The biannual Warbirds over Wānaka air show is returning to the skies this Easter weekend after a six-year hiatus.
Keen spectators were treated to a final practice today for the big displays that will involve everything from Air Force Hercules to WW2-era Spitfires.
Organiser Ed Taylor said cancelling the two previously planned events due to Covid-19 was “devastating”.
“We were one of the first major events in New Zealand to cancel because of Covid and we were two weeks away from actually holding that event.
“We thought we’d get away with it in 2022, but no, we had to cancel again so it was devastating.”
Between 60,000-70,000 people are expected to descend on the Otago town to witness the event’s triumphant return.
“We had a huge crowd here, bigger than our normal practice day Friday, but Saturday and Sunday are sold out for the first time.”
Air Force aircraftman Caitlin Early said she was definitely keen to show off what the helicopters can actually do.
“A lot of people think she’s quite an old girl, which she is, but she can still do a lot of the very cool like flips and tricks in the air which will be awesome to show off.”
This year is the first since event founder Sir Tim Wallis died last October.
Taylor said before his death all Wallis wanted to talk about was his ideas for the air show.
“It’s a shame he’s not here, but we know he’ll be up there looking down with that infectious smile of his and when he sees that mosquito leading the fighter fly past at the end, he’ll have a tear in his eye like the 30,000 people that will be at the air show.”