Wings ready for take off
Irrespective of when international visitors are free to return to New Zealand we should all be able to experience the 2021 Wings Over Wairarapa Air Festival at the Hood Aerodrome in Masterton.
By Walt Dickson.
Locked in for the last weekend of February next year, (Friday 26th – Sunday 28th), Wings will be eagerly anticipated by aviation enthusiasts from around the world. If it does come to pass that Covid-19 travel restrictions mean that it will not be possible for them to be there in person, they will nonetheless be able to enjoy the show from the comfort of their own home.
Wings general manager Jenny Gasson says, although still early in the planning stages, everything is being done to ensure that the aviation community can get to enjoy the biennial air show, no matter where they might be.
“Our international audience is really important to us, so if they aren’t able to attend, we’re aiming to have the air show online for them to experience,” Jenny says.
When Wings 2021 does take flight, it will be the first major air show in New Zealand for two years; Warbirds Over Wanaka, which normally runs on alternate years to Wings, was a casualty of the Covid-19 pandemic this year.
“Being one of the first air shows in the world to get back off the ground [since Covid-19] we’re expecting a large, varied crowd of people from aviation to non-aviation backgrounds.”
It will be a big deal for Wairarapa, previous Wings air festivals have drawn crowds of 25,000, which is nearly equivalent to the entire population of Masterton.
Destination Wairarapa general manager Anna Nielson says Wings is an iconic event that provides a huge economic boost to the region.
“It is a world class event and a wonderful opportunity to showcase all of Wairarapa. I think the 2021 festival will be even more significant for the region now with the push towards domestic tourism, so I anticipate that we will see similar crowds as before, if not even bigger,” Ms Nielson says.
Coupled with the huge spike in visitors to the region, organisers are also faced with the challenge of how to accommodate the large number of participants including pilots, ground crew, the RNZAF Band, and dignitaries.
Recognition of Wings’ star status is reflected in the $17 million upgrade of the Hood Aerodrome facility due to get underway later this year. The Government is contributing $10 million to the project which includes widening and extending the runway, extending the taxiway and apron, upgrading lighting, increased security and CAA certification.
In announcing the investment in July, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says the project will transform Hood Aerodrome into a modern, functional airport, with capacity for growth beyond its current activity.
With so much uncertainty around availability of international aircraft, a big focus of the 2021 show will be the incredible range of aircraft available within New Zealand. But that is not to say that there won’t be any international aircraft.
“We are working on plans to have support from international air forces but those announcements won’t be able to be made until much closer to the event. But one thing for sure, there is going to be plenty to see and we are super excited.”
Wings’ audiences have previously seen aircraft from the very first, through to those flown during WW1 and WW11, and more recently the brand-new RNZAF display team.
“We are in an amazing position with the quality of the air display we can offer and the fact that Hood Aerodrome is home to the Vintage Aviator aircraft is something we feel very privileged to be able to highlight.”
Of course, it is not just up in the air that has the crowds buzzing; down on terra firma there will be plenty to get excited about. Massively successful in 2019, the STEM Aviation and Education programme will again be running featuring three days of science, technology and maths activities aimed at developing an interest in aviation from children aged five through to 18. In 2019 around 4,500 took part in the programme.
“This is an industry that is doing it tough at the moment but will bounce back in the future and will need to be planning ahead for people to begin aviation careers.”
In addition to the STEM Aviation and Education programme, the NZ Aviation Federation (NZAF) will have a notable presence with a large marquee dedicated to aviation where you can go and speak directly with each organisation. NZAF member organisations represent every sector of General Aviation from private, sport & recreational aviation, both powered and non-powered, to agricultural and aerial work. NZAF also encompasses Model Aircraft, remote piloted aircraft and parachute operations.
Wings Over Wairarapa Air Festival, Friday 26 February to Sunday 28 February 2020. For more information and tickets go to the website: wings.org.nz
