A rare de Havilland Dragonfly and a de Havilland Tiger Moth are the feature aircraft at this weekend’s Mandeville Fly-In near Gore.

Organisers have confirmed the annual event will go ahead on February 20 and 21 as planned, following the Government’s decision on Wednesday afternoon to revert to level 1 COVID restrictions.

The fly-in is organised by the Croydon Aircraft Company, which restores vintage aircraft at Mandeville, about 15 minutes’ drive from Gore.

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Event organiser Maeva Smith said this year’s family-focused event was especially significant, with 2021 marking 100 years of flying at Mandeville.

“My great uncle John [Crombie] flew passengers from here at Mandeville at what back in 1921 was a paddock.”

The Mandeville airfield is on farmland that has been owned by several generations of Mrs Smith’s family.

Mrs Smith and her engineer husband Colin Smith founded the aircraft restoration business at Mandeville in the 1980s and began organising the annual fly-in from 1986.

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Mrs Smith said she was relieved the event could go ahead.

“We are tigers for punishment,” she laughed. “We got it in last year just before Covid.”

The fly-in usually attracts about 500 to 600 people, more if it is a nice day, she said.

Activities include flights in the de Havilland aircraft, as well as rides on the Waimea Plains Railway steam engine. 

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Visiting aircraft were welcome and there would be traction engines, vintage cars and bikes, and market stalls, Mrs Smith said.

“We’re pleased the event can go ahead because the weather is looking really good, so there is a good chance of plenty of flying this weekend.”