Avalon Air Show - Waste Of Time
Join Date: Dec 2011
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Bump into my old boss from Emirates at the show,,he was surprise why would Qantas abondon maintenance from Avalon,he said look at the space they got,he realize it was CN and TL running the engineering.
Last edited by Bagus; 3rd Mar 2013 at 22:30.
If it continues to disappoint Sunfish either take your fabled management experience to ASDU and start to help make it better, or stop going if it's that much of a disappointment.
I can highly recommend volunteering as a way to spice up the 'same old airshow' vibe. I did find though that I always had something important to do inside whenever the best displays were on
I can highly recommend volunteering as a way to spice up the 'same old airshow' vibe. I did find though that I always had something important to do inside whenever the best displays were on
Join Date: Aug 2009
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The food I had was great
$10 for deep fried crap from "legacy" show caterers we had to put up with until recently is terrible, but I don't mind paying the same for a quality burger!
I expect we'll see more and more of this in future everywhere. Gourmet at an airshow, whoda thunk?
(Funnily enough, as fast food outlets go, Nando's normally isn't bad, but the one burger I had from there are Avalon was terrible. Not a good advertisement for the brand!)
Join Date: Aug 2009
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I can highly recommend volunteering as a way to spice up the 'same old airshow' vibe.
I flew into main on Wednesday and had to move the aircraft to east on Friday at an 8:40 slot.
I rock up at the gate at 8 with my trade visitor card and paid ticket, with a group of the Plane Crazy Down Under media guys I was staying with. The wannabe fascist biatch at the gate wouldn't let me in before 9, even after explaining why I really kinda needed to.
I reckon she must have heard the "I need to get in an hour earlier because I have a fixed departure time I need to make" line from too many people before that morning and really felt the need to protect the exhibitors from visitors like me as, when I got slightly annoyed at her, I was asked if I wanted to get in at all that day.
Fortunately, the guy next to her called me over and on his advice I went into the registration tent and they swapped my visitor pass for an exhibitor one. Easy.
There's always some...
Join Date: Jan 2008
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I think you'll find more and more "gourmet" style food trucks
at shows, including coffee. A lot of people are over the greasy chips,
cheap stuff and want and will pay more if it is good. As long as prices
are kept "reasonable" for the good food, it adds to the enjoyment and
gets more people back. Country shows are a good example where
good food and coffee has become the norm.
at shows, including coffee. A lot of people are over the greasy chips,
cheap stuff and want and will pay more if it is good. As long as prices
are kept "reasonable" for the good food, it adds to the enjoyment and
gets more people back. Country shows are a good example where
good food and coffee has become the norm.
Join Date: Feb 2006
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The news are reporting that numbers were down a fair bit since the high of 2011. I felt that the lines for food were a lot shorter than 2011 and there were less people sitting at the fence. At a guess the F22 helped boost this years numbers a bit so glad it made an appearance. There was a projected $120m benefit to the economy which is also a good thing. I'm looking forward to taking my kids along and having them wave their arms around so here's hoping it keeps going as it has been.
In terms of nazi's, I did see an overly agressive contracted security guy taking his authority a little too far by yelling at Avalon East passengers. He didn't seem to understand that an aircraft with nobody in it isn't a risk to passengers. A quick solution to that would be a marked walkway along the northern edge of the parking area where aircraft can give way to passengers and be monitored by the marshallers.
In terms of nazi's, I did see an overly agressive contracted security guy taking his authority a little too far by yelling at Avalon East passengers. He didn't seem to understand that an aircraft with nobody in it isn't a risk to passengers. A quick solution to that would be a marked walkway along the northern edge of the parking area where aircraft can give way to passengers and be monitored by the marshallers.
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
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Just been told that the Gippsaero G10 did actually take part in the flying, possibly the parachute dropping, but I really don't know exactly what it did.
Join Date: Feb 2006
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I spotted a white unmarked GA8 doing the stock Gippy Aero handling display possibly with a ppruner at the controls and the skydive one was the Command Skydivers turbO version with black and yellow decals. Perhaps it made an appearance early in the trade days. I would have liked to see it.
Last edited by VH-XXX; 4th Mar 2013 at 01:54.
take your fabled management experience to ASDU
Possibly have a chat to Roger Dubbo while he's there ...
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The GA10 wasn't on the list. Does this fabled aircraft exist 
AIRSHOW 2013 - AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW AND AEROSPACE & DEFENCE EXPOSITION - 26 February to 3 March 2013 GEELONG VICTORIA
OldAkro - the drop that took place in conjunction with the aero's was from Commando Skydivers GA8 Turbo. The one with the yellow and black trimmings. It was climbing up to altitude during the raptor display.
AIRSHOW 2013 - AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW AND AEROSPACE & DEFENCE EXPOSITION - 26 February to 3 March 2013 GEELONG VICTORIA
OldAkro - the drop that took place in conjunction with the aero's was from Commando Skydivers GA8 Turbo. The one with the yellow and black trimmings. It was climbing up to altitude during the raptor display.
Last edited by VH-XXX; 4th Mar 2013 at 03:07.
Join Date: Jul 2012
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I had a great time. on Wednesday and Saturday - though I did have a media pass which allowed for a few perks such as access to the photographers' area.
I was delighted to see kids and people not normally exposed and interested aviation enthralled by the flying display and queuing up to get inside the transports and underneath the B-52.
The highlight for me, as a member of the public, was the passion and helpfulness of a chap in SAAA tent who has all but convinced me to pursue my dream of building a Vans RV (yet to decide which number). There was an RV-7 in the SAAA area which had me going back again and again.
