Australian Defence Force (ADF) Showcase
The ADF Showcase component of the Avalon Australian International Airshow 2017 demonstrated the defence operation capabilities of a joint Australian Defence Force task force featuring fighter jets, helicopters, maritime patrol and support aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal Australian Army and Royal Australian Navy. Lets now take a look at the RAAF support elements of the ADF Showcase including tactical transport aircraft and the highly capable Boeing E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft.
Wedgetail
An RAAF Boeing E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft was flown to simulate support of the overall operations where it would provide advanced air battlespace management to direct fighter aircraft, surface and land based assets plus supporting aircraft like air refuelling tankers and intelligence gathering aicraft. This unique looking aircraft is based off the Boeing 737 platform and the type has seen operational service with the RAAF over the Middle East.




Multi Role Tanker Transport
An RAAF Airbus KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) conducted a simulated air to air refueling display above the crowd with the two F/A-18 Hornet fighters (the KC-30A has both drogue and boom refuelling systems to be able to refuel a wide variety of RAAF and allied nation aircraft). This was really cool to see over our heads!




RAAF Transports
RAAF Boeing C-17A Globemaster III and Lockheed C-130J Hercules transports conducted tactical displays including troop and vehicle insertions plus showing off their short take off and landing capabilities. Both types were also on static display.











A new Alenia C-27J Spartan light transport aircraft with short take off and landing capability was meant to fly on the Saturday I attended the show but this did not take place. One was on static display though and was a popular crowd attraction.


Bottom: RAAF C-17 Globemaster III, C-130J Hercules and C-27J Spartan
RAAF Elephant Walk
Once the aircraft were back on the ground the display was concluded with a number of the aircraft involved conducting an elephant walk along the runway past the crowd line. Unfortunately I missed a photo of the army helicopters flying above them but it was still a unique ground formation and a great way to end the ADF display!



Seriously impressive on all counts – great photos of an awesome air show! Thank you for sharing.
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Thanks. All the RAAF big toys
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Neat!
Modern stuff isn’t really my thing, but I’m looking forward to the C-27J at Omaka in a few weeks.
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Yet to see the RAAF ones fly but in the past I have seen the Italians throw a C-27 about like a fighter! Have fun at Omaka (one of my favourite air shows was there in 2009)
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