Messerschmitt-109 from Dunkirk Movie to perform at Airshow.
Wanaka: One of the aerial stars of last year’s Oscar-nominated block buster movie ‘Dunkirk’ will be performing at this Easter’s Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow.
The UK-based Buchon Messerschmitt-109 which represented the German fighter aircraft in the movie aerial battle with the British Spitfire over Dunkirk, will once again do battle with a Spitfire in the skies above Wanaka.
The Buchon has been confirmed to replace the Polikarpov I-16 which had been coming to Wanaka from its base in Germany but has had to be withdrawn at the last minute because of mechanical problems.
Warbirds Over Wanaka General Manager, Ed Taylor, says while they’re naturally very disappointed the Polikarpov will not be able to attend, they are thrilled to welcome the Buchon back after it was a huge attraction two years ago.
“The crowd loved seeing both the aircraft itself, plus witnessing the top flying skills of owner and pilot John Romain – one of the UK’s best Warbirds pilots,” says Ed.
The aircraft, which is based at Duxford airfield in England, is something of a movie star. Its credits include the 1968 ‘Battle of Britain movie and the 2008 Tom Cruise move ‘Valkyrie’. Its latest role was in last year’s block buster ‘Dunkirk’.
When the aircraft was here in 2016 it sported the ‘Yellow 10’ colour scheme from the Battle of Britain movie. This time it will be decked out in its ‘Dunkirk’ colour scheme.
Meanwhile, Ed says the owners of the Polikarpov in Germany are understandably upset that their aircraft is not going to be coming to the Airshow this year as is Jurgis Kairys who was going to fly the I-16.
“The owners had been very generous in making their aircraft available. However, during flight testing late last year a problem was detected with the engine. The engine could not be fixed so a replacement engine was brought in from Russia.”
Ed says the second engine has since also had problems and the owners have been unable to get this fixed in time to get the Polikarpov shipped to Wanaka.
“While it’s a major disappointment we are sure that all Warbird enthusiasts will understand that every effort was made to get the Polikarpov here and that from time to time these antique aircraft experience problems. Jurgis and the owners are adamant they want to have the Polikarpov back here and have already started the planning for 2020,” says Ed.
For the Warbirds Over Wanaka 30th Anniversary, information and tickets are available from www.warbirdsoverwanaka.com
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