Classic Wings

Classic Wings is a bi-monthly magazine for pilots, restorers and lovers of vintage and warbird aircraft worldwide, and the official magazine of both the New Zealand and Australian Warbirds Associations. Created in 1994 by Graham and Jane Orphan as Classic Wings Downunder and launched over Easter that year, it is produced from Blenheim in New Zealand's Marlborough region, home of the Omaka aerodrome and the Classic Fighters airshow, with an Australian office as well. The magazine is printed on quality gloss paper with air-to-air photography and in-depth features, and it was conceived by people who are themselves participants in vintage aviation to help readers move from spectator to participant.

Content and services

• Coverage of the restoration of heritage aircraft of all types back to airworthiness around the world, warbird operations, fly-ins and airshows, with a gallery and back editions available online
• Subscriptions and single issues sold through the website shop, magazine advertising for the vintage and warbird market, and an aircraft sales section
• Joy rides offered in the publisher's 450 hp three-seat Stearman, and video production including the official Classic Fighters airshow DVDs

Team

Publisher and editor Graham Orphan grew up building models and a hang glider in Adelaide and Brisbane, restored Tiger Moths and built a Grunau Baby glider before moving to New Zealand, and with Jane operates an Aeronca Champ, a Fleet 16B, a replica Nieuport 11 and the Stearman; the magazine helped publicise the Omaka fly-ins that grew into the Classic Fighters airshow. New Zealand office manager Dave McDonald, originally from Timaru, is a specialist in Second World War Luftwaffe aircraft and assists with restorations in the Classic Wings hangar, James Orphan handles graphic design and photography after training in film and television at Canterbury University, and co-founder Jane Orphan is the layout designer and has also led Marlborough aviation organisations.

Shows

Classic Wings appears in the sponsor lists of the Classic Fighters Omaka Airshow 2027.

Contact

New Zealand office: P.O. Box 534, Blenheim, New Zealand, phone +64 3 578 9609; also an Australian office
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