The Art Deco Trust has announced the theme of the GEON Art Deco Weekend 2012 as a salute to Aviation!

Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the GEON Art Deco Weekend will feature many events that will have both an Air Force and general aviation focus.

The GEON Art Deco Weekend is Hawke’s Bay largest event and in its 24th year attracts around 30,000 people to Napier over the festival period. The 2012 event is scheduled for 16 – 19 February.

Sally Jackson, General Manager of the Art Deco Trust reported that new events have been introduced into the annual Weekend program marking the 75 years of the Air Force including a special concert and a celebration dinner at the Mission Estate Winery. The Air Force Central Band will take a high profile position marching within the Vintage Car Parade and in the Sound Shell concerts.

WGCDR Bill Blaikie of the RNZAF reported that it was a an excellent opportunity for the public to come out and see the Air Force and mark this very auspicious occasion.

Featuring at the GEON Art Deco Weekend will be large variety of vintage airplanes, Len Searle, representing the Napier Aero Club and working in coordination with the Art Deco Trust, reported “This will prove to be the biggest number of vintage airplanes ever to be seen in Napier, it will be an amazing sight”.

Vintage planes flying in for the Weekend will feature the Warbirds, the Red Checkers, 6 DHAD 2 Tiger Moths, a P51 Mustang and an extremely large number of privately owned vintage planes.

Sally Jackson said “The public will be given a fantastic opportunity to view the planes both in the air and on ground, there will also be good opportunities to get up close to the machines and meet and chat with the pilots themselves”.

Joining the Art Deco Trust in making this announcement was GEON’s Central Regions General Manager Neville Smith, also representing the Royal New Zealand Navy, Lieutenant Commander Neville Smith (Hon) stated that the traditional events of the Weekend will be maintained including the important presence of the Navy. The Royal New Zealand Navy has an extremely close link to Napier as the HMS Veronica was in Napier Port at the time of the Hawke’s Bay Earthquake in 1931 and just as the HMS Canterbury was in Port in Littleton at the time of the Christchurch Earthquake, provided urgent support to the region.

An undoubted highlight of Napier’s calendar is the annual GEON Art Deco Weekend held in February. Organised by the Trust, it is a not too serious celebration of Art Deco style. The event attracts thousands from all over the world to participate in fun events that involves dressing up, dancing, dining, picnics, parades, vintage cars, planes and more.

ENDS

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