The official Avalon Airshow Thread
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Went yesterday and I have to say it was really disappointing. GA didn't really have that much of a presence, announcers as said above had no clue whatsoever and the flying displays have been better in the past. That being said, was near the threshold at the end of the day when the B-1 appeared and wow is that thing a beast! Also was great to see the Rhino in Australian colours and in action.
Were there two B-1Bs this year? On Sat I walked around the one parked next to the F-22s. Then while in the two hour que to get out of the car park I watched one land in the rear view mirror (about 6pm I think)..... I didnt see one take off.
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Today was much better than yeserday, more action, less breaks, the holding a/c were closer so it wasnt as boring when waiting for an act. B1 went up, KC10 landed after being static yeserday, where did it go? Connnie made it up briefly but a limited display, I think it was still crook.
Agree woth the lack of GA. So much sexy stuff on the tarmac, you culd have one day of GA and one day of chocker block military.
For the life of me, I cant understand why high aerial acts ala Matt Hall and the various gliders and stunt a/c are put on when the sun is at its worst at Avalon. A prime example of not understanding the basics.
Almost every fault with this event could be rectified if the ASDU would talk to a few punters, do some market research, like every decent business does. Instead its "we are right and we are the only game in town" if you dont like it bad luck.
Its a shame really, but then again the ASDU masquerades as a not for profit organisation, a law unto themselves. Roll on Point Cook.
Agree woth the lack of GA. So much sexy stuff on the tarmac, you culd have one day of GA and one day of chocker block military.
For the life of me, I cant understand why high aerial acts ala Matt Hall and the various gliders and stunt a/c are put on when the sun is at its worst at Avalon. A prime example of not understanding the basics.
Almost every fault with this event could be rectified if the ASDU would talk to a few punters, do some market research, like every decent business does. Instead its "we are right and we are the only game in town" if you dont like it bad luck.
Its a shame really, but then again the ASDU masquerades as a not for profit organisation, a law unto themselves. Roll on Point Cook.
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100,000 people there today the announcer said. Certainly fantastic weather.
I have to agree with other postings it was really dissappointing.
If the USAF hadn't turned up in strength a very large chunk of the aerodrome would have been vacant!
Highlights for me were the Spartan and Matt Hall in his MX-R Racer.
I have to agree with other postings it was really dissappointing.
If the USAF hadn't turned up in strength a very large chunk of the aerodrome would have been vacant!
Highlights for me were the Spartan and Matt Hall in his MX-R Racer.
Could have put up a sign;
"Shade....$10 for 30 minutes"
and would've made a fortune.
Love public days.
Try to get kids into the cockpit but no matter how many times you tell them they always try to bust the control locks off.
End up just closing the a/c but someone reaches in through the storm window, opens the door and leaves the masters on. Thanks, dopey.
"Excuse me madam, but you're smoking under the drain of 300 litres of AVGAS."
Response....
"Bitch bitch, moan, moan, bleat....."
Sorry, but we have those stools there so people can see through the window, not as spectator seats.
Shame.
"Shade....$10 for 30 minutes"
and would've made a fortune.
Love public days.
Try to get kids into the cockpit but no matter how many times you tell them they always try to bust the control locks off.
End up just closing the a/c but someone reaches in through the storm window, opens the door and leaves the masters on. Thanks, dopey.
"Excuse me madam, but you're smoking under the drain of 300 litres of AVGAS."
Response....
"Bitch bitch, moan, moan, bleat....."
Sorry, but we have those stools there so people can see through the window, not as spectator seats.
Shame.
The US defence crews really are a credit to their nation and their service. Every single aircraft this, and every time I have been to Avalon always had a crew member from that aircraft standing guard and they took the barrage of questions, stupid and sensible all day long without a hint of even seeming annoyed.
Jumped on the aussie C17 for most of it internally roped off(on a trade day), with the cockpit off limits, walk over to the US one, no sign of a rope anywhere, and the crews had no worries with you sitting in the cockpit and having a chat, big thumbs up !
Quote of the time for me, was someone asking the B1 crew if their aircraft was the noisiest, the reply 'we like to think so!'
How freaking cold was it on Friday, March in Victoria, like a cold winters day in QLD !
Anyone else see the Qantas 747-400 leave and come back on Fri morning, seeing it use half the runway the A320s were using was pretty impressive. They left and reported tech. problems and returned for a landing and left again a few hours later, seeing it land from the gable markers was impressive and something you never normally see either.
Love to know what the book value of a/c on the ground is during the show, as well as the value of camera equipment !! Some of those lenses on the gable markers would provide a 8 X 10 glossy of a seagull ****ting at Bells Beach !
Jumped on the aussie C17 for most of it internally roped off(on a trade day), with the cockpit off limits, walk over to the US one, no sign of a rope anywhere, and the crews had no worries with you sitting in the cockpit and having a chat, big thumbs up !
Quote of the time for me, was someone asking the B1 crew if their aircraft was the noisiest, the reply 'we like to think so!'
How freaking cold was it on Friday, March in Victoria, like a cold winters day in QLD !
Anyone else see the Qantas 747-400 leave and come back on Fri morning, seeing it use half the runway the A320s were using was pretty impressive. They left and reported tech. problems and returned for a landing and left again a few hours later, seeing it land from the gable markers was impressive and something you never normally see either.
Love to know what the book value of a/c on the ground is during the show, as well as the value of camera equipment !! Some of those lenses on the gable markers would provide a 8 X 10 glossy of a seagull ****ting at Bells Beach !
