| Warbirds over Wanaka | |
|---|---|
 Lavochkin La-9 at the 2006 Warbirds Over Wanaka | |
| Date(s) | Easter weekend |
| Frequency | Biennial: Even years |
| Venue | Wānaka Airport |
| Location(s) | Wānaka |
| Coordinates | 44°43′21″S 169°14′45″E / 44.72250°S 169.24583°E |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Inaugurated | 1988 |
| Founder | Sir Tim Wallis |
| Most recent | 2024 |
| Next event | 2026 |
| Participants | Royal New Zealand Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, United States Air Force, Air National Guard, French Air Force of New Caledonia, Alpine Fighter Collection |
| Area | Wānaka Airport |
| Website | www |
Warbirds over Wanaka is a biennial air show in Wānaka, held on the Easter weekend of even-numbered years since 1988. It is held at Wānaka Airport, 10 km south-east of Wānaka, in the southern South Island of New Zealand. Initially conceived by New Zealand live deer recovery pioneer, Sir Tim Wallis, as a show for him to display his collection of World War II aircraft, the event has grown into a major institution. Roads are closed and traffic is detoured around the area during the weekend. Hotels, motels and backpackers around Wānaka are usually booked well in advance (two years ahead). Accommodation is impossible to find if one does not have a booking.
A large contingent of historic and contemporary aircraft of note from all over New Zealand and the world converges on Wānaka each second Easter for the air show. Numerous aviation personalities from all over the world attend Warbirds over Wanaka, Gen Chuck Yeager and Buzz Aldrin being the most notable of recent times. The mainstays of the display have traditionally been the aircraft from Sir Tim's Alpine Fighter Collection, based at the New Zealand Fighter Pilots' Museum. However, this collection is currently (2006) in the process of being broken up.[needs update] A new charitable trust has been established to run the event in the future.
At Easter on the alternate (odd) years a similar air show is held at Omaka air field in Blenheim in the northern South Island, under the title of Classic Fighters. Its emphasis is on World War I aircraft including as many as seven Fokker Dr.I triplanes. Also on alternate (odd) years Wings over Wairarapa airshow is held at Hood Aerodrome, Masterton, in the North Island.
It is traditional for RNZAF aircraft heading to Wānaka for the airshow to perform aerial displays over the cities of Christchurch and Dunedin on their journey to the show.[1]
- ^ "Black Falcons fly over city beaches," Otago Daily Times, 29 March 2018.