Zero arrives and flying in Wanaka 26th March   Wanaka: Staff at the Port of Tauranga took delivery of some extremely rare and valuable cargo last Friday when a historic Japanese fighter plane arrived by ship from the United States, en route to Wanaka for the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow.  Photo: Flying down the highway… a rare Japanese Zero fighter plane makes it way to Tauranga Airport on the deck of a massive transporter truck last Friday. It will be flown to Wanaka to appear at the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow. The Mitsubishi Zero, one of the most feared fighters during WWII, was lifted by crane and transferred onto a truck for transporting by road to a secure hangar at Tauranga Airport. Overseeing the delicate operation was Warbirds Over Wanaka aircraft co-coordinator Ray Mulqueen who said the port staff and transporter crews ran a well planned and faultless unloading of the aircraft. Two highly-experienced American warbird pilots, Jason Somes and Stephen W. Barber from the Southern Californian wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), arrive in Tauranga today. They will then fly the fighter down the country tomorrow stopping at various points for refueling, and it is expected to arrive in Wanaka late tomorrow (Saturday 27th). Accompanying the Zero will be an XL Pacific Aerospace aircraft with CAF and Warbirds Over Wanaka personnel aboard. Estimated itinerary for photo opportunities - Saturday 27th March:   Leave Tauranga airport 11am Omaka Airfield - refuel 1pm Christchurch airport 3pm (will stop if media wish to view) Ashburton/Timaru  overfly Wanaka airport arrival 4pm (all times approximate, depending on weather). The light-weight fighter is expected to attract aircraft enthusiasts to Wanaka from far and wide as airworthy examples are now virtually unseen anywhere in the world. The Zero is one of the World War II classic fighter planes and was deeply feared by Allied airmen in the Pacific. It was designed by Jiro Horikoshi and when it was introduced into service was the best carrier-based fighter in the world. It's design combined excellent maneuverability and very long range. Japanese Zeros were used in the raid on Pearl Harbour and later it was utilised for kamikaze operations. In all, eleven thousand Zeros were produced between 1940 and 1945. Today a few exist in museums around the world, but it is believed that only two or three still remain flying.   The airshow begins on Friday April 2, with the traditional ‘practice day’ with the scheduled airshow running on Saturday and Sunday. The combination of the Zero, the arrival of four modern jet fighters from Australia, a wing-walking act, world-class aerobatics and host of war bird action is attracting huge interest and organizers are expecting around 80,000 visitors through the gates over the three days.

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE
9.3.2010

“Super-fast, super-powerful and an extraordinary sight” is how Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow event manager, Mandy Deans, describes the F/A-18 Hornet fighters which have just been confirmed to appear at Wanaka.

Ms Deans, who saw the Hornets in action in Australia last year and the Warbirds Over Wanaka Community Trust, announced yesterday that four of the ultra-modern jets would be appearing at Warbirds Over Wanaka on April, 2, 3 and 4.

Four Hornet fighters from the Royal Australian Air Force will be among the many 'stars' lining up to give aerobatic displays to the thousands of spectators at this year's international airshow. The aircraft will be in New Zealand on exercise with the RNZAF and will be taking ‘time out’ to appear at the airshow.
 
“The airshow provides an important opportunity to further extend Australia’s close defence relationship with New Zealand. The speed and extreme manoeuvrability of the F/A-18 Hornets are sure to impress as they showcase formations during the airshow” said Air Marshal Mark Binskin, Chief of the Royal Australian Air Force.

Developed originally for the US Navy and Marine Corps, the multi-role Hornet fighter is one of the world's most advanced aircraft. It can achieve a speed of 1915km/h (1190 mph) and fly above 45,000ft.

The fighters have been fully operational with the RAAF for over 20 years and are capable of carrying a range of sophisticated missiles and laser guided bombs. They are designed to perform day or night air strikes over land and sea using precision-guided weapons and perform all roles of counter air.

Warbirds Over Wanaka CEO, Roger Clark, said the Hornets will perform on Saturday and Sunday during the airshow at Easter. He added that at the past two Warbirds Over Wanaka events in 2008 and 2006 an F1-11 jet had thrilled crowds, swooping in from the North and giving a loud and dramatic display.

“Now having four Hornets flying in formation down over the mountains to show off their heavy metal at Wanaka will give airshow visitors a unique experience” he said. “It will be something people will remember for the rest of their lives.” Like the F1-11s before them, the four Hornets will not land at Wanaka. 

The confirmation that the jets would appear comes after considerable planning with the RAAF and is hard on the heels of the confirmation in late January that a German Wing-Walking act and a rare Mitsubishi Zero WWII fighter would also be performing at the airshow.

Japanese Zero to fly in New Zealand
29.1.2010

A rare Japanese Zero fighter will be the star attraction at the Warbirds Over Wanaka International airshow this Easter. The nimble fighter is expected to attract aircraft enthusiasts from far and wide as there are only three airworthy examples in the world.

The aircraft is being transported from the United States and will be assembled at Wanaka Airport. The announcement of its appearance here follows months of delicate negotiations with the aircrafts’ owners.

"We are absolutely thrilled to have this unique aircraft as the centre piece to this year's airshow," said Mandy Deans, Event Manager of Warbirds Over Wanaka.

The Mitsubishi Zero fighter is one of the World War II classic fighter planes and was feared by Allied airmen in the Pacific. It was designed by Jiro Horikoshi and when it was introduced into service was the best carrier-based fighter in the world.  Its design combined excellent manoeuvrability and very long range. 

