Warbirds enthral huge crowd
Mar 26th, 2008 | By admin | Category: FoodsA blue sky yesterday meant it was the best day for the event after blustery and overcast conditions on Friday and Saturday.
The well-oiled engine that is Warbirds ran with few hitches, the notable exception being the absence of Australias C-17 Globemaster on Saturday.
Capable of carrying a payload four times greater than a Hercules, the enormous plane was meant to fly over the airfield after departing from Christchurch early in the afternoon.
Warbirds general manager Gavin Johnston said the weather was to blame for the behemoths no-show.
They were up there but they couldnt find us below (the cloud).
These things happen sometimes at airshows, Im afraid. Paula Dore of Dunedin, at her first Warbirds on Saturday, had been sceptical about coming, but was convinced by friends who were also attending.
Its way better than I thought it would be. I thought it would just be a few planes flying around. That jet was mindblowing. Husband Malcolm, also at his first airshow, said he was glad he had made the effort to come, and described the display by Royal New Zealand Air Force Iroquois helicopters as fantastic.
At her fourth Warbirds, Shelley Coutts, of Invercargill, said the event was the only way to spend Easter.
Its really, really great. I know some people talk about the cost of actually getting in but when you see the range of aircraft and everything (it is worth it). Ms Coutts praised the organisers for providing so many marquees and displays, and said the static aircraft were a great attraction for bored children.
Meanwhile, about 8000 were at the Queenstown Events Centre to watch the Highlanders get run down over the final quarter and lose 36-28 to the Perth-based Western Force team on Saturday.
It was the second time the resort town had hosted a Super 14 game, but the first time it had clashed with the Warbirds.
About 10,500 watched the Highlanders lose narrowly to the Chiefs last Easter, but Highlanders chief executive Richard Reid was unsure just what effect the Warbirds had on gate receipts this year.
I dont know whether its a help or a hindrance. There are a lot of people in the area, but I dont know the event well enough to say if they spent the whole time there or go jetboating or go to the rugby.
Police praised motorists behaviour, with limited arrests made in the southern region. Senior Sergeant Dave Raynes, of Invercargill police, said arrests for the weekend were below normal with only six people in the cells, mainly for breaches of bail, arrest warrants and domestic violence.
Highway patrol offices recorded a high number of people leaving Invercargill last Thursday, which probably attributed to the quiet weekend, Mr Raynes said.
A traffic blitz was carried out in the Southern Lakes during the weekend and seven people were arrested in Queenstown.
Senior Sergeant Brian Cameron, of Queenstown police, said there had also been a number of alcohol-related incidents in the district but it was not any worse than other weekends given the influx of people . A 29-year-old Brazilian man was arrested at the weekend after he approached people at a holiday park unit and started a fight.
He is scheduled to appear in the Queenstown District Court.
The majority of people enjoyed their stay with out any problems but there is always a drunken few that ruin it, Mr Cameron said.
Southern region highway patrol Senior Sergeant Steve Larking, of Dunedin, said motorists behaviour had been excellent.
The highest speed recorded was 140kmh but overall speeds have definitely reduced from previous years. Police urged motorists to take their time on the roads to reach their destinations.
