An American F-16 flies past an excited crowd.

A spectacular visual, auditory and multicultural feast of all things aeronautic was experienced by those who attended the Australian International Airshow from 13 to 18 February 2001 at Avalon Airport, outside Geelong, Victoria.

From origins not so humble, the Airshow has exceeded proportion and expectation in 10 years, having doubled in size with a resounding 500-plus exhibits, in which some 20 countries participate. The combination trade and air powered show attracts national and international industry and air fanatics alike. Open to members of the public on the final days, the Airshow attendance surpassed expectations this year, reaching the 300,000 mark.

A newly painted shark's-tooth Spitfire demonstrates its capability.

From the highly engineered air power provided by the United States with the prodigious FA-18F Super Hornet, to the low-speed display of the German WW II Slepcev Storch replica; the icing proved the precision flight of the respected Roulettes, who beautified the sky with their tightly drilled manoeuvres and creative aerobatics.

The occasion precedes the Royal Australian Air Force 80th anniversary of conception on 31 March, not far from the mark of its beginnings, Point Cook. Behind the scenes, ground crews worked long hours in the maintenance of all things airborne and pilots practised difficult manoeuvres to ensure perfect aerial execution.

Many at the Airshow worked in dual roles, including the pilots flying, providing crowd

A ground crewman makes a final visual check.

commentary and interviews with visiting media. One such squadron that had their work cut out for them, were the ground and aircrew of the highly sought after battlefield Caribou.

Speaking with Flight Lieutenant Doug Kemp of No. 38 Squadron based at RAAF Amberley, the squad has a detachment in Townsville and two remaining aircraft in East Timor. The Caribou participated in the Airshow displaying its gravity-defying ability during the 'Night Alight' and throughout the week.

In a more practical capacity, the Caribou contributed as the official flying taxi service between Point Cook and Avalon during the event. Said FLTLT Kemp: 'We have ferried spare Roulettes, Air Training Corp and anyone else in need of a lift.' For those of us who experienced the traffic delays on the Princes Highway during the public exhibition days, knows how appreciative those travelling by aircraft must have been.

Smooth sailing for a pyrotechnic skydiver during the 'Night Alight'; crowds were wowed with air power, fireworks, stunt flying and the obligatory, dump and burn

In terms of the airshow premise, Avalon fulfils the aviator and enthusiast in more ways than one. From the industry on display, to the hands-on, interactive aircraft simulation in which participation is 'highly recommended'; the military displays by the RAAF Museum, Air Training Corp, Defence Science and Technology, amongst others, were claustrophobic on public days, with more freebies on offer than one could poke a joystick at. However, the showstoppers were the aircraft, proven by members of the public, exhibitors, volunteers and media stumbling into one another as they craned to glimpse anything airborne.

The aircraft ranged mammoth to comparatively miniature; super fast to artistically slow; turn of the century, to well, turn of the century. From the historic warbirds provided and flown by private owners and members of the Temora and RAAF Museum, to military jets and choppers commanded by the ADF, USAF, RAF, RNZAