The organizers for Warbirds Over Wanaka, the biennial air show extravaganza held in the stunningly beautiful, alpine setting of Wanaka, New Zealand are already hard at work planning for the next edition of this globally famous event which will take place over Easter Weekend in 2020. They have just announced their first act for the 2020 show in the press release below…
MEDIA RELEASE – WARBIRDS OVER WANAKA FIRST MAJOR ACT FOR 2020
Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow organisers have announced the first major act for their Easter 2020 event and it will be a New Zealand air show first.
New Plymouth-based pilots Brett Emeny and Peter Vause are currently working up a pairs formation performance in their North American T-28 Trojan trainers which they will debut at Wanaka next year.
The announcement comes just a week out from tickets to the 2020 event going on sale. These will be available online at www.warbirdsoverwanaka.com from Monday February 25th.
Warbirds Over Wanaka’s General Manager, Ed Taylor, is thrilled that Wanaka will be the first major public display for the two Trojans flying together stating, “We had Brett’s Trojan at last year’s Wanaka air show, after a 14-year absence, and it was a real hit with Warbird fans. It’s a big aircraft and it’s also very noisy which people love. Having two of these great machines in the air at once will be special. Brett and Peter are very experienced pilots and we know that by the time our Airshow rolls around next year they will have perfected an amazing pairs routine. This will be a special attraction.”
Brett Emeny says that he and Peter have had their first few flights together already and are now starting to put together an act for Wanaka commenting, “These are great aircraft to fly and we’re sure that with plenty of practise over the next year we’ll be able to put on something pretty spectacular for Easter 2020.”
Brett has owned Trojan T-28C #563 [ex-USN Bu.140563] for a number of years while Peter purchased Trojan T-28B #973 [ex-US Navy Bu.137801] from Australia last year. Both aircraft are painted in the same US Navy colour scheme [VA-122 circa 1973]. A third New Zealand-based Trojan, owned by Brian Hall from Christchurch, was damaged during a wheels up landing at Ardmore in 2016. It is hoped this third Trojan will be back flying soon.
Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow is being held at Wanaka Airport next year, April 10th, 11th & 12th 2020. Tickets go on sale on 25th February 2019. For more information go to www.warbirdsoverwanaka.com
Richard Mallory Allnutt's aviation passion ignited at the 1974 Farnborough Airshow. Raised in 1970s Britain, he was immersed in WWII aviation lore. Moving to Washington DC, he frequented the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum, meeting aviation legends.
After grad school, Richard worked for Lockheed-Martin but stayed devoted to aviation, volunteering at museums and honing his photography skills. In 2013, he became the founding editor of Warbirds News, now Vintage Aviation News. With around 800 articles written, he focuses on supporting grassroots aviation groups.
Richard values the connections made in the aviation community and is proud to help grow Vintage Aviation News.
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