Over 70 Aircraft to be on Display for Wings Over Wairarapa 2009

Over 70 aircraft will be on display over the two days of Wings Over Wairarapa 2009, one of the fastest-growing air shows in the Australasian region. The aircraft will represent a visual account of the history of aviation in New Zealand and around the world.

Staged at Masterton, in the renowned Wairarapa wine region, near the New Zealand capital of Wellington, Wings Over Wairarapa 2009 will be the sixth such show run by the New Zealand Sport & Vintage Aviation Society.

Hood Aerodrome in Masterton is not only the venue for Wings over Wairarapa but is also home to some of the world’s most impressive, privately owned collections of WWI and WWII aircraft.

Not restricted to just military aircraft, Wings Over Wairarapa showcases a huge variety of flying machines - from the romance of the vintage aircraft to the heart stopping ex-military jet formations; from the gravity defying feats of agricultural aircraft to the thrill of aerobatics. Thrown into the mix are displays of model aircraft, gliders, helicopters, home builds, microlites and gyrocopters.

Major investment in the area by both the Old Stick & Rudder Co and The Vintage Aviator Co has meant that the Wairarapa has some of the rarest and celebrated aircraft still in existence.

Both of these companies have plans in the near future to show these collections to the public which will coincide with the planned 2009 opening of The George Hood Aviation Museum and café making Hood Aerodrome a must visit destination for all aviation enthusiasts.

Second in numbers only to the long running Warbirds Over Wanaka air show, Wings Over Wairarapa rivals any other New Zealand airshow for display content and reputation.

Published statistics from the 2006 Warbirds Over Wanaka show identified that 19.3% of all (of a total of approximately 100,000) visitors came from overseas with 15% of these coming from Australia.

Interestingly surveys taken at the Wings Over Wairarapa trade stand at the same show indicated that 25% of visitors were from Australia with 93% of that number from the eastern seaboard.

Wairarapa’s proximity (only and hour and a half by train or car or 30 minutes by chartered aircraft) to Wellington is a huge advantage for visitors to the show enabling them to enjoy the many advantages of one of New Zealand’s most exciting cities, while still being close enough to easily commute to the show on a daily basis.

A designated air show train service runs to and from Wellington, as does a chartered flight service on each day of the show.

In addition to the entertainment in the sky, the Wings Over Wairarapa 2009 will once again feature a stand alone food & wine festival, expo sites, an air to ground pyrotechnic mock battle, live music, static displays featuring vintage and contemporary military vehicles, stationary and traction  engines, unique movie props and children’s entertainment.

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