25 February 2009 - Warbirds over Wanaka's Event Manager, Mandy Deans, is preparing to attend one of the world's biggest airshows. Avalon 2009 is Australia's premier International Airshow that attracts visitors from around the globe. Among the many prestigious aerospace companies exhibiting there will be a stand promoting Warbirds over Wanaka. ''It's an opportunity for me to meet many people in the aerospace industry and to persuade them to take part in next years' Warbirds Over Wanaka" says Mandy. Top of Mandy's list of people she's arranging to meet up with is the Chief of the Royal Australian Air Force. ''I am hoping to persuade him to allow some RAAF aircraft to take part in Warbirds Over Wanaka. In the past they've put on some spectacular air displays in the skies above Wanaka." Mandy will spend five days at the show, which is held near Geelong, Victoria between March 10th and 15th, before she heads back home to spend the next twelve months busy organising one of Central Otago's biggest tourist attractions and one of the world's top Warbirds Airshows. The first Warbirds over Wanaka Airshow was held in 1988 and was organised by the aviation entrepreneur, Sir Tim Wallis. In its first year it attracted over 14,000 visitors. Today the three day biennial event is held over the long Easter weekend and attracts over 80,000 people. The next Warbirds over Wanaka Airshow will be held on the 2nd-4th April, 2010.

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