What: Captain of the New Zealand All Blacks will fly over Wanaka in a Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 Hornet as part of the Warbirds over Wanaka International Airshow.

When: 12:30pm Saturday, 3 April 2010

Where: The Hornet will take-off from Christchurch Airport and travel across the south island before conducting a low altitude flypast overhead Wanaka during the airshow.

Who: Richie McCaw, Captain of the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team

Royal Australian Air Force jets will be among the many ‘stars’ lining up to entertain thousands of spectators with a formation handling display at the Warbirds over Wanaka International Airshow held in New Zealand over the Easter weekend.

F/A-18 Hornets from 3 Squadron based at RAAF Williamtown, NSW will impress with a four-ship airfield attack sequence coordinated with on field pyrotechnics in the morning on each show day and return in the afternoon to demonstrate precision formation flying.

Richie McCaw was made an honourary Squadron Leader in the New Zealand Air Force last October. His grandfather, Jim McCaw, flew typhoon and tempest aircraft in World War II with 486 (NZ) Squadron with the Royal Air Force. The late Flight Lieutenant (retired) Jim McCaw lived in Wanaka until 1996.

In 1944 McCaw senior saved countless Londoners’ lives by shooting down German V1 rockets and when he ran out of ammunition bravely risked his life by bumping missiles off-target using the wing-tip of his Hawker Tempest MK5. He was credited with 19 1/2 “kills” and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his attacks on German-controlled railways and missions over sea which saw 73 ships destroyed.

ENDS