Yealands Classic Fighters Omaka 2017 is ‘Racing through Time’

20th Century Air Racing Comes to Life Featuring Team Steadfast

Blenheim, NZ: We are pleased to announce that the highly anticipated theme for next year’s Yealands Classic Fighters airshow at Omaka is ‘RACING THROUGH TIME’. Leading the charge will be Steadfast, a Yak 3U-R2000, which first started its racing career at Reno in 2006 and holds nine world records. These include the under 3000 kg World Speed Record at 416 MPH (669 KPH) along with several ‘time to climb’ records.

Now based in Brisbane Queensland, Fighter Pilot Adventure Flights spokesperson, Chief Pilot James Crockett says “We are very excited to be bringing SteadFast, our Reno Unlimited Champion, to Yealands Classic Fighters 2017. Omaka will rumble as SteadFast reaches race speed around the hills of Marlborough. Fly low, go fast, turn left, Reno style!”. For lovers of smoke trails, SteadFast will also be sporting the only Sanders smoke generators in the Southern Hemisphere and are guaranteed to impress.

Yealands Classic Fighters Omaka is renowned for its themes and to our knowledge is the only air show in the world to base their flying program around a particular theme, which then changes from show to show. These have included ‘locating’ the action in North Africa, France and Italy, as well as one year’s ‘Aviation and the Movies’. The props team have built a pyramid, the Eiffel Tower and even the monastery at Monte Cassino on a nearby hilltop.

Air racing dates back to 1909 and was a means for manufacturers to develop, test and showcase their aircraft. The interwar period during the 1920s and 30s was an exciting time for sport air racing and events in England and the United States, attracted some of the world’s best pilots as well as celebrity and even royal spectators. Post-World War II surplus military aircraft such as the Mustang and smaller aircraft specifically built for racing would compete in revamped “Formula races” around pylons originating in the United States in 1947.

Graham Orphan, Classic Fighters Chairman says “This theme allows us to portray a number of significant eras of air racing through the 20th century, whilst maintaining an undercurrent of race related set-dressing; chequered flags, brightly coloured towers (pylons) and vehicles through-out the weekend”. Time is ticking and the fuse is lit!

About Yealands Classic Fighters Omaka: Held every alternate Easter the airshow is the main fundraising event for the Omaka Aviation Heritage Museum, located in Blenheim, Marlborough NZ.

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