Warbirds Over Wanaka Airshow founders Tim and George Wallis recall first show

Sunday, 1 April 2018

Sir Tim Wallis and his brother George Wallis at the 30th anniversary Warbirds Over Wanaka Airshow on April 1, 2018.

The 30th anniversary Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow has thrilled founders Sir Tim Wallis and his brother George, who combined their resources to create the first vintage aircraft airshow over Wanaka's small airstrip in 1988.

Now the event is one of the biggest in the Queenstown Lakes district, and over time has brought in an estimated $200 million for the regional economy.

This year's show is estimated to bring in about $20 million and has been attended by crowds of between 25,000 to 30,000 each day.

Warbirds Over Wanaka founders Sir Tim Wallis and George Wallis.

'I am actually blown away, because if it wasn't for the airforce support we have got, it would not be what it is today,' Sir Tim said.

Action from Warbirds Over Wanaka, including a RNZAF NH90 helicopter, a US Air Force F16 Falcon Jet, a French Air Force CASA transport plane, and various vintage and other aircraft. (Video first published in April 2018)

He was particularly blown away by the noisy US Air Force F16 Falcon display, even though it did not create a sonic boom.

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Havilland Vampire jets were flown by Brent Emeny and Paul Hughan.

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* US Airforce F-16 pilot Richard Smeeding looking forward to Warbirds Over Wanaka

US Air Force pilot Richard 'Punch' Smeeding with Geoff Bail, of Brisbane, and Warren Pritchard, of Newcastle, NSW.

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'But it couldn't break the sound barrier here . . . It can do over Mach 2 and it has to go way up high. These things I know as an aviator. But it still thrilled the crowd a lot,' Sir Tim said.

Pyrotechnics were provided by Pete Gallagher and team.

Sir Tim said there were Warbirds in New Zealand in 1988 but their main base in Auckland.

'I wanted to bring them down here because down here we have got have scenery. They need to have the Southern Alps, Lake Hawea, Lake Wanaka, the Clutha River to enjoy their display,' he said.

Planes take off for the finale on Saturday.

George Wallis recalled when his brother told him they were going to have an airshow.

Sir Tim had seen a similar show in Australia and asked George to help.

A CASA transport plane from the Armee de L'Air (France) flies over the crowd.

Pilot Arthur Dovey was 'shaken' and his vintage aircraft seriously damaged after he crashed into a cherry picker on a runway at the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow in 2018. (Video first published April 2018).

'Tim wanted to have it at Christmas time or New Year and I dissuaded him not to do it then and to do it as Easter because people would be too busy doing their summer sports and at Easter we would get a bigger crowd,' George said.

George's role was to help, and bring his vintage machinery collection long so visitors would have an on-ground attraction. The Warbirds and Wheels display grew larger every year.

George and fellow vehicle collectors eventually founded the museum attraction at Wanaka Airport and this year, a large multi-million Packard display was at the show.

George recalled the Wanaka Lions club was fundraising for the community pool at the 1988 airshow.

Gavin Johnston was the Lions club president and the Wallis brothers liked his leadership, so they invited him to run the show.

Johnston worked for the airshow until 2008, when he retired. He died in September last year, aged 72.

George also recalled that first airshow donated funds towards a Warbirds hangar in Auckland.

Sir Tim Wallis opened the show on Saturday and Sunday, waving from the open door of a New Zealand Airforce NH90 helicopter.

On Sunday, a single US Air Force F16 Falcon fighter jet made a quick appearance straight after the opening, before reappearing in the afternoon for a longer display.

The jets were based at Christchurch Airport. US Air Force Pilot Richard Smeeding arrived back at the show just after 4pm, aboard an RNZAF aircraft, to do a show walkabout and meet the Wallis brothers and other VIP guests.

ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

Airshow general manager Ed Taylor said no further comment would be made about a Yak 3 accident during the show opening on Saturday, because the Civil Aviation Authority was investigating.

'We will work our way through that in the coming weeks. Last time I spoke to [pilot] Arthur [Dovey] he was not keen to talk to the media,' Taylor said.

Asked by Stuff why the cherry picker was on the grass area next to the runway, Taylor confirmed it was there for another act scheduled straight after the opening.

He confirmed the unmanned cherry picker was not there for airshow photography.

The programme was altered on Saturday to accommodate a short delay while the debris was removed.

Sunday's opening went without a hitch. The cherry picker was not on the grass verge.