ABOUT CLASSIC FIGHTERS

Easter weekend brings the world class biennial three-day Yealands Classic Fighters Omaka Air Show to Marlborough. This is the 20th Anniversary of this spectacular event which provides entertainment for the whole family both on the ground and in the skies above and will more than make up for Covid-cancelled 2021 show.

That this event happens at all is thanks to a group of aircraft enthusiasts who first met together over twenty years ago through their love or restoring historic planes. The air show was established to help to raise the money to build an aviation museum.

The resulting Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre is now an internationally recognised destination that showcases a priceless collection of aeroplanes and artefacts from New Zealand and world aviation history, including outstanding lifelike dioramas created by Weta Workshop.

The Yealands Classic Fighters event is a vital fundraising opportunity for the centre which attracts visitors from around the globe.

Unlike most of the world’s air shows, the Omaka event is particularly impressive due to its very popular ground re-enactments that show what life was like during war time. These are created by people from all around New Zealand who come with vehicles and memorabilia to bring the past to life and provide experiences that will enthral those of all ages.

As well as action in the air and on the ground at the spectacular threeday show, you can enjoy award-winning Marlborough wine, food, music, fireworks, an array of fascinating trade stalls and children’s playground attractions.

WHAT YOU’LL SEE ON THE GROUND

No air show would be complete without aerobatics and this year three world-class aerobatic teams will be showing off their skills. They are the Roaring Forties, Yak-52s and the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Black Falcons formation team.

On the ground will be a range of spectacular re-enactments of historical events throughout the years with an array of military and civilian period vehicles and participants in military attire to create performances that will bring the past to life in a dynamic way, not to glorify war but to ensure that the memory of those who served be passed on to future generations.

Taking part will be armoured cars and personnel carriers, cannons and non-live automatic weaponry. There will even be a V-2 rocket, the world’s first ever liquid-propellant guided missile, designed in Nazi Germany to travel at supersonic speed to attack cities in Allied territory.

A special line-up of aircraft will be viewable up close including a Mosquito and a P-40 Kittyhawk, rare warbirds from the John Smith Collection. All going to plan the intention is to do several engine runs of the mighty Mosquito over the course of the show.

A large classic car display is also a popular addition to the event with Marlborough and Nelson vehicles supplemented by others from around the country including this year for the first time an Auto Union Type C 1930s replica.

Master plans have been revealed for Marlborough’s new combined colleges for the first time. After years of planning, blueprints for the new-look colleges have been made public as progress gathers pace.

Staff and teachers across all Blenheim’s secondary schools and intermediate school were shown the plans for the first time yesterday evening.

Principals at Marlborough Boys’ and Marlborough Girls’ Colleges and Bohally Intermediate yesterday welcomed the master plans for Te Tātoru o Wairau.

“Bohally Intermediate School Nicky Cameron-Dunn says it is great to be able to share the plans with the community.

“I am very glad that we are able to share the master plan with our community and am looking forward to starting our build.

“We are very fortunate to be getting new facilities for our Year 7 and 8 students, especially

Art, Science alongside a hall that will feature a full-sized basketball court”.