Christmas Takes Off With New Zealand Air Games

Christmas Takes Off With New Zealand Air Games

LAKE WANAKA (September 13, 2007) - An air sports extravaganza will take to the skies over Wanaka on 27 and 28 December in the largest aviation sports event ever to take place in the Southern Hemisphere. Air Sports Live, incorporating the New Zealand Air Games, features 10 sports ranging from paragliding to sky diving, helicopters to hot air ballooning, all set against the spectacular alpine backdrop of Wanaka, New Zealand.

Many of the sports have been reformatted for high adrenalin viewing. Spectators will see sky divers racing head-to-head at terminal velocity around free-falling pylons. Top pilots will open up a whole new perception of helicopters as they perform phenomenal stunts and precision flying in direct competition with each other; powered aircraft will perform dramatic aerobatics featuring massive G-forces and millimetre precision.

Experimental aircraft will provide a glimpse into the future with new approaches to aerodynamics, speed, fuel economy and computer controls. The aviation world is reduced to miniature in the aeromodelling competition featuring intricate remote controlled models performing high speed manoeuvres at mind-blowing speeds.

All the aerial action will be beamed back live to spectators on the airfield on a giant screen from cameras mounted in cockpits as well as the latest air-to-air filming technology and real-time graphics, allowing a fascinating insight into the previously closed world of the world-class sports pilot.

Tickets are $18 for adults with free admission for children under 16 and are available by calling 03 443 2700. For further information, visit www.airsportslive.com.

ENDS

Air Sports Live is presented by Flying NZ. Flying NZ began over 75 years ago as the Royal New Zealand Aero Club Inc (RNZAC) and now has over 4,000 pilot members. Flying NZ is the umbrella organisation for 45 aero clubs nationwide. It is the New Zealand representative of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), and the National Airsport Control for New Zealand. As the New Zealand FAI representative Flying NZ is responsible for ensuring the interests of all New Zealand aviation groups are accounted for on the world stage. It is dedicated to promoting the highest possible standard of flight training and practice for recreational aviation. Flying NZ is dedicated to improving the public awareness of aviation sports and increasing the membership of all sports aviation groups in New Zealand.

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