It's the only airshow in the world where live ammunition is fired from a classic flying machine.

At next year's Warbirds Over Wanaka a Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk will be firing all six machine guns in an historic re-enactment of attacks on shipping and airfields in the Solomon Islands.

The Auckland based P-40 will fire its 0.50 calibre guns as it passes along the display line at over 240mph (386km/h). In that time the aircraft will have travelled over seven hundred feet and the guns fired more than sixty rounds.

"The sound coming from its guns is awesome, and seeing sheets of flame coming from them is an amazing sight", said Garth Hogan, co-owner of the classic aircraft. "It's a real privilege to fly the P-40 and to be part of its tribute to those who flew them in real combat conditions during the Second World War" he added.

The P-40 Kittyhawk is one of the stars at the 2010 Warbirds Over Wanaka Airshow.

The single engine, single seat, all metal fighter and ground attack aircraft first flew in 1938. It was used by the air forces of twenty eight nations, including the Royal New Zealand Air Force. A total of 13,738 P-40 aircraft were built during the Second World War. Today only a handful remain flying around the world.

One of which is this aircraft which belonged to the Royal Australian Air Force. It was recovered from the Northern Coast of New Guinea where it had been abandoned at the end of the Second World War.

After changing hands several times it eventually ended up being bought by Garth and his two other partners. They set about restoring and rebuilding the aircraft in 1996. Work was completed three years later and the P-40 made its first public debut flight in 2000.

"It's going to be a spectacular display" said Mandy Deans, the Event Manager at Warbirds Over Wanaka Airshow. "The P-40 is just one of the many classic aircraft that will be giving flying displays at next year's Airshow. We are still working on the final line up and we are hoping to announce some big surprises" she added.

Three hundred and one P-40s were allocated to the RNZAF under Lend Lease, for use in the Pacific Theatre, although four of these were lost in transit. The aircraft soon proved to be successful in air combat against the Japanese between 1942 and 1944. The P-40 pilots claimed one hundred aerial victories, whilst losing twenty in combat. The overwhelming majority of RNZAF victories were scored against Japanese A6M Zeros and Aicha D3A "Val" dive bombers.

Geoff Fisken was the highest scoring British Commonwealth ace in the Pacific. The New Zealand pilot shot down six aircraft, three of them while flying a P-40 Kittyhawk.

From late 1943 and 1944 the RNZAF P-40s were increasingly used against ground targets, including the innovative use of naval depth charges as improvised high capacity bombers. In late 1944 the P-40s were replaced by F4U Corsairs.

The next Warbirds Over Wanaka Airshow will be held on the 2nd-4th April, 2010 and will again provide a programme for all aviation enthusiasts. www.warbirdsoverwanaka.com