After a four-year hiatus due to Covid-19, aircraft again took to the skies en-masse over the Omaka Airfield in Blenheim at the weekend as part of the Yealands Classic Fighters Show.
Tens of thousands of people attended the three-day event featuring about 60 heritage aircraft representing all eras of aviation.
A big attraction for many was an extremely rare World War 2 de Havilland Mosquito from the John Smith collection. While no longer airworthy, it could still fire up its twin Rolls-Royce Merlin V-12 engines, delighting the crowd.
There was plenty of action on the ground as well as old battle scenarios were re-enactaed.
The popular airshow was started over 20 years ago as a fundraiser for the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre.
Since then, the biennial event has also become a major fixture on the Marlborough events calendar... pumping millions into the region's economy over the years.
- By Geoff Sloan
Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
