In a first for Yealands Classic Fighters, five Waco Biplanes, representing the largest gathering of this iconic brand ever assembled in Australasia, will be on the flight line at Omaka this coming Easter! Two are originals built in 1936 and 1941 and imported from the United States. The former is a rare custom cabin biplane, one of only three of the type ever built; bought new by the Marlborough Aero Club and operated from Omaka until 1948. During this period, it was impressed into the service of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) between 1939 to 1936. The Waco's restoration by locals Jay McIntyre and Rex Newman is fast nearing completion and will fly later this year.
Image: Waco team - Photo by Gavin Conroy
North Island-based owner Simon Holdsworth imported the second original, a strikingly red machine built in 1941, from the USA earlier this year. Simon has had the aircraft reassembled at Omaka by JEM Aviation, and it will fly again as soon as it has a final inspection and is given its airworthiness certificate by CAA. This machine has just over five hours of flying time on the clock following its restoration in the USA.
Image: Omaka-based Waco project - Photo by Gavin Conroy
The remaining three aircraft are classic 1930s Waco designs recreated and returned to production by the Classic Aircraft Corporation/WACO. Founded in 1983, they believed there would still be a demand for this type decades from when built initially. How right they were with many sold to private owners worldwide.
Self-confessed Waco fanatic Marty Cantlon from Tauranga owns two of these, including a lovely Taper Wing model and will be sharing flying duties with Phil Hooker. Finally, well-known display pilot Keith Skilling, also based in Tauranga, rounds out the five aircraft with his beautiful YMF-5.
Newly appointed Classic Fighters Airshow Director Gavin Conroy says, "Since Classic Fighters started in 2001, we have never seen a Waco display at Omaka. Each of these machines is a work of art, so to have five in 2023 will be quite a spectacle".
About Yealands Classic Fighters Omaka: The airshow is the main fundraising event for the Omaka Aviation Heritage Museum, located in Blenheim, Marlborough NZ.
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