Japanese Zeros were used in the raid on Pearl Harbour and later it was utilised for kamikaze operations. In all eleven thousand Zeros were produced between 1940 and 1945. Today a few exist in museums around the world but it is believed only two still remain flying. 

In September 1945 the RNZAF recovered a Zero at Bougainville and after shipping to New Zealand it was only flown once from Woodbourne. It is now exhibited in the Auckland Museum, therefore this will be only the second time a Zero has flown in New Zealand. 

German Wing Walker Peggy Krainz
28.1.2010

German wing-walking sensation Peggy Krainz is looking forward to admiring Wanaka’s scenery from her lofty vantage-point during a visit to New Zealand this April to perform at the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow. “This will be an extraordinary act, we are delighted Peggy could come, she is only just fitting in a flying visit between other appearances in Europe” said Mandy Deans, Warbirds Over Wanaka’s Event Manager.

Ms Krainz and her partner and pilot, Friedrich ‘Friedel’ Walentin will be bringing their Boeing Stearman bi-plane to Wanaka in what will be their first visit to this country. Ms Krainz said the pair were excited to be able to make the journey, between fixtures on their busy display schedule.

“We are anxious to see your country and we try to stay also a little time for holiday. When we fly the display I will not have a chance to see a lot around but I hope we will make some press and photo flights before or after the airshow and then I will take a little time to see the amazing view.”

The display will involve a ten minute flight with the plane travelling at between 130kmphr and 240kmphr, doing loops, turns and rolls.

“During start and landing I sit in the cockpit. During the display I move up on the wing and between the left wings - it is a hard work for me. We will give the spectators of the airshow some unforgettable moments…we will give our best”.

Ms Krainz (39) gained her pilots licence in 1997 and also holds an aerobatic licence. She began wing-walking in 1999 and has undertaken more than 600 displays.

During her act, communication with her pilot is by hand signals and she was attached to the aircraft by a thin safety line. A rack was erected on the plane’s upper wing but between the left wings Peggy relied on muscular strength alone to stay put.

She said she had never felt frightened during a wing-walk.

“Flying is part of my life, specially the wing-walking. My rule is if I get one time afraid or lose the respect I will stop directly.”

Ms Krainz has a fifteen year old daughter who enjoys flying but prefers to stay inside the aircraft and had no desire to follow in her mother’s footsteps.

It will be only the second time a wing-walking act has been seen at Wanaka, the first was more than twenty years ago at the first major airshow in 1988. The Tiger Top team displayed then using a de Havilland Tiger Moth piloted by Tony Renouf. 

Commemorative wines for Warbirds Over Wanaka
15.1.2010

Sir Tim Wallis holding the first bottle of the Warbirds Over Wanaka Hurricane Pinot Gris while standing in front of his AFC Hawker Hurricane MkIIA

The special Warbirds wines – a ‘Spitfire’ Marlborough Sauvignon, a ‘Hurricane’ Central Otago Pinot Gris and a ‘Mustang’ Central Otago Pinot Noir – will be available for a limited time from Betty’s Liquor stores throughout New Zealand as well as at the airshow. 

A dollar from every bottle sold will be donated to the Warbirds Over Wanaka (WOW) Trust which governs the airshow.

WOW CEO, Roger Clark, said the launch of commemorative wines added a whole new dimension to the long-standing biennial event. “It’s a fantastic commemorative idea that aviation buffs and airshow fans are sure to love,” he said. “It will also add much-needed dollars to the Warbirds Over Wanaka Trust which faces increasing costs every two years to stage this amazing event.”

Goodbrands.co.nz was established in 2003 as a beverage production and distribution company. The company supplies all Betty’s Liquor stores, Good Bars, Botswana Butchery restaurants in Queenstown and Wanaka, Ultimate Hikes, The Hermitage and NZSki ski areas. Its wine brands Mt Charlotte and Wild Fire have already picked up medals at national wine shows.

Janice Wallis rose
12.1.2010

The rose has always been valued for its beauty and has a long history of symbolism. Today there are thousands of varieties of roses developed for bloom shape, size and fragrance. 

A new rose is about to be launched in New Zealand dedicated to one of the country's pioneers in the growing of this beautiful flower. It will be named Janice Wallis, who in the nineties, was the Heritage Roses Central Otago convenor. 
She was the mother of Sir Tim Wallis, a pioneer of the live deer recovery industry in New Zealand's South Island and founder of the Alpine Fighter collection and the New Zealand Fighter Pilots' Museum. He also started the International Warbirds over Wanaka Airshow.

"I think it is an honour to have a rose named after my mother. She will be remembered forever," said Sir Tim. Janice Wallis was a dedicated rose grower, and in the 1980s she planted 250 heritage and modern roses in the grounds of Wanaka Airport. All were dedicated to the memory of her brother, Neil Blunden, a bomber pilot who was shot down and died while on a bombing mission to destroy the German battleship, Tirpitz, over the Asen Fiord in Norway in 1942. 
"She was so proud of her brother and her association with the New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum along with Warbirds Over Wanaka" said Sir Tim.
 
Now the Janice Wallis rose is to be launched at this year's Warbirds over Wanaka Airshow (April 2-4) and a percentage of the money raised from sales will go towards the Upper Clutha Branch of the RSA. Ralph Fegan, Wanaka Airport Operations Manager, is working on the design of a Memorial Garden, featuring the Janice Wallis rose, to be established adjacent to the Warbirds Over Wanaka office, to commemorate pilots who have passed away and who had associations with Wanaka Airport.
 
The special rose has been developed by Southern Roses in Southland. They are the only nursery in the country that grows roses on seedlings in the European way and orders will be taken at the Airshow.

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