There are very few airworthy Spitfires in New Zealand, but Dunedin got the next-best thing at the weekend when two replica aircraft were the stars of the show at the Taieri Wings and Wheels Spectacular.
The aircraft, built from kits by Canterbury aviator Ivan Campbell, flew over the city on Saturday before staging two flying displays at Wings and Wheels yesterday.
The replicas — between 80% and 90% to scale of the World War 2 originals — were sourced from United States company Supermarine Aircraft by Mr Campbell, who has sold six to New Zealand aviators.
"It is a replica, but it is built exactly the same way with a stretched skin and rivets," Mr Campbell said.
"My one is powered by a Chevy Corvette engine, which gives 420 horsepower."
Mr Campbell has not had the pleasure of flying an original Spitfire — unsurprisingly, as there are believed to only be three airworthy in New Zealand and 54 worldwide — but said pilots who had flown both aircraft had compared the replica favourably.
"Those who have flown both aircraft say it’s very close to the original and with very similar characteristics," he said.
"It’s very nice to fly."
When not assembling kitset planes, Mr Campbell makes flying helmets.
His firm has customers worldwide, including actor and keen aviator Harrison Ford.
"We export all around the world and we’ve been doing it for 18 years," Mr Campbell said.
"All the air show pilots around the world use them and a few air forces use them for their historical flights as well."
Despite the showery weather, Mr Campbell and fellow pilot Gary Cotterell were able to keep the crowd at Sunday’s show entertained.
Event manager Wayne Cunningham said the turnout had been very good, considering the weather.
"I don’t know about numbers but I know we had a really good crowd right to the end ... it exceeded my expectations numbers-wise, given the weather."
The Spitfires were the major attraction and it had been wonderful to have them on show, Mr Cunningham said.
"When they flew over Saturday night, we had people who had heard them fly in and then drove out to Mosgiel to see them practise."
Public parking at event venue Taieri Airport was closed yesterday.
This was standard for Wings and Wheels as a safety measure to stop people getting on to the runway, Mr Cunningham said.
