World War I replicas for airshow

18th December 2004

Four replica World War I fighters never before seen in the North Island will provide the opening attraction for the 2005 Whittaker's Wings Over Wairarapa airshow in January.

A Fokker Triplane, Sopwith Camel, French Nieuport and Bristol F2B Fighter will fly at the January airshow, hosted by the Masterton-based NZ Sport and Vintage Aviation Society.

The Fokker Triplane, Sopwith Camel, Nieuport and Bristol Fighter are all aircraft that first entered service in 1917 and flew during the first great air campaigns over the Western Front.

The Fokker Triplane is associated with the Red Baron, the great German fighter ace, Baron Von Richtofen

The replica fighters have been displayed at South Island airshows in past years, but this will be the first time they have crossed Cook Strait.

Masterton is already home to an historic Avro 504 replica, which was displayed at the Masterton 150th anniversary air display earlier this year.

According to airshow president Tom Williams, "confirming the WWI fighters to our display programme makes another highlight for the air display.

"The mock dogfights between the old fighters will also demonstrate the skill of today's display pilots, who handle these tricky aircraft.

"We will have 68 aircraft flying in the show, and the display by the WWI fighters will honour the memory of the pioneer Kiwi airmen ? including three from Wairarapa ? who flew in WWI."

Wings Over Wairarapa 2005 will take place on January 22 and 23, 2005 at Hood Aerodrome, Masterton.

Tickets are on sale through Red Tickets.