Stunt planes fight for a national title

For the next two days, New Zealand’s best stunt pilots will be twisting and manoeuvring over Wairarapa skies for the aerobatic championship title. Today is the third day of the four-day competition being held at Hood Aerodrome. The contest’s 15 pilots will be judged on their accuracy in flying increasingly complex sequences of manoeuvres. Although competition has been tight so far, event organiser and commercial pilot Grant Benns said some top-scoring pilots are beginning to emerge. Stunt flying is a niche hobby among professional pilots, Benns noted. “This is a hobby for aviation enthusiasts with a hankering to go upside down.” PHOTO/Lawrence Robinson