Hours of dedicated practice over almost three years will come to fruition when New Zealand’s newest aerobatic display team makes its debut at next Easter’s Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow.

The four-ship Pitts Special display team will perform for the first time as “Southern Force” at New Zealand’s Premier Airshow.

Team leader Andy Love says right from the start they’ve been dedicated to getting up to the standard demanded by a world-class airshow like Wanaka and that led them to bring in an overseas mentor, Jeremy Miller.

“This guy is one of the best in the business and the fact that he’d especially come across from Australia meant we were totally invested in learning everything we could from him while he was here.  And we’re bringing him back for another training camp early in the New Year.”

Andy says being able to debut their team at Warbirds Over Wanaka is an honour.  “Doing our first big public display at an airshow of the calibre of Wanaka is a real privilege but we’re up for the challenge.”

Airshow General Manager Ed Taylor can’t wait to see ‘Southern Force’ wow the crowd next year.  “I’m picking these guys will be one of the surprise acts of 2026, bringing lots of daring manoeuvres, noise and smoke to Wanaka.  These small, colourful bi-planes are always a crowd favourite and having four of them doing their thing together is going to be special.”

The ’Southern Force’ will be displaying on all three days of the airshow which runs from April 3^rd to 5^th.  Tickets are available through Ticketek.

While the team will perform as a four-ship at Wanaka a fifth member, Ross Brodie, has been part of the early formation of the team.  Ross is currently rebuilding his Pitts S-1 and will join the team once the aircraft is flying.  Ross will still be at the airshow making his Wanaka solo aerobatic display debut in a Tiger Moth and Chipmunk.

Meet the Team for Wanaka:

Andy Love (#1 lead) – Andy is a Christchurch-based business owner and has been flying Pitts Specials’ since 2007 and has been heavily involved in the national aerobatics scene, twice being crowned National Advanced Aerobatics Champion.  Andy will be flying his S1S Pitts ZK-PUG.

Mark O’Sullivan (#2 left wing) – Mark was one of the star acts of the 2024 Wanaka airshow with a stunning display in his Yak-3U fighter ‘Steadfast’.  Mark, who grows grapes in Blenheim, will be flying ZK-STX, an S-2B Pitts which was completely restored in 2023.   

Lincoln Jones (#3 right wing) – Lincoln is based in Palmerston North and is a F/O on the B787 for Air NZ.  When he’s not working you can find him flying his Pitts S-2C ZK-LDJ.  While Lincoln has had lots of experience flying in competitions and at Open Days this will be his first major airshow display.

Richard Hood (#4 Slot) – Richard is one of NZ’s most successful and respected aerobatic display pilots.  He first displayed a Pitts at Wanaka way back in 1994 and is a seven times Unlimited National Aerobatic Champion.  Richard is an A320 Captain with Air New Zealand and will fly Pitts S-1SS ZK-LOL as part of the ‘Southern Force’.