More activities this year

Press, 15 February 1989, Page 33

More activities this year

For anyone wanting first class entertainment and a chance to try new experiences, Wigram Airforce base will be the place to go this Sunday.

In past years up to 20,000 people have visited the Wings and Wheels Classic. This year, there will be many more activities with opportunities to try something a little different. Hovercraft rides and helicopter flights are just two of the possible activities. But for those who would prefer to keep their feet firmly on the ground, there will also be plenty of interest. Flying Officer Rick Helliwell, the event’s publicity and promotions officer, says that this year’s proceeds will go to the R.N.Z.A.F. Museum at Wigram as well as the Canterbury Museum restoration project. “The Canterbury

Museum has helped us considerably in the past and we are now offering something back. Next year, we may make donations to other com-

munity projects. “During the day there will also be a Cot Death appeal to help them reach their target of $400,000.” For the day 3ZB will run Radio Wings and Wheels on 1584 kHz. Visitors will be able to tune in to the station to find out what is happening. For those who forget to take a radio, some good quality sets will be on sale at a very attractive price. Helicopter rides will be provided by the Helicopter Line of Timaru. R.N.Z.A.F. helicopters will also be flying and a lolly drop will be made from one of the Sioux helicopters. More than 30 car clubs

will be involved displaying and racing a variety of vintage, classic and modern vehicles. As many as 300 cars could be in the static display. Vehicles racing will include some famous names such as Porsche, Ferrari, Jaguar, Alfa Romeo, and many others. Another attraction will be the Mobil Bus Rodeo which is the Christ-

church Transport Board driver’s competition. The C.T.B. will also run a

shuttle service within the base during the day. Flight Lieutenant Dave Barham is co-ordinating the civil and military air displays which will be held from noon.

This year, the flying displays will be extensive and will include Tiger Moth aerobatics, top dressing, formation flying and a Cl3O Hercules landing operation which will be performed

with he N.Z. Army. Other aircraft performing will include two from the Historic Flight; a Harvard and Vintage Moth, and Strikemaster from Ohakea. There will also be a number of private aircraft such as Simon Spencer-Bower’s Tiger Moth from Rangiora and a Fletcher from Rowley Aviation.

The flying events will be opened by a spectacular skydiving display.

There will be a number of stalls set up and catering facilities will be available. Much of the catering will be supplied by R.N.Z.A.F. catering trainees.

As a lead up to Sunday’s Wings and Wheels Classic, a display of the racing cars will be at Cable Price, on the corner of Tuam and Antigua streets, on Thursday afternoon and on Friday.