A Hawker Hunter jet fighter will travel from Queenstown to Wanaka in about two and a-half minutes for daily flyovers at the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow in April.
The flights to and from Queenstown would be necessary because the jet cannot land at Wanaka because of the length of the runway, airshow event manager Mandy Deans said.
The flight time from takeoff between the two airports was estimated at four minutes at an economical cruise, but at "full bore" the journey would take only two and a-half minutes, albeit burning 2.5 times more fuel.
The Hawker Hunter first broke the world air speed record in 1953 at 727.63mph.
Hawkers first flew in 1951 and were used by the RAF for almost 50 years. Nearly 2000 were produced and they served in 18 countries, the largest user being the RAF.
As a ground attack fighter it had enormous firepower and carried cannons, bombs, rockets, sidewinder air-to-air missiles and the Maverick guided missile, Ms Deans said.
The aircraft which is coming to Wanaka at Easter was built in 1957 and served with the RAF in Germany. In 1970, it was refurbished and delivered to the Singapore Air Force where it served until 1992.
Imported to New Zealand in 1995, it was refurbished again at Ardmore and would be flown from Queenstown by Auckland-based aircraft engineer and pilot Jim Lawson, who had looked after it since it arrived in the country.
The jet will join about 60 other aircraft, mostly warbirds, at the three-day event from April 6.
Hawker Hunter
• Broke world air speed record at 727.63mph in 1953.
• First flew in 1951, almost 2000 produced.
• Used by RAF for nearly 50 years.
• In service in 18 different countries.
• Empty weight 15,000lb, max weight 25,000lb.
• Max altitude 48,000ft.
