Heavy downpours failed to dampen the spirits of thousands of students attending the Take Flight programme on the first day of the three-day Wings Over Wairarapa Air Festival at the Hood Aerodrome yesterday.
While two schools had to pull the pin on attending due to the wet weather conditions, Wings Over Wairarapa chair Ron Mark told the Times-Age there were still 4500 students getting among the event’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics [STEM] programme.
“When you’re going out on a field trip from school, you have to think ahead about what the weather is like, and it’s a call for parents and teachers to make.
“It’s fair to say there was a fair bit of apprehension about how the kids would go on a wet and miserable morning, but they were loving it,” Mark said.
“I’ve wandered around the stands, and everyone is pleased they’ve come and are all pleased with how everything is running.
“Anything to do with VR gets kids excited, and each exhibition they have loved – it’s all the hands-on stuff.”
The president of Boeing for Australia, New Zealand, and South Pacific also attended the event and was reportedly very impressed with the programme and keen to have discussions after the festival about plans for future events.
Meanwhile, Mark said he’s confident today and tomorrow’s schedule will still be on the cards, but he advised ticket holders to keep checking the event’s Facebook page for any weather updates.
“The weather is looking better for tomorrow, and it looks like we’re planning on having a good flying day. We’ve got some more aircraft coming in. My advice is to be here,” he said.
“For people in Wellington, don’t judge the weather in Wairarapa by what you can see outside of your bedroom window – it’s quite different here.”
Wings Over Wairarapa Facebook page: facebook.com/wingswairarapa
