A large collection of WW2 tanks, trucks and jeeps will be gathering near Tarras on Thursday to prepare for a convoy to Wanaka Airport where they will be taking part in the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow.

Spokesman Andrew Paisley said one group were arriving from the south and another from the north to meet at the corner of Maori Point Road and the Tarras-Wanaka highway between 1.30pm and 2pm.

Some of the vehicles, most of which travel at around 70kmph, would have travelled from Blenheim, Nelson, Christchurch, Oamaru, Dunedin and Invercargill.

They would then convoy to the airport and expected to arrive there around 2.45pm.

Warhorses Co-ordinator Merv Thorn said most of vehicles were from the WW2 and Vietnam war eras and would include army motorcycles, gun tractors, a 35 Tonne tank, jeeps, landrovers, Chevrolet quad ‘mini-trucks’, a six-wheel GMC truck and a Unimog loaded with armour.

Meanwhile preparations were at full swing yesterday as the countdown to the airshow continues.

A flying visit from a group of F/A-18 Hornet jets turned all eyes skyward at 3pm, and practising aircraft attracted onlookers around Wanaka airport throughout the day.

The airshow begins on Friday with the traditional ‘practise day’ followed by two scheduled airshow days on Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets sales at the gate on the day.

ENDS