The Wanaka airshow will still take off this Easter long weekend even as the war in Iran spreads its wings over the highlight of the 2026 airshow season Down Under.
The biannual Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow in New Zealand is going ahead despite the sudden withdrawal of all modern aircraft by five air forces who were due to attend.
The withdrawals include a F-22 demonstration team from the US Air Force, Hercules transports from New Zealand, Australia and Singapore and a smaller transport aircraft from the French air force.
Airshow general manager Ed Taylor says the withdrawals, particularly the US Raptors, is very disappointing but understandable.
“We never guarantee any aircraft will be at the airshow as there are many reasons they may have to pull out, especially the military which may be required elsewhere at short notice as has been the case in the past,” he says.
WANAKA ‘WILL STILL WOW’
Another withdrawal has been a DC-3 transport aircraft (built in 1942) that left the US last August and headed to France, crossed Europe and headed Down Under; it has broken down and won’t be repaired in time, Taylor says.
“We still have amazing aircraft coming and will be delivering a full program,” he says, highlighting a WWII-era reconnaissance Spitfire which has been shipped from the UK for the airshow.
“We have the stunning American Eagles jet display team and the debut of the Southern Force Pitts Special Aerobatic display team and so much more,” Taylor says.
Aircraft have been arriving at Wanaka since last weekend with up to 100 display aircraft of which 70 will fly at the sold-out event.
“We have sold out Saturday and Sunday … plus we have a record 700 campervans up on Criffel terrace above the airfield” says Taylor.
The airshow has added a third full day to its program; it starts tomorrow with activities such as aerobatics, flying displays and a race between a biplane, helicopter and Astin Martin; the show ends on Sunday with a mass flypast of all flying aircraft.
The airshow is the biggest event in the Central Otago region and pumps more than A$33 million into the regional economy.
The Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Heritage Flight will perform involving WWII fighters Spitfire and Mustang (restored after more than 60 years in a NZ farmhouse) and an Avenger torpedo bomber.
A three-ship Pitts Special aerobatic biplane display team will perform for the first time as the Southern Force.
Team leader Andy Love says they have been preparing with the help of an Australian mentor, Jeremy Miller.
“This guy is one of the best in the business; the fact that he especially came across from Australia meant we were totally invested in learning everything we could from him while he was here.”
UK VISITOR
A blue 90-year-old Spitfire from the UK will join its NZ-based counterpart at the show, flown by its owner and the world’s most experienced Spitfire pilot, John Romain.
Romain is returning to Wanaka after he brought another aircraft over for the 2018 show.
“Marking the 90th anniversary of the first flight of the Spitfire at such a well-known airshow will be a great honour,” says John.
The UK Spitfire has been designed for long distance photographic operations at high altitude; its guns have been removed for extra fuel tanks to boost its range.
During the COVID pandemic in the UK, Romain flew the aircraft over villages to raise spirits and then painted the words ‘THANK U NHS’ on the underside of its wings and flew over more than 250 UK hospitals raising $240,000 for NHS charities.
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