vale Sir Tim Wallis

[markis10]

Sir Tim Wallis, adventurer and Warbirds Over Wānaka founder (https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/archives/2008-warbirds-over-wanaka/324144/How-it-all-began), died on Tuesday surrounded by family.

His death was acknowledged in a blog post on the Warbirds Over Wānaka website. He was 85 and died peacefully, it said.

Wallis was the founder of the aviation event and “the driving force” behind it for 20 years, starting with the first airshow “Warbirds on Parade” in 1988.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300991244/adventurer-sir-tim-wallis-dies-aged-85

[treadigraph]

Very sad to hear the news, particularly to read of the loss of his sons. His biggest contribution to the vintage aircraft movement was surely all those lovely Polikarpovs... eight I-153s and I-16s was it?

[aroa]

And don’t forget the Oscar.

[NZFlyingKiwi]

Warbirds Over Wanaka grew from a small gathering of aviation enthusiasts to an event which everyone in New Zealand knew about even if they had no interest in aircraft whatsoever, and the tourism impact it had on Wanaka itself can't be understated. But aside from that, the phrase 'larger than life' probably gets used a bit too commonly, but it was most certainly appropriate in his case.