Aviation enthusiasts can expect to see the largest gathering of Waco biplanes in Australasia at next year's Classic Fighters Omaka Airshow in Blenheim.
Photo: Supplied / Gavin Conroy
The 2021 event, which would have been the 20th anniversary, was cancelled due to Covid-19. It will now be held over Easter weekend next year.
Airshow director Gavin Conroy said there had not been a Waco display at Omaka since the event began in 2001.
"Each of these machines is a work of art, so to have five in 2023 will be quite a spectacle."
One of the planes is a custom cabin biplane, built in 1936, and bought new by the Marlborough Aero Club where it operated from Omaka until 1948.
It is being restored by Marlburians Jay McIntyre and Rex Newman.
A red Waco aircraft built in 1941 was imported from the USA earlier this year by North Island-based owner Simon Holdsworth.
The remaining three aircraft are classic 1930s' Waco designs recreated and returned to production by the Classic Aircraft Corporation/WACO.
Self-confessed Waco fanatic Marty Cantlon from Tauranga owns two of these, including a Taper Wing model, and will share flying duties at the event with Phil Hooker.
Well-known display pilot Keith Skilling, also based in Tauranga, rounds out the five aircraft with his Waco YMF-5.