The aircraft are the stars of the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow, but the support acts attract attention without leaving the ground.
That is especially true of Stephen Hendrie’s 1.8-tonne, 1904 Blackstone oil engine — one of the stationary engines that greet spectators with a cloud of oily fumes at the main gate.
"The public loves them," Mr Hendrie said.
His engine once drove shearing machines and chaff cutters at Nokomai Station, in Southland.
It weighs 1.8 tonnes and would require six horses to move it.
At idle, it uses just five litres of kerosene in a day, its huge flywheels making it very efficient.
Mr Hendrie, a Christchurch engineer, said for every stationary engine on display, you could bet their owners had another 20 stashed away in a shed somewhere.
Mr Hendrie said some Australians offered him $50,000 for his engine, but he intended donating it to Invercargill’s Transport World, with one condition — it must remain in New Zealand.
Near the stationary engines were rows of gleaming Packard cars.
Eight were brought to Wanaka by their American owners.
Former attorney, Richard E. Marrs, from Maryland, said he simply answered an invitation that came to member of the Classic Car Club of America.
Of his three Packards, he chose to bring his 1947 Packard Super Clipper because of the touring comfort it offered. Adding their own touch of eccentricity to the show were the men and women of the "Warhorses" re-enactment group, featuring authentic vehicles, weapons and uniforms from World War 2.
The group acted out a true but little-known story of a group of New Zealand soldiers who ambushed German troops in Italy, were then captured themselves, were rescued by Allied troops, then discovered a German payroll and used the money to buy a racehorse that proved to be a winner.
Spike Wademan, of Queenstown, said taking part in re-enactments brought back memories of his time in Cyprus in 1968 as a British paratrooper.
"We were thrown out the back of aeroplanes in the middle of the night, blacked up to go creepy crawlies.
"Basically it was life or death. And it’s exciting. And it’s stupid behaviour.
"Now they do bungy jumping instead, which is a lot more sensible."
The helmet he was wearing was the same one he wore 50 years ago, "and it’s just as uncomfortable now as it’s always been", he said.