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I will be in the minority but I enjoyed it yesterday. There are so many things that could be improved, but we say that at each show.
The car park sounds like a debarcle - very happy I didn't get a rental car. The annoying thing was getting out, all the buses had to get onto the freeway at the next exit. We got on at 4:30pm, it was bumper to bumper all the way to the motorway enterance from the car park. They cut down the freeway to two lanes to make it easier for the exiting car parks, but we were on the freeway for at least 40 minutes before we got past that blockage. Stupity all round.
Anyone get the train? How quick was that on the way out?
Shade: yes, they never get that right. They can easily fit some portable shades in some areas. The reason the Halls were packed was because they were the only shade available.
The car park sounds like a debarcle - very happy I didn't get a rental car. The annoying thing was getting out, all the buses had to get onto the freeway at the next exit. We got on at 4:30pm, it was bumper to bumper all the way to the motorway enterance from the car park. They cut down the freeway to two lanes to make it easier for the exiting car parks, but we were on the freeway for at least 40 minutes before we got past that blockage. Stupity all round.
Anyone get the train? How quick was that on the way out?
Shade: yes, they never get that right. They can easily fit some portable shades in some areas. The reason the Halls were packed was because they were the only shade available.
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Kudos with the US aircrews putting up with rubbish! My young bloke was waiting like a saint to ask the B-52 pilot how many bombs it could carry. Had to wait for 10 minutes while this old bloke chewed his ear off about our red ranger prime minister etc etc. The relief on his face when I jumped in with "excuse me mate but this young man has a question". Great to see the smile on the young bloke when they started talking about the computer game "Call of Duty". Way over my head! 
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More than 100k there, me thinks.
I walked out the gate just before 2pm and people were still coming in.
Just a question, what's the go with this bird? Looks like someone took off her tatts.
I walked out the gate just before 2pm and people were still coming in.
Just a question, what's the go with this bird? Looks like someone took off her tatts.
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Isn't that Walana Dreaming or Nalanji Dreaming? I forget which one.
Flying Art (these are the newer ones)
Has been retired for a while now and poached for parts from memory. I wonder if it will be leaving one day on the back of many trucks to the scrap yard. Went on that to Hawaii back in 2003, 'twas one of the later 300 series from memory and didn't have business class or decent in-flight entertainment.
Flying Art (these are the newer ones)
Has been retired for a while now and poached for parts from memory. I wonder if it will be leaving one day on the back of many trucks to the scrap yard. Went on that to Hawaii back in 2003, 'twas one of the later 300 series from memory and didn't have business class or decent in-flight entertainment.
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I know there was a red one (I think it's still doing the rounds) and this blue one in 747 guise with all that sticker work all over them.
I think I saw the red one recently (few months ago) over Melbourne.
I could be wrong.
I think I saw the red one recently (few months ago) over Melbourne.
I could be wrong.
It's VH-EBU - Nalanji Dreaming Photos: Boeing 747-338 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net
Been in Avalon since 2005 - and in about the condition you photographed it since about 2007. God knows what the plan and story was - I believe it went down there for maintainance in 2005 - pulled it apart with the intention of returning to service - GFC hit - some of the other 300s were also bought down and parked, things picked up the other 300s were put back into service and they didn't end up spending the money to get EBU going again and it's sat there ever since.
Wunala the other was initially on VH-OJB - then it got taken off and put onto the new 400ER - VH-OEJ
Been in Avalon since 2005 - and in about the condition you photographed it since about 2007. God knows what the plan and story was - I believe it went down there for maintainance in 2005 - pulled it apart with the intention of returning to service - GFC hit - some of the other 300s were also bought down and parked, things picked up the other 300s were put back into service and they didn't end up spending the money to get EBU going again and it's sat there ever since.
Wunala the other was initially on VH-OJB - then it got taken off and put onto the new 400ER - VH-OEJ
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EBU is now used as an AFP hijacking/hostage situation trainer...
I flew down from Sydney with Jetstar on Saturday - got a few nice shots of the aerial displays. The highlight for me was the Spartan - transports shouldn't be able to do what it can!
I was very disappointed the B-1 didn't fly on Saturday, I was looking forward to that. It seems the flying program shrinks a bit every year, and there's too much downtime in between acts.
It was worth the trip down there though.
I flew down from Sydney with Jetstar on Saturday - got a few nice shots of the aerial displays. The highlight for me was the Spartan - transports shouldn't be able to do what it can!
I was very disappointed the B-1 didn't fly on Saturday, I was looking forward to that. It seems the flying program shrinks a bit every year, and there's too much downtime in between acts.
It was worth the trip down there though.
Line of the day from one of the USAF F22 pilots:
Small boy: Is that Starscream?
Pilot: This one right here? No. But that one just over there is but don't tell any one!
Small boy: Is that Starscream?
Pilot: This one right here? No. But that one just over there is but don't tell any one!
Interesting reading the neg comments here,would be interesting to know the general public's thoughts on the event rather than us picky pilots etc:-)
I know I wouldn't bother going again (went many years ago,poor back then too) due very poor overall event management but the public know no better I guess.
At least the Yanks look the part as well as act the part:-)
Wk2
I know I wouldn't bother going again (went many years ago,poor back then too) due very poor overall event management but the public know no better I guess.
At least the Yanks look the part as well as act the part:-)
Wk2