The flying program flowed well despite a few late withdrawals and we were possibly the last to see a Raptor display for some time, now its demonstration flights have fallen victim to the US Government's $85 billion budget cuts.
It's a shame people see it as a waste of time. Any day spent looking at aircraft is an awesome one for me - though if you're a rotary nut you'd have a plenty of reason to be disappointed. Has Afghanistan and Middle East deployments drained the Army and Navy of flying time?
I was delighted to see kids and people not normally exposed and interested aviation enthralled by the flying display and queuing up to get inside the transports and underneath the B-52.
The highlight for me, as a member of the public, was the passion and helpfulness of a chap in SAAA tent who has all but convinced me to pursue my dream of building a Vans RV (yet to decide which number). There was an RV-7 in the SAAA area which had me going back again and again.
The flying program flowed well despite a few late withdrawals and we were possibly the last to see a Raptor display for some time, now its demonstration flights have fallen victim to the US Government's $85 billion budget cuts.
It's a shame people see it as a waste of time. Any day spent looking at aircraft is an awesome one for me - though if you're a rotary nut you'd have a plenty of reason to be disappointed. Has Afghanistan and Middle East deployments drained the Army and Navy of flying time?
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Although I found what I was expecting, I think the organisers are letting an opportunity pass by to also be a great GA trade show.
For one, unlike AUSFLY and NATFLY, it's close to a major city.
What are the odds that a 4th hall would be filled by suppliers to GA pilots and aircraft owners if the exhibit price is right?
But that would only work if the trade days are just open to everyone; I seriously doubt the "big boys" would be overwhelmed by a flood of people.
I have already spoken with a few leaders from various alphabet-groups and they too would like to see the "world of flight" area done more professionally by working together.
For one, unlike AUSFLY and NATFLY, it's close to a major city.
What are the odds that a 4th hall would be filled by suppliers to GA pilots and aircraft owners if the exhibit price is right?
But that would only work if the trade days are just open to everyone; I seriously doubt the "big boys" would be overwhelmed by a flood of people.
I have already spoken with a few leaders from various alphabet-groups and they too would like to see the "world of flight" area done more professionally by working together.
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Avalon is not likely to be an all on focus on GA, so lets just understand its part of the puzzle.
Avalon is Military, corporate, and related industries. They want GA and sport/RAA involved and rightly so, the public are interested and it is a great chance to expose the accessible part of aviation to the general community.
Natfly is an excellent venue for the RAA and lighter end of the spectrum, and they do a great job.
Ausfly is a new start, and more focus on being a bridge between Natfly and Avalon. By the reports I hear, this will be growing and is already planning on a modest but real improvement to last year.
Natfly and Ausfly are more inward focussed where as Avalon is very much an airshow for the public, so they all have their place.
Overall a damned fine event.
Avalon is Military, corporate, and related industries. They want GA and sport/RAA involved and rightly so, the public are interested and it is a great chance to expose the accessible part of aviation to the general community.
Natfly is an excellent venue for the RAA and lighter end of the spectrum, and they do a great job.
Ausfly is a new start, and more focus on being a bridge between Natfly and Avalon. By the reports I hear, this will be growing and is already planning on a modest but real improvement to last year.
Natfly and Ausfly are more inward focussed where as Avalon is very much an airshow for the public, so they all have their place.
Overall a damned fine event.
As a fly-in participant of a static display, a huge thank you to the organisers and volunteers.
It ran like clockwork except for trying to get in to dismantle the display and recover the aircraft Monday. Once we got in, organisers and ATC were excellent for the departures.
You don't hear 'Number two to the B-52' every day.
We'll be back in '15!
It ran like clockwork except for trying to get in to dismantle the display and recover the aircraft Monday. Once we got in, organisers and ATC were excellent for the departures.
You don't hear 'Number two to the B-52' every day.
We'll be back in '15!
Last edited by Captain Dart; 4th Mar 2013 at 07:30.
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These volunteers didn't think Avalon was a waste of time !
Oh and I retract that last statement about the other aircraft being the best on show, of course this one was...
I suspect this was the first time some of these girls had worn high heals before. I have no idea who they were promoting and I don't care
I would have flown around the world as a teen if I had a sponsor, but I didn't think of doing this!
As an aircraft performer, this Carbon Cub would put a Pitts to shame. It will climb at circa 700 fpm whilst hanging off the prop! That's what 180 HP will do in an aircraft that weighs sub 400 kg's.
It's no Cub I'm afraid...
Remind me to purchase a new and more powerful zoom lens. I'm impressed that they can find 3+ good looking young girls with long hair that are interested in hanging off the top of an aircraft rather than sit at home on Facebook.
130'ish knots, 4 place on 100 HP, yes, 100 HP.
Oh and I retract that last statement about the other aircraft being the best on show, of course this one was...
I suspect this was the first time some of these girls had worn high heals before. I have no idea who they were promoting and I don't care
I would have flown around the world as a teen if I had a sponsor, but I didn't think of doing this!
As an aircraft performer, this Carbon Cub would put a Pitts to shame. It will climb at circa 700 fpm whilst hanging off the prop! That's what 180 HP will do in an aircraft that weighs sub 400 kg's.
It's no Cub I'm afraid...
Remind me to purchase a new and more powerful zoom lens. I'm impressed that they can find 3+ good looking young girls with long hair that are interested in hanging off the top of an aircraft rather than sit at home on Facebook.
130'ish knots, 4 place on 100 HP, yes, 100 HP.
Last edited by VH-XXX; 4th Mar 2013 at 09:35.
