A few shots from the Australian International Airshow, Avalon, taken on the morning of Saturday 4 March. The one runway at Avalon lies roughly North-South, spectators are to the east, and photography gets harder after midday as the sun swings to the west. Calling the event "International" may seem a stretch to those used to the big European shows, but getting aircraft from almost anywhere on the globe to the far southeast corner of Victoria is a major commitment. International participation in the public days flying at Avalon (it is also a trade event) was limited to one RNZAF C-130H, USAF F-22A and F-16C. In the static were a Canadian CC-130J, Singapore KC-135R plus 2 x F-15SG and C-130H, and USAF C-17A, KC-135R, B-1B, P-8A and F-16. On the plus side almost every Australian air asset was included, including the first two F-35A, one of which flew a short and restricted display on the Saturday. On with the photos...
1. Best way to arrive at an airshow: C-47B VH-TMQ of Air Nostalgia, Melbourne (formerly A65-91)
2. PC9 of the Roulettes team, landing on from nearby Point Cook where the lighter assets were based for the show.
3. F-18F
4. Queen of the Skies: Lockheed L1049 Constellation VH-EAG, Historical Aircraft Restoration Society
5.
6. C-47B VH-AGU, formerly A65-72
7. AS350B Squirrels pair, RAN, in their final display before being withdrawn later this year.
8. Hawk 127 A27-20
9. The only Lockheed Hudson flying, VH-KOY formerly A16-112.
10. Not a loop but a spirited, overbanked turn onto his downwind leg to land. Not bad for an aeroplane built in 1939!
11. CAC Boomerang
12. Formation of CT4 Airtrainers and CAC Winjeels
13. RNZAF C-130H NZ7004 put on a tactical demo
Hope you enjoyed these. More to follow probably. KJ
