WARBIRDS OVER WANAKA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME
The Warbirds Over Warbirds Scholarship programme was established in 2016 to assist up and coming Warbird Pilots to gain experience in Warbird/Classic aircraft with the aim of being involved at future airshows. The programme has now been extended to include aircraft engineers.
2025 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS ANNOUNCED:
Ross Brodie: Both a pilot and Aircraft engineer and is part of an inter-generational family which owns and operates the Airfied at Rangitata Island in Canterbury. Ross will be flying at Warbirds Over Wanaka 2026 and will put his scholarship towards stepping up to flying the Harvard.
Alan Butler: Alan flies with the NZ Warbirds Team at Ardmore Airport, he is already rated in the Harvard and will be putting his scholarship toward completing advanced training with the aim of joining the Roaring 40's Harvard Aerobatic Display Team.
Robin Kidd: Robin is an Auckland-based aircraft engineer who has worked on a number of Warbird Aircraft including the Spitfire. Robin will put his scholarship toward completing his remaining papers to become a Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer and advancing his Warbird flying skills.
This quote in a letter to Warbirds Over Wanaka from 2017 scholarship winner Michael Williams says it all:
"As you are aware, I put my Scholarship towards type-rating training in the P-40 Kittyhawk. We didn't get to complete all of the flying at the one time and it has taken until now to "line up the planets" in order to get the aircraft, Frank Parker and myself in the same place and time. Suffice to say however, as of now I am officially type rated in the P-40, with the final flight being one of the best 30 minutes of my life whilst trialling a display routine just south of Ardmore. I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the opportunity. The Scholarship was the critical factor that enabled all of this to happen, and for that I cannot thank you enough."
