A well respected family in Wanaka's aviation community are hoping for the best in the search for their son

Founder of Warbirds over Wanaka Sir Tim Wallis' son Matt Wallis is missing, after his helicopter crashed yesterday afternoon.

Now the community is doing their best to rally around the family, which has given so much to the tourism industry as far back as the 1980s.

Queenstown Lakes District mayor Jim Boult says his heart goes out to the family.

He says Sir Tim is probably the pioneer of tourism related aviation in the district.