Been to Avalon three times and never again. Long way to drive, windy, hot and the dust really spoils the day. The toilets stink, and the gaps are too long between individual flying displays. Horses for courses but most professionals who attend to make serious purchases don't get turned on by little aeroplanes spinning, bunting, flying inverted, making smoke, Harvards doing endless aeros. Kids love 'em though.

As someone said it is a trade show and flying displays are incidental. There is nothing much different in all the Avalon shows

Nob jockey there is a wonderful podacst with a US official explaining all about the Raptors Pilot training and international flying schedule. He explains how the F22 has been offered to cananda, australia and GB for public displays as we are such staunch allies. Offered, not begged arranged, cajoled or negotiated.

Business is business. Getting ac to fly at an airshow is not some top secret extra special cloak and dagger mission. It happens every day hundereds of times around the world. Its called an industry that people are paid to be in. Procedures are in place. All your hysterical mysterious meetings after long tortuous flights are a side show and have nothing to do with anything other than planning for what has already been decided.

It is very simple. We invite the yanks, they see what they can offer, that gets run past the oz govt. Subject to operations, the logistics are planned, schedules arranged, clearances given, support put in place, forward ops deployed, aircraft moved, amen. The yanks do it every day, its a nice mission for them, they love it. They would send more but they dont have much money atm.

People getting paid to organise an airshow is not hard work.

A37575

"Been to Avalon three times and never again. Long way to drive, windy, hot and the dust really spoils the day."

"Long way to drive,"

From where ?

It is probably the easiest drive of any in Melbourne
because you have a straight highway / freeway to it
and connecting freeways onto this one.
Imagine holding a show at Tullamarine, then watch the wingers
re traffic, distance etc.

Isn't one of the attractions of Avalon that it has low level of restrictions,
partly due to lack of commercial traffic and partly it's location away from
the city / main airport ?

"windy, hot and the dust", Er, this is Australia in the hottest month
of the year. And hasn't the show been wet and muddy a couple of times ?

Point well taken. Forgive the tetchiness of a grumpy old man. In years past I have had the pleasure of watching air shows in England where the aerodromes and surrounding countryside are part of England's `green and pleasant land`. A contrast to the dusty paddocks of Avalon. Add to that in England, the sight and sounds of a wonderful variety of wartime aircraft plus the close synchronisation of their flying displays. That said, there are undoubtedly thousands of Melburnians who thoroughly enjoy Avalon perhaps because they have seen nothing else.

Good point there, a different time of year could be a goer. It seemingly is stinking hot and dusty every time.

A375

What did you mean by "LONG WAY TO DRIVE ?'

I have been to Farnborough so understand green and cool :ok:
A different time of year might be better although you
run the risk of weather wash outs but them's the breaks.

I have lived not far from Avalon for 20 years, first 10 years
we had cold wet winters, last 10 years dry winters.

"there are undoubtedly thousands of Melburnians who thoroughly enjoy Avalon perhaps because they have seen nothing else."

Exactly.

We just don't have the events so this is awesome to them.


Re the Trade versus Public - and as others have said, mothers with prams, singlets and thongs and other general put downs.

The days these people are there are PUBLIC days with payment
for entry. TRADE days where these people are not allowed are
the days beforehand.

FFS, you can't criticize the public for coming on public days
and as for "singlets and things", OK, it's not the nice suits
and ties or smart casual wear of the UK but the culture out
here is different.

RE..."in England where the aerodromes and surrounding countryside are part of England's `green and pleasant land`. A contrast to the dusty paddocks of Avalon"....

I attended Duxford, RIAT, & Farnborough last year, and the mud at each venue was up to our ankles.....

NO dust though.....
(Nor heat, nor flies....)

:=

Well it looks like the Airshow is staying where it is until 2025.

Sauce?(sic)

Thanks Ulralights,

Can anyone tell me when Avalon started having trade days that were not opened to the public?
Thanks

I'm pretty sure the trade days have been there from the beginning. That is where the money is. The public airshow is just sh1t & glitter.

Having been to shows at Bankstown and Richmond I cannot see how they would cope with traffic and parking.
Bankstown is surrounded by suburbia, has short runways no mass parking no train nearby . Many years ago tried to get to Richmond on a Sunday and could not get any where near it for bumper to bumper traffic. Went on trade day at Richmond and that was OK but it is a nightmare otherwise. SYD cant cope with normal traffic so that is out. Tulla ? Same I guess but a bit better. CBR maybe a goer. By the time 2015 gets here CBR will be covered in shopping malls anyway:hmm:

Sooooo Avalon is off to a flying start in some very crappy weather.

Has anyone else heard the figure of 30 CASA staff being used for ramp checks particularly around the commercial operators at Avalon East ?

Don't think dust will be a problem this year !

Hopefully the / any cloud cover won't be too low
at the weekend.

We wonder why aviation rarely gets good PR in this country and why there is no longer a fascination with flight. Yet here, on a forum frequented by people who supposedly have a passion for aviation, I see posts taking delight in criticising Australia's premier aviation event and complain about having to share it with Joe public.

Seeing people marvel at military jets and aerobatics for the first time makes any av geek like me proud. Even if they don't get the aviation bug they may think twice before signing a petition to close a local airfield. Instead of arguing where the Australian International Air Show should be, there should be an effort to have more airshows around Australia or grow the ones we already have.

Can't wait to go tomorrow!

"Yet here, on a forum frequented by people who supposedly have a passion for aviation, I see posts taking delight in criticising Australia's premier aviation event and complain about having to share it with Joe public."


Do they have to share with "Joe public" ?

Web site says "Trade Exhibition" and then "Public Airshow"
with a one day overlap on the 1st and the public only allowed
in after 2.00pm.

Seems pretty clear to me that the whole event is in two parts,
professionals and public.

I think the "PP" and industry employees amongst us can't fathom how the Gunzels get in on what is professionals only trade days.

Aaahh, understand.

The problem with every trade show !!!

Bonniciwah

Well said.

John