RNZAF's Boeing 757 returns to Warbirds Over Wanaka after 12 years

Friday, 9 February 2018

The 40 Squadron RNZAF Boeing 757 at Pegasus Airfield, Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica.

The Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow's 30th anniversary event in March will have the biggest turnout of modern military aircraft ever displayed at the event.

After a 12 year absence, the Royal New Zealand Air Force Boeing 757 is returning.

Royal New Zealand Air Force chief Tony Davies is looking forward to returning to Warbirds Over Wanaka.

When the Boeing 757 was first displayed in Wanaka, the pilot was Wing Commander Tony Davies, the then Commanding Officer of 40 Squadron.

These days Davies is Air Vice-Marshal and is chief of the RNZAF.

The 2016 Warbirds Over Wanaka crowd enjoys a display of the US Airforce C17 Globemaster transport and supply aircraft.

The United States F-16 Fighter Falcon Jet is shown on the right in this image taken in December at a South Korean airfield. The other aircraft is a F-35A Lightning II fighter jet.

* Multi-million Packard display for 2018 Warbirds Over Wanaka

* Doug Hamilton gliding back in for 2018 Warbirds Over Wanaka Airshow**

Davies still has great memories of displaying the B757 at Wanaka.

'The B757 is a great aircraft to fly and it was always interesting to talk to people afterwards who had never seen an aircraft type like that put on such a display. I'm looking forward to today's pilots getting the same reaction at Wanaka,' he said.

Warbirds Over Wanaka general manager Ed Taylor said the B757 display would be special.

'The 757 may be regarded by some as 'just' an airliner. But it is the impressive RNZAF display that brings the crowd to their feet. The high speed pass of something so big, so low, is a real show stopper along with seeing the aircraft perform steep turns in the confines of the mountain valley. Having the B757 back after a 12 year absence is going to be one of the highlights of 2018 for me,' Taylor said.

The RNZAF is making a significant contribution this Easter's airshow with at least one example of each of their aircraft type on display, except the P-3K Orion.

The air force will also bring down its Harvard T-6 to join with 12 other Harvards in the Marsh Harvard Salute.

Taylor said the United States Air Force had created 'a huge buzz' by confirming they are bringing the F-16 Fighting Falcon Jets for the first time, along with their C-17 Globemaster III demonstration team.

The Royal Australia Air Force's Spartan transport aircraft will make its Wanaka debut along with the Australian Hawk jets.

The French Air Force is returning with its CASA transport aircraft.