 
One of Aviation’s Earliest Fighters Set to Join Warbird Display

20 February 2006: Wanaka: A tiny historic aircraft which was one of the world’s first ever warbirds has arrived in New Zealand in preparation for the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow.
 
Bleriot aircraft, first built in 1908, have a delicate wood frame, large wobbly wheels, and can be completely dismantled by two people in just 30 minutes.
 
The Bleriot’s rotary engine was a significant development of its time and was the forerunner to those that powered some of the later, more sophisticated fighters of WWI.
 
Airshow general manager, Gavin Johnston, said the slightly faltering style of flight of a Bleriot, which was the first aircraft to cross the English Channel, had delighted crowds when one first appeared at Wanaka six years ago.
 
The Bleriot’s engine began to sound more like a whirring of insect wings when compared to the roar of more modern fighters.
 
Swedish pilot Mikael Carlsson would again display the craft, which he did at very low altitude. This was because of the Bleriot’s complete inability to glide - if the engine cut out any emergency landing would be haphazard at best.
 
The little planes struggled in windy conditions so had their limitations as fighters, although some had seen active service in WWI, Mr Johnston said.
 
He was pleased that sales of prepaid entry passes to the airshow were well above previous years.
 
"It’s great because it saves people carrying cash, as we don’t have EFTPOS at the gates. As for the gold pass enclosure tickets, if sales continue as they have over the past week, they will be sold out by Friday 24th February".
 
The event begins on Friday, April 14 with a ‘practice day’ followed by the two main show days on April 15 and 16.
 
Warbirds Over Wanaka to honour veterans with mass fly-past

15 February 2006: A mass fly past of classic WWII aircraft is planned by organisers of the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow, as a salute to New Zealand’s war veterans.
 
The Minister of Veteran’s Affairs, the Hon. Rick Barker, announced in December last year that 2006 would be the official Year of the Veteran.
 
According a government press statement, it is aimed at acknowledging veteran’s wartime service and encouraging support for them in local communities.
 
Airshow general manager, Gavin Johnston, said organisers had been looking at ways of acknowledging the sacrifices made by veterans from WWI, WWII and other overseas conflicts.
 
He believed the spectacular fly-by of vintage aircraft that actually fought in some of those battles would make a fitting tribute to our ex-service people.
 
He hoped visitors to the show would take the time to remember not only the young pilots and ground crew, but all those that contributed to war efforts which helped secure New Zealand's freedom.
 
"2006 is also the 90th anniversary of the Return Services Association which reminds us that our returned servicemen and women are now elderly people.
 
As well as remembering those who have died, it is a special time to thank the people who we still have the opportunity to thank" , Mr Johnston said.
 
Veterans would have their own viewing area which would provide a place for them to meet old friends, relax and enjoy front row seats to the show, he said.
 
The biennial event which attracts up to 100,000 people, takes place on April 14, 15 and 16.
 
Jurgis Kairys to appear at Warbirds Over Wanaka

2 February 2006: World aerobatics champion Jurgis Kairys has been confirmed to appear at the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow this Easter.
 
Kairys has been performing aerobatics for over thirty years and has influenced both the design of aerobatic aircraft, and the style and technique of manoeuvres performed competitively worldwide.
 
He most recently demonstrated his international form winning the World Freestyle Aerobatics prize at a major event in the United Arab Emirates in mid-January.
 
Spectators at the Wanaka airshow two years ago were stunned by the lively Lithuanian’s display which included hovering by the propeller as well as various flips, loops and nerve-wracking spiraling free-falls, according to airshow general manager, Gavin Johnston.
 
He said Kairys proved hugely popular in 2004 and the show’s organizers were delighted he had agreed to return to Wanaka this year.
 
“He was great fun to have at the show and is just such an absolute professional at his job. We’re thrilled.”
 
In the past six months Kairys had performed in Korea, Japan, America and Emirates, and is scheduled to fly in Egypt in March.
 
He is believed to be shipping two of the tiny but extremely powerful Sukhoi aircraft to New Zealand for the show.
 
Mr Johnston said part of Kairys display would be a dual act with female Russian pilot Svetlana Kapanina who was confirmed as a headline act in July last year.
 
Kapanina, also a world champion, will be performing at Wanaka for the first time.
 
Kiwi Kittyhawk On Track For Warbirds Over Wanaka Debut

27 January 2006: Months of restoration work is nearing completion on a P-40N Kittyhawk which will make its first, and probably last, public appearance in New Zealand at Wanaka this Easter.
 
The aircraft, NZ3125, was originally assembled at Hobsonville in 1943 and is believed to have served as a trainer for young Kiwi pilots at Ohakea Airbase near Bulls.
 
Like hundreds of other WWII craft it spent decades post-war gathering dust at the Rukuhia disposal site near Hamilton.
 
Now owned by Australian enthusiast, Allan Arthur, the impressive machine is being restored in Auckland and is scheduled to take its first test flights in late March only weeks before its performance at the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow.
 
Pioneer Restorations operations manager, Paul McSweeny said the work was progressing well.
 
“We are all heads down and bum up making it happen,” he said.
 
Two other Kittyhawks will join NZ3125 at the show and will fly in formation in a sight reminiscent of the aircrafts’ wartime action in the Pacific during the 1940s.
 
The Royal Australian Airforce Kittyhawk ‘Currawong’ , will be a repeat visitor to Wanaka from its Australian base. It was damaged during the Pacific conflict in New Guinea and retrieved in later years to be immaculately restored back to its original RAAF configuration.
 
The third Kittyhawk set to fly at Easter is the P-40E which first appeared at the show in 1998 in Kiwi configuration as the Wairarapa Wildcat. The aircraft was flown by many fighter aces in the Pacific, and since restoration was displayed here and in the UK by the late Ray Hanna.
 
It was repainted in the striking colours of the American Volunteer Group known as the Flying Tigers and its distinctive red nose and shark-like teeth make it a favourite with airshow crowds.
 
Airshow general manager Gavin Johnston said interest levels were higher than he had experienced prior to past shows, and only about 300 tickets for the popular gold pass enclosure remained. More people becoming interested in New Zealander’s contribution to past war efforts, as well as the huge variety of entertainment being offered this year, were likely reasons for the shows growing popularity, he said.
 
Gravity and Disbelief to be Suspended at Wanaka

25 November 2005: Warbirds 2006 visitors will once again be treated to a top display of model aircraft aerobatics when Fraser Briggs of Hamilton takes to the air on Saturday and Sunday, airshow General Manager Gavin Johnston announced today.
 
His four cylinder DA 200 petrol engined Extra 260 model is one third scale and is built of modern composite materials by Fraser’s father Mike. The combination of light weight construction and a powerful engine give an awsome power-to-weight ratio that allows Fraser to perform almost any 3D trick that comes to mind.
 
Fraser, nick-named Bogan, is one of New Zealand’s best model aerobatic pilots and has represented NZ at many overseas tournaments, consistantly placiing highly in IMAC events in the USA. At the airshow he will be assisted by Mike ‘Baldrick’ Briggs, and Grant ‘Aunty’ Findlay when he flies his routine to music.
 
Also at the Airshow, in the Spitfire pavilion, will be the New Zealand Model Aeronautical Association. Here you can find all the information needed about model flying and how to get into it, and you can also try the model flight simulator on their stand.
 
Solid Gold FM launches Airshow Competition

7 November 2005

Storm Warning: Thunder Over Wanaka

1 November 2005:A Thunder Mustang will debut at Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow 2006, Airshow General Manager Gavin Johnston announced today.
 
The Thunder Mustang is a ¾ scale replica of the North American P-51D Mustang, built from high tech modern materials and powered by a 640hp Ryan Falconer V-12 racing engine. The aircraft has a top speed of over 370mph.
 
Outperforming the original P-51, this aeroplane nicknamed “Tigers Blood” is the only example in the Southern Hemisphere and is owned by an Auckland based syndicate.
 
Designed as a kitset, the Thunder Mustang has been developed using many state of the art design and analysis methods. Currently there are only ten of these high-speed racers flying in the world.
 
Bryan Gault will fly the type at the airshow. Bryan received his flying training in the Royal NZ Airforce beginning with the DH82 and then Harvard. He was an airforce flying instructor and flew various other military aircraft including time on the original P51 Mustang. He then joined Auckland Aero Club, ultimately becoming Chief Flying Instructor. After 8 years with the aero club he joined Air New Zealand and flew the L188C Electra, DC8, DC10 and Boeing 747 becoming a Training Captain and Instructor.
 
Gavin Johnston said today “The Thunder Mustang is just another new and exciting aeroplane to grace the skies over Wanaka. It’s manoeuvrability, high speed performance and unique sound make it an airshow winner”.
 
It certainly sounds that way – the designer said :If you have a need for speed, you need a Thunder Mustang”.
 
Photo Credit: Rob Neil
 
10th Anniversary Gala Dinner Announced

19 October 2005:A special 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner will take place at the completion of the 2006 Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow, to be held at Wanaka Airport next Easter.
 
The dinner will take place on Sunday evening 16th April in the Gold Pass marquee at Wanaka Airport. "This is a great opportunity for the public to help us mark ten successful airshows and meet the celebrities from the flying displays" General Manager of Warbirds Over Wanaka, Gavin Johnston said.
 
