Counting Down: Two Weeks to Wanaka!

The gear is cleaned, the sensors are spotless, and the memory cards are cleared. We are officially two weeks away from the roar of engines returning to Wanaka Airport!

I’ve been watching the transformation of our local GA airfield into a world-class venue. The grandstands are going up, the marquees are appearing, and you can practically feel the electricity in the air. A massive shout-out to the volunteers and the team at Wanaka Airport—they’re the ones making sure we photographers have something spectacular to point our lenses at this Easter.

Here’s the latest “recon” on what we’ll be seeing (and what we’ll be missing) on the flightline:

The Stars of the Show

• Yak-3 ‘Steadfast’: This was a standout in 2024, and it’s back! After a major engine overhaul, the power plant arrived back in the country last week. Mark O’Sullivan and the JEM Aviation crew are working around the clock to get her test-flown. I can’t wait to capture that sleek profile against the Southern Alps again.
• Yak-7B: This is a special one. It’s the world’s only Yak-7B, and it just finished a 7-year restoration journey. It’s sporting a brand-new paint job as of last week and is scheduled for test flights next week.
• F-22 Raptor: The heavy hitters! Two Raptors are on target to arrive in Christchurch. The best part? They’re scheduled to fly all three days of the airshow. My shutter finger is already twitching.

The “Maybe Next Time” List

As with any airshow, there’s always a bit of heartbreak behind the scenes:

• The Corsair: Sadly, Mike Jones’ Corsair won’t be taking to the skies this year. The rebuilt engine simply didn’t make it back in time. We’ll be looking forward to seeing this beauty on the flightline for the 40th anniversary in 2028.
• BD-5 Microjet: A last-minute mechanical issue means the world’s smallest jet won’t be flying, but don’t leave your long lenses at home—it will still be on static public display so we can get some great close-up shots.

Despite some of the international uncertainty in the news, it’s full steam ahead for a massive Easter weekend. I’ll see you on the flightline!