A newcomer to Tauranga and one of the stars of the Classic of the Sky – Tauranga City Airshow is Marty Cantlon's Gilmore Waco Taperwing.

He spotted the aircraft at the Oshkosh airshow in Wisconsin, where it won the Concours d'Elegance. It's a 1982 kit aircraft based on the original.

'It's hard to describe some of these kits,” says Classic Aircraft CEO Andrew Gormlie. 'It's almost like a Ferrari kit car because they were built back in the period where people were trying to emulate the original item. So it's not a 1928 aeroplane, it's a 1982 aeroplane.

'They are made of the same old components, same period engine, and all that sort of stuff.”

Marty brought the aircraft into the country at the end of last year, so it's brand new into New Zealand. The reconstruction is just completed and he's flown only about half a dozen hours, says Andrew.

'He's stripped it and refurbished it completely from bottom to top. It's beautiful. It's a spectacular example of one of those.”

The Gilmore Waco, pronounced ‘waako', Taperwing, is known as the best flying aircraft of the roaring ‘20s, and is still sought after among pilots.

Designed for landing and taking off from cow paddocks at country fairs and rough fields, the Weaver Aircraft Company intended the Taperwing to replace the surplus WWI aircraft that began the barnstorming era.

The aircraft is equipped with hydraulic shock absorbers on the undercarriage, an unusual feature on a light aircraft of the day.

The Taperwing also has seating for two passengers side by side under the wing, bringing in twice the income from airshow joy riders.

Originally powered by a water cooled V8, later aircraft were more commonly powered by air-cooled radial engines.

The Gilmore Taperwing leads a strong showing of similar era biplane at the airshow, even though the theme is Spitfire at Sunset. There are also Stearmans and Tiger Moths.

'There's quite a lot of period aircraft and that's a rather nice one. You can see the style fits the sort of aircraft that relates to that era.”

This year's airshow and truck show is a one-day afternoon/evening event. It's a picnic style event. Bring the deck chairs and a rug. It's not BYO alcohol, but it is for sale on site.

'Settle down, bring the deck chairs, rug. Spend an evening strolling round looking at aircraft and trucks,” says Andrew.

Classics of the Sky – Tauranga City Airshow is on at Tauranga City Airport, Jean Batten Drive, on Saturday, January 23. Event begins at 2.30pm until 9pm. Visit the website www.classicflyersnz.com/Airshow for more information.