This is my report on the Warbirds Over Wanaka Air Show for 2024. It had been over 10 years since I had been to a show (thanks mainly to COVID) so I just had to get there this year! 70,000 other agreed with me, making this the best attended show yet. I was ably assisted taking videos and photos by my daughter, Nicole, so thanks for that!
The stars of this show were the F16 Fighting Falcon, AKA Viper, and the Mosquito fighter bomber from World War II. The C17 Globemaster III was also there, but only did a short display, for some reason. The American Eagles Aerobatic Team from the USA did a very impressive precision display in their L39 jets.
I used a Canon EOS-70D with a 75-300 mm lens (equivalent focal length about 480 mm) for the close up photos, and an Apple iPhone Pro Max for the movies and wide angle shots. Photos were processed in PixelMator Pro on a MacBookPro.
This is one of 4 L39s flown by the "American Eagles"'Jet Formation Aerobatic Team from the USA. They were very tight and precise, flying very close to each other on occasions.
There is a tradition at Wanaka of having a mock battle and a massed flypast to end each show. They have a bit of fun with pyrotechnics and having the "attacking" aircraft eventually defeated by the "good guys".
The C17 Globemaster III is a large (but not the largest) United States Air Force transport plane, used for strategic airlift, troop transport, cargo transport, tactical airlift, medical evacuation, and airdrop across the world.
The F16 was the star of the show for many, being the fastest and, by a considerable margin, the loudest aircraft on display! I always considered it the best looking modern fighter, being relatively light, agile and just looking like a jet fighter is supposed to. I do admit I said something similar about the much older Hawker Hunter, which is also very cool to look at!
The Hercules is one of the most successful aircraft ever, and has been continuously modified over the decades to keep it relevant. This one is from the RNAF and is the C-130H variant which will soon be retired.
The de Havilland DH98 Mosquito was a very versatile World War II aircraft, and was used as a light bomber, fighter-bomber, night fighter, maritime strike aircraft, and for photo-reconnaissance.
There were many other planes flown at the show, but I tried to spend most time on those I hadn't seen before and hadn't reported in the aircraft section of my web site: mainly the F16 and Mosquito. This is a KC-135 Stratotanker, used for refuelling other aircraft (not done at the show though).
This is the RNZAF parachute display team, Kiwi Blue, part of the RNZAF PTSU (Parachute Training and Support Unit). The unit provides static line and free-fall parachute training to units of the New Zealand Defence Force, and personnel trained in the operational preparation and despatch of airborne forces by parachute.
8 aircraft were displayed. Click a thumbnail image or title above to see information about the aircraft.
Discussion
Comment by Biggles on 2026-01-27 at 21:28:27: I liked the older shows when they stuck to old prop planes. The modern jets do not have the same character any more.
Comment by OJB on 2026-01-27 at 21:30:42: Yes, I can see your point, and other people have said the same thing. I am happy to go to see anything from an old Bleriot to a modern F-22 (or an F-35 if they ever send one). Also would like to see some modern Russian or European aircraft: maybe an Su-57 or a Typhoon.
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