RAAF McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A/B Hornet multi-role fighters have graced Australian skies since 1985 and more recently have seen plenty of combat service in the Middle East but are coming to the end of their service life. It will be sad to see the “Classic Hornets” go in the next few years as they are replaced by… Read More Avalon Australian International Airshow 2019 Hornets Nest!
The Avalon Australian International Airshow 2017 had many aviation highlights but the key flying displays of the show were those featuring many of the aircraft in the RAAF, Royal Australian Army and Royal Australian Navy air fleets. These included older and brand new aircraft currently in operation or soon to reach operational status in the… Read More Australian International Airshow 2017 – Avalon’s ADF Showcase Part I
How is this for a lineup of classic combat aircraft from the Cold War through to the latest technology of today? Side by side late on the first day of Aviation Nation 2016 we have a 1960’s era design in the USAF McDonnell Douglas QF-4 Phantom II manned aerial target sitting alongside 1990’s technology in the form of US… Read More Aviation Nation 2016: Fighter Aircraft Progression from the 1960’s to Today
I spent most of my time at Aviation Nation 2016 at Nellis Air Force Base along the taxiway for the aircraft involved in the flying displays. The variations in the military pilots waves and hand gestures to the crowd became a fun sideline to the air show, especially those of the 6 USAF Thunderbirds pilots. Some of the pilots… Read More Aviation Nation 2016: The Pilots Wave
Aviation Nation 2016 celebrated “75 Years of Airpower” at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. The base was established in 1941 and has remained in continuous use ever since. Nellis is the premiere USAF combat training base and home to the USAF Warfare Centre. It is famous for the Red and Green Flag combat training exercises… Read More Aviation Nation 2016: 75 Years of Airpower – Part I
The military flying on the Saturday of the Joint Base Lewis McChord – JBLM Airshow & Warrior Expo 2016 (August 27th-28th, 2016) was disrupted a bit by strong winds. Despite this the show went on and although their were some big gaps between the flying displays, there was plenty to see in the air and on the ground… Read More JBLM Airshow & Warrior Expo 2016 – Military Flyers
The Oregon International Air Show featured some ear blasting greatness from the US Navy Super Hornet West Coast Demonstration Team! Flying a Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet aka “Rhino” two-seat multi-role fighter, the pilot literally screamed through the at speeds close to 1,125 km/h / 700 mph (edging on the sound barrier) on a number of fast low… Read More Oregon International Air Show 2016: US Navy Super Hornet West Coast TAC DEMO
2014 marks the centenary of military aviation in Australia. To commemorate this I am writing a six-part series of articles on the key stages of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF): The Early Years – 1914 to 1939 (World War One and the interwar years), World War Two – 1939 to 1945, The Cold War begins and the Korean War – 1945… Read More A Brief History of the Royal Australian Air Force: The Future
2014 marks the centenary of military aviation in Australia. To commemorate this I am writing a six-part series of articles on the key stages of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF): The Early Years – 1914 to 1939 (World War One and the interwar years), World War Two – 1939 to 1945, The Cold War… Read More A Brief History of the Royal Australian Air Force: Peacekeeping and Modern Conflicts – 1973 to 2014
The Avalon Air Show is a bi-annual event held at Avalon Airport in Victoria, Australia. I have been to all 11 of these shows to date (1992, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013) and as it is the only major international air event in Australia it always draws big crowds and… Read More Avalon Air Show 2013
Aces Flying High 