As I usually do I went in on Thursday looking less at the billboard draw cards and more at something different from previous years. I found it in a little Bristol WWI fighter crated in from Peter Jackson's personal collection in NZ for Qantas's 100 centenary celebration. And even though it was a static display on the day it was a true work of restoration art. Thoroughly enjoyed that little gem up close and personal.
Other highlights I enjoyed on Thursday were
1) The new Cirrus LPJ.
2) Getting to sit inside the cockpit again of my all time favourite corporate jet the Dassault 7X.
3) Cracking some funny jokes with the support personnel of the G650 and YF22, even poking fun at the YF22 pilots who whizzed by in their golf cart.
4) Wearing the YF22 helmut and going for a Wonder Women ride at the Lockheed Martin corporate stand.
6) Having a dejavu moment inside an classic B212 fitted with steam gauges.
7) Learning a bit more about single pilot HEMS ops with an AW139.
8) Bumping into my favourite PA-28 VH-JIO again 20 years later.
9) Watching the freeform fun of the 2xZlins (I think) and 1xPitts aerobatic display which made me really jealous.
I reckon I had a great day. Many thanks to the organisers.