Every two years a number of the world’s best Warbird aircraft pilots head to Wanaka to show off their skills at the world-famous Warbirds Over Wanaka (WOW) International Airshow, and over the next few weeks WOW will be sharing a series of short clips called ‘Meet the Pilots’. 

The first person in the series is Bill Reid, talking about his Avro Anson, which was a coastal reconnaissance bomber that entered service in 1936 performing anti-submarine and convoy production duties.

It was first considered to be fairly sophisticated because it was quick, was the first monoplane combat aircraft, and the first to have a retracting undercarriage.  

This status proved to be short-lived as more advanced combat aircraft were quickly produced and Bill Reid’s Mk 1 is the only Avro Anson still flying in the world.

Watch Bill Reid on ‘Meet the Pilots’ and keep an eye on WOW’s social media channels for upcoming videos.

Tickets for the 2022 Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow are on sale now.

PHOTO: Gavin Conroy