A helicopter performs during the Wings Over Wairarapa Air Festival at the Hood Aerodrome in Masterton, New Zealand, Nov. 26, 2023. Thousands of people gathered and crowded the side of the airstrip of Hood Aerodrome in Masterton, New Zealand on Sunday to watch the biennial Wings Over Wairarapa airshow. (Xinhua/Lu Huaiqian)
WELLINGTON, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of people gathered and crowded the side of the airstrip of Hood Aerodrome in Masterton, New Zealand on Sunday to watch the biennial Wings Over Wairarapa airshow.
The Wings Over Wairarapa Air Festival this year features over 70 aircraft including vintage, military, and New Zealand Defence Force aircraft, jets, helicopters and aerobatic displays.
Audiences here have previously seen aircraft from World War I and World War II, including the world-famous Vintage Aviator aircraft collection owned by Peter Jackson, which includes replicas of some of the earliest airplanes, and this year was no different.
One of the Wings crowd favorites returning after a six-year hiatus from air festivals was the Goodyear FG-1D Corsair -- a U.S. Navy and Marine fighter aircraft used in World War II.
The popular air festival, which draws an audience of thousands, was supposed to run in February this year, but was postponed due to the ongoing impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle. ■
Airplanes perform during the Wings Over Wairarapa Air Festival at the Hood Aerodrome in Masterton, New Zealand, Nov. 26, 2023. Thousands of people gathered and crowded the side of the airstrip of Hood Aerodrome in Masterton, New Zealand on Sunday to watch the biennial Wings Over Wairarapa airshow.(Xinhua/Lu Huaiqian)
An airplane performs during the Wings Over Wairarapa Air Festival at the Hood Aerodrome in Masterton, New Zealand, Nov. 26, 2023. Thousands of people gathered and crowded the side of the airstrip of Hood Aerodrome in Masterton, New Zealand on Sunday to watch the biennial Wings Over Wairarapa airshow. (Xinhua/Lu Huaiqian)
An airplane performs during the Wings Over Wairarapa Air Festival at the Hood Aerodrome in Masterton, New Zealand, Nov. 26, 2023. Thousands of people gathered and crowded the side of the airstrip of Hood Aerodrome in Masterton, New Zealand on Sunday to watch the biennial Wings Over Wairarapa airshow.(Xinhua/Lu Huaiqian)
Airplanes perform during the Wings Over Wairarapa Air Festival at the Hood Aerodrome in Masterton, New Zealand, Nov. 26, 2023. Thousands of people gathered and crowded the side of the airstrip of Hood Aerodrome in Masterton, New Zealand on Sunday to watch the biennial Wings Over Wairarapa airshow.(Xinhua/Lu Huaiqian)
Airplanes perform during the Wings Over Wairarapa Air Festival at the Hood Aerodrome in Masterton, New Zealand, Nov. 26, 2023. Thousands of people gathered and crowded the side of the airstrip of Hood Aerodrome in Masterton, New Zealand on Sunday to watch the biennial Wings Over Wairarapa airshow. (Xinhua/Lu Huaiqian)
Airplanes perform during the Wings Over Wairarapa Air Festival at the Hood Aerodrome in Masterton, New Zealand, Nov. 26, 2023. Thousands of people gathered and crowded the side of the airstrip of Hood Aerodrome in Masterton, New Zealand on Sunday to watch the biennial Wings Over Wairarapa airshow. (Xinhua/Lu Huaiqian)
An airplane performs during the Wings Over Wairarapa Air Festival at the Hood Aerodrome in Masterton, New Zealand, Nov. 26, 2023. Thousands of people gathered and crowded the side of the airstrip of Hood Aerodrome in Masterton, New Zealand on Sunday to watch the biennial Wings Over Wairarapa airshow. (Xinhua/Lu Huaiqian)
An airplane performs during the Wings Over Wairarapa Air Festival at the Hood Aerodrome in Masterton, New Zealand, Nov. 26, 2023. Thousands of people gathered and crowded the side of the airstrip of Hood Aerodrome in Masterton, New Zealand on Sunday to watch the biennial Wings Over Wairarapa airshow. (Xinhua/Lu Huaiqian)