• Bristol F.2B Fighter. (Warbirds Over Wanaka)
    Bristol F.2B Fighter. (Warbirds Over Wanaka)
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A WWI flying display is planned for the Wanaka lakefront in the lead-up to next year's Warbirds Over Wanaka.

The event will commemorate the start of World War I and will take place at 4.30 pm on Good Friday, 18 April, the day before the show proper starts. At least six WWI replicas are scheduled for the display.

A grant from the Lotteries Commission WWI Commemoration Fund has enabled organisers to increase the scale of the free public event, which is being planned as part of the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow.

WWI event co-ordinator, Ed Taylor, said the extra funding would allow the flying display to fully illustrate to the public what aviation was all about in WWI. It was hoped a dog fight would be re-enacted between aircraft sporting allied and enemy colours.

“WWI broke out not long after the invention of aircraft so at the start of the war it was very basic stuff – little planes fluttering across to count heads in enemy trenches. Then the pilots started shooting at each other with pistols, and eventually mounted machine guns evolved.”

Sara Randle from the Vintage Aviator fighter collection in Masterton will present commentary from a stage on Pembroke Park. Search lights, music and re-enactors would add authenticity to the event.

More info on the WWI commemoration and the air show is available on the Warbirds Over Wanaka website.

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