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Australian International Airshow 2007

BREAKING THE BARRIERS
Story and Photos by Ed Anderson

Click for photo gallery

Billed as the largest Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition in the Asia-Pacific region, this year's biennial event, was again hosted by the City of Geelong at the Avalon Airport in Victoria, March 20-25.

Airshow Friday greeted us with record 39 degree Celsius heat, and fierce winds, gusting and churning dust everywhere, in advance of an approaching storm, bringing rain overnight to a long parched land.

It wasn't a particularly successful day for media photographers given nature's adverse attitude. A lot of us found shelter in the large accommodating Media Center tent, that in itself appeared at times wanting to lift from it's well secured frame and lines and ride the wind. Thankfully, there were breaks when the winds settled, motivating us to venture out with our covered camera gear on the hunt for aeroplanes.


. Australian Internaional Air Show Web Site

Those attending the industry-only Exposition events earlier in the week, fortunately had better tempered weather, which nicely accommodated delegations from over 20 countries, including Canada, and some 600 participating exhibitor organizations. Too, there were upwards of several hundred display aircraft, and apparently that many again, flown in and out of the show during its six days of operation. Organizers likewise expected upwards of 600 accredited journalists, and photographers, from news outlets around Australia, New Zealand, and overseas, reporting on all aspects of the week's events concerning Civil Air Transport, General Aviation, Aviation Safety, Military Defence, Aviation Facilities, Equipment and Services, and ending with one of the world's most highly regarded air shows, which in itself drew large crowds. Official attendance numbers for the Exposition and Airshow were said to have been just under 185,000.

This year's gathering, the eighth since 1992, of the Australian International Airshow, themed "Breaking the Barriers", also celebrated the 60th anniversary since man broke the sound barrier. And, who better to be the guest of honour at Avalon, than the first man to fly at supersonic speed, Brigadier-General Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager, 84 years of age, still a keen eyed flyer, and a continuing proponent of aerospace.

Saturday morning came early. Heavy overnight rain left the airshow grounds damp and dotted with mud pots, and the temperature down to a chilling 16-18 degrees Celsius. Tinder dry hot one day and New Zealand cool the next. Kick off to fall in Australia! Go figure!

Aside from a some far off dark clouds, the day was ripe for a good airshow. And, good it was, but not without a few wet and windy cold interruptions as the day moved along. An ambitious air program schedule was in progress when I arrived. The Australian Defence Force Training School six-place formation aerobatic team "Roulettes", flying Pilatus PC-9/A turboprops, were just finishing up their formation flying routines. Regardless, I had caught the first part of their performance the day before during the big dust-up. That alone was impressive piloting handiwork, but with this day's quieter sky they were at liberty to really display their impressive flying skills. Beforehand, I was told, a mass parachute drop from a twin engine Alenia Aeronautica C-27J Spartan, opened the air program, following the traditional Flag Drop. Annoyed me to no end that I missed it. Should have caught the earlier train out of Melbourne. Anyway, snooze, you lose!

Fast and thunderous jets were in abundance, parked for show and hot-side. The Royal Australian Air Force BAE Hawk, lead-in jet fighter trainer, kicked things off with a solo aerobatics demonstration. Others that followed in this regimen included an A-37B "Dragonfly" (VH-AZD) handled by Gary Criddle, a United States Air Force F-16C 'Fighting Falcon', flown by Maj. Jon Plasterer, a United States Navy F/A-18F "Super Hornet' with Boeing Chief Test Pilot, Ricardo Traven at the controls, an RAAF F/A-18B Hornet, handled by FLT. LT. Aaron Ward, an USAF F-15C 'Eagle' with Capt. William Bierenkoven aboard, out of Kadena Japan with two sister ships, an RAAF Hornet flight of four in a simulated ground attack with thundering pyros. A B-52 Stratofortress from of Guam, also thrilled the crowds with weekend flyovers. Last but not least, centre stage was also given Australia's elder and foremost primary strike bomber since 1973, the famous swing-wing F-111 (Aardvark). A constant crowd favorite and the only 'Dump and Burn' military airshow act in the world today. The Royal Australian Air Force presently has, according to the latest AW&ST Aerospace Source Book, 28 operational General Dynamics F-111s, mostly the "C" model, several Gs, and four reconnaissance RF-111Cs, all attached to the RAAF's historic No.1 and No.6 Squadrons. Current plans call for retirement of the huge aircraft in 2010, to be replaced by 24 Boeing F/A 18F 'Super Hornets now on order, pending ultimate arrival of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter in about 2020, if not earlier.

Helicopters as well came in numbers, either as synchronized, coordinated, or sole demonstrations. A pair of Royal Australian Navy Squirrels (AS350 Eurocopter) of the 'Taipans' precision flying team, performed their well known Squirrel Dance, a Royal Australian Army simulated battle sequence showcased a combo of a CAC 206 Kiowa, a Sikorsky S-70 Blackhawk, and a newly acquired Eurocopter Tiger ARH. A RAN Sikorsky Seahawk was the lone solo, although more of the overall fleet of rotary and fixed-wing aircraft were flown in for static display. Impressive stuff.

Other military types on the flying program were the heavy lifters, an RAAF C-130H Hercules, and a USAF C-17 Globemaster III, of which the RAAF has now received their first delivery of four examples. The venerable and remarkable DHC-4 Caribou STOL tactical transport, backbone of the Royal Australian Army Tactical Airlift capability since the war in Vietnam, was also in the air at the show. There are 10 Caribou's on strength with the 38 Squadron Air Lift Group, which are due for replacement in the next few years. To this end, there is a fresh agreement in place between aircraft manufacturers Alenia Aeronautica of Italy and Boeing, Australia for a possible successor. The probable choice appears to be the C-27J Spartan. This aircraft type is already on order or in service with Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Romania, with possibilities for acquisition by the United States Air Force and Army Joint Cargo Aircraft Program.

Also there were plenty of historical aircraft or so called Golden Oldies. Upwards of 200 of a mixed assortment, static show and fly-by participants, included pristine antiques, classics, five DC-3s, a J-4 Jenny, a Sopwith Pup, Austers, Chipmunks, Grasshoppers, Tigermoths. Later military types included a Winjeel, a Wirraway, T-6 Texans/Harvards, P-51 Mustangs, CJ6 Nanchangs, Yaks, and a fresh rebuild, ex-RNZAF P-40N-1'Kittyhawk' (VH-ZOC). Special visitors like the Lockheed Super Constellation, (VH-EAG), a PBY-6A Catalina (VH-PBZ) and a P2V-7 Neptune (VH-IOY) were from the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS), who also have several other notable vintage, airworthy aircraft. Numerous other rare warbirds scheduled for appearance did not show, largely due to the unstable weather.

Civilian Aerobatic Performers from overseas included; Jim Leroy (Bulldog Pitts), Bob Carlton (Alisport Silent J Sailplane), Rich Gibson (Rich's Incredible Pyro), Jurgis Kairy (Juka), Rob Fry (SU-26), Yoshichide Muroya (Yak 50). OZ sky dancers consisted of; Southern Knights (Harvards 4), Paul Andronocos (Extra 300), Chris Sperou (Pitts S-1S), Pip Borrman (Edge 540), and Warren Stewart (Debonair).