Plenty of steam and air power on show

Engines young and old were on display at the Mandeville Fly-in this year.

There was also a broad age range of enthusiasts to engage with the vintage planes, steam tractors, trains and dirt bikes on show at this year’s Mandeville Fly-in and Steam Festival.

Despite the grey skies and light rain, festival organiser Maeva Smith said they had a "more than expected" turnout on Saturday.

Despite the conditions, the festival had five private aircraft that had come down for the day.

From the grassy airstrip, families watched the 1930s planes lift off and circle the airfield.

Stu and Roni MacPherson, of San Diego, had flown their 1948 Luscombe 8, the only one of its kind in New Zealand, from Tauranga.

The private aircraft also included a Chinese war plane.

Mandeville’s own Tiger Moth and Fox Moth were also flying.

Steam Club custodian George Morrison said the "beauty" of the steam tractor he looked after was that many young people had the chance to learn how to stoke and even drive the machine.

"If you've got a current driver’s licence you can steer, but you've got to have a steam ticket to stoke and to work it," he said.

Mr Morrison said the 1907 steam tractor was the only remaining original single-cylinder steam tractor with a four horsepower engine in the world.

The more recent machinations of the dirt bike were also on display as, despite the wind, motocross rider Stuart Ewing performed daring stunts for the crowd.