"There will be a fabulous three course dinner, along with guest speakers and entertainment", he added.
 
Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be airshow commentator and weather guru; Jim Hickey. Sir Tim Wallis will be in attendance along with the display pilots who have performed over the last two days. Special guests will be World War II fighter pilots Jack Stafford and Max Collett.
 
This dinner will be a wonderful finale to a very special weekend. Tickets are now available for pre-purchase from www.warbirdtickets.com or by phoning 0800 927 247. They are expected to sell quickly.

Russian Yak-3 To Debut At Wanaka 2006

5 October 2005:A Russian Yak-3 fighter from World War II will make its airshow debut at Warbirds Over Wanaka next year.
 
This particular aircraft is one of only a handful in the world which has been converted from a Yak-11 to a Yak-3. This conversion was completed by Pioneer Aero Restorations in Auckland.
 
"We are pleased to confirm that a Yak-3 will be making an appearance at Warbirds next year. We haven't seen one in the skies over Wanaka since 1998, and we are sure it will captivate the crowds at next years show." said Gavin Johnston, General Manager of Warbirds Over Wanaka.
 
Yak-3's are famous for their high power to weight ratio, making them one of the Russian's smallest and lightest fighters. By 1946 Yak-3's were a part of Air Forces in many European countries such as France, Yugoslavia, Albania and Poland.
 
This aircraft was originally owned by the Egyptian Air Force and was purchased by the late Mark Hanna in the 1980's then shipped to Russia. From there it was relocated to England where it remained unworked on for ten years.
 
The aircraft is now owned by Ray Hanna and will be based permanently at Wanaka at the conclusion of Warbirds Over Wanaka 2006.
 
World Aerobatic Champ To Mesmerize Wanaka Skies

12 July 2005: Warbirds Over Wanaka have confirmed today that the Female World Aerobatic Champion will be performing at the 2006 Airshow next Easter.
 
"Svetlana Kapanina is one of the world's most prominent aerobatic pilots, and has been recognised as one of the most outstanding female pilots in history. We are thrilled and excited to welcome her to our Airshow." said General Manager Gavin Johnston.
 
This will be the Russian pilots debut at Warbirds Over Wanaka and she will be bringing a Sukhoi SU-29 aircraft to captivate the audiences. "The aviation industry is predominantly male and to have such a world-class female pilot will definitely be a draw card. She may inspire many young women, and men, to venture into such an interesting and exciting industry." said Mr Johnston.
 
Throughout her flying career Kapanina has won numerous titles and received many awards, the most recent being in July of this year. Kapanina was placed fourth overall in the World Aerobatic Championships - the highest placed women in the whole competition.
 
In 2003 Kapanina became the first pilot to win a World Championship title more than twice. She achieved this feat by winning the 1996, 1998, 2001 and 2003 competitions.
 
A qualified pharmacist, Kapanina never thought her hobby would end up becoming her full-time career. After completing medical school in 1987 Kapanina then went onto graduate from Kaluga Pilot's School in 1995.
 
Mr Johnston knows that Kapanina's reputation will be well received at Wanaka, "Svetlana is such an interesting person, and from looking at pictures of her in action, she is just the type of pilot that will enthral our crowds in 2006."
 
2006 Airshow Tickets Available Online

14 January 2005: Warbirds Over Wanaka 2006 is now only a year away and all ready tickets are selling fast!
 
General Manager of the world-renowned Airshow, Gavin Johnston, has just announced that tickets for next years show are available for purchase now. "Its hard to believe that Warbirds Over Wanaka 2006 is only next year! With the availability of pre-purchase tickets I am expecting that we will generate record crowds to Wanaka Easter 2006." Mr Johnston said.
 
Warbirds Over Wanaka, in conjunction with the New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum, are now selling tickets through the Museums secure on-line store, and over the phone.
 
Internet and phone ticketing purchases are a first for the Airshow and Mr Johnston is anticipating record sales. "The internet is now a major form of communication throughout the world and having tickets available on-line ensures that the Warbirds Over Wanaka experience is enhanced. We have already sold a number of tickets through the Museums shop and we are looking forward to processing purchases!" said Mr Johnston.
 
On-line tickets can be purchased through: www.warbirdtickets.com, and the ticketing phone number is: 0800 WARBIRDTICKETS (0800 927 247) - freephone in New Zealand only.
 
www.warbirdtickets.com
 
2006 Information added to Airshow Website

11 January 2005: Information about Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow™ 2006 was made available via the Warbirds Over Wanaka website today. Since it's creation in 2000, this site has become the authoritative online source of information about Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow 2006, as well archived information as the 2004 and 2002 Airshows. Additional content will be added to the site as this exciting Airshow gets closer.