Some exellent shots by other folks there – here’s my contribution – not spectacular, but I hope a taste of the event.
I went to the show on the Saturday with a friend’s family, and the weather wasn’t much fun and I didn’t get many pics; Sunday the weather was better, but the cloud hung around and there was a mean wind all day.
Of the three Avalon shows I’ve been to (1992, 2005 and 2007) this was undoubtedly the least impressive in terms of aircraft – either variety or numbers, and the impression I get was that they’d not bothered at all in getting any ‘extra’ performers for the show days. All fine, except, like the Formula 1 car racing, the Victorian state government is handing over a large lump of cash to an organisation that should make a clear profit…
To be fair to the organisers, with the new heavy metal, they were in a gap in major contracts – nothing major in either civil or military or Australian or Pacific opportunities coming up, and a number of recent ones just signed.
You’ll also note no Airbus A-380 or Boeing 707, a poor effort by Qantas. The 707 was scheduled to appear at the Sydney Harbour bridge 75th anniversary, but there were ‘paperwork’ problems that stopped it; most of the scheduled flying also didn’t eventuate there for other reasons.
That’s the negatives, and if that seems a little less than positive, bear in mind the show was promoted as ‘best in the world’ and more realistically ‘one of the best’. It was a long way from either accolade.
On the positive side there was some stunning flying, the Boeing test-pilot in the Super Hornet was spectacular, the Italians in their cargo twin turbo prop, and the RAAF did a good job with the four Hornet display, Roulettes, F-111 an Neptune.
Anyway, on with the motley:
The Australian Army’s new toy.
The HARS Neptune didn’t fly during the show.
The fibreglass (solid) model of the Bell X-1. Chuck Yeager decided to be photographed against some other aircraft…
There were four Daks on show, three of which flew.
Many of the warbird operators aren’t interested any more, and stay away. Alan Arthur’s P-40 from South Australia was one present, seen here with the RAAF Museum’s CAC Mustang. Toothy.
Jim Wickham in the Yak.
VH-BOB, operated by Bob Eastgate, and the RAAF Museum’s Mustang.
One of the many Nanchangs in Australia, this one with a great scheme…
One of the highlights was the wingovers and (here) rolls by the Italian Spartan transport.
It’s behind you…
By: Jezza - 21st April 2007 at 08:08
NICE PICS
🙂
By: fabke - 15th April 2007 at 22:21
Excellent shots and report , thanks for that , I have been looking with open mouth to these unusual planes 😉
By: JägerMarty - 3rd April 2007 at 13:37
How were the warbirb displays? what flew?
May have gone but have been put off by poor displays there in the past. Was in ADL that weekend anyway
By: tiddles - 1st April 2007 at 04:21
Avalon Pics
Nice pics.,well done ,I thought that the Super Hornet & the C-27 displays were superb, interestingly Alenia are expecting to sell some [12-14] to the ADF so I suppose they pulled out all stops. Also I was surprised at the size of the Tiger ,quite a bit larger than I expected,in fact very much so.
By: mike currill - 31st March 2007 at 22:35
I’d happily have visited the show just to see and hear the Connie in flight. Bet those engines sounded good.
By: FlyingKiwi - 28th March 2007 at 21:03
James,
Love the Connie and the F-111!
Richard.
By: JDK - 28th March 2007 at 12:48
And more.
A superb display.
The RAAF Museum’s Operation Officer, Wc Cdr Warren Madsen in the Museum’s Tiger.
Built in Australia – the Gippsland Airvan, and a good seller worldwide.
Just a nice view.
Trainer formation – two CT-4s, Winjeel and Harvard.
The Cubulture based Wirraway was present, and put oin another good display. I like this picture, as it could be Papua New Guinea, 1942.
We were blessed with a couple of flypasts by a B-52 on the Saturday and on the Sunday by an aircraft based, I think at Guam.
The Connie was impressive. On the Saturday it returned early with the port inner shut down, oiled plugs was the word, but was very impressive on the Sunday.
Qantas seem to have a tagging problem… But then you’ll never muddle your aircraft with another! 😀
The ‘Southern Knights’ did a very nice Harvard formation flight. A mix of ex-military and civilian pilots.
Pig getting ready to set the sky on fire…
Always impressive. That’s all folks!
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March 28, 2007 at 12:43 pm