![]() ![]() ![]() Today, the airshow attracts more than 50,000 people over three days and pumps $42 million into the regional economy."īack in the early days, Sir Tim’s main reasons for staging the airshow were to share his collection of World War2 fighters with the general public, but also to help attract visitors to Wānaka, which was then a sleepy little town, Mr Gilks said. Warbirds Over Wanaka Community Trust chairman John Gilks said Sir Tim had left an amazing legacy. "I might be talking to a relatively young warbird display pilot in the or Europe and they would ask after Sir Tim. Mr Taylor said Sir Tim was held in the highest regard in the world of warbird airshows. "He loved nothing more than talking about aircraft and the airshow." "Sir Tim was a regular out at his airport office and I loved nothing more than having chats with him which almost always were about the airshow. Warbirds Over Wanaka general manager Ed Taylor in a statement said he had some fond memories of catching up with Sir Tim over the past 12 years. "Drama, humour, fear, shock and amazement were common themes." "This often took the form of anecdotes that spanned the gamut of human experience. "Wherever I went for information, I found people only too willing to give me their ‘spin’ on Tim." "A group of us was very fortunate to get involved with that."Īuthor and friend Neville Peat documented Sir Tim’s life in his book Hurricane Tim in 2005 and said writing the life story of a man like Sir Tim called for some innovative ways to express his dynamism and the full force of his personality. "He was a massive inspiration because he was so passionate about warbird aircraft and operating them. "I first met Tim back in 1988 when they ran the first Warbirds Over Wanaka. Sir Tim’s friend and Warbirds pilot John Lamont said his legacy would continue. "We thought he would hold out for that, but no, he wanted to give himself his own day." Lady Wallis said today was the anniversary of the death of their son Nick. "He died peacefully at home with both sons and me there, with his favourite helicopter parked by the window." His wife, Prue Lady Wallis, last evening said Sir Tim was "a special bloke" to a lot of people, but especially to his family. He was also a major figure in the establishment of New Zealand’s venison industry, still the major shareholder of Wānaka-based Alpine Group at the time of his death, and a former director of more than two dozen companies. Sir Tim was the founder of the Warbirds Over Wanaka Airshow, which has showcased vintage and modern aircraft for more than 25 years. Photos: Stephen Jaquiery/Dave SmithOne of the South’s foremost entrepreneurs and business and community leaders, Sir Tim Wallis, of Wanaka, died yesterday evening following a short illness. Inset: The restored World War 2 Hawker Hurricane Sir Tim rescued as a wreck in Russia, on its maiden flight over Christchurch in 2000. Warbirds Over Wanaka founder Sir Tim Wallis sits in front of his restored Hiller 12E, the third machine bought by his Luggate Game Packers company in 1966 for venison recovery in Fiordland and South Westland. ![]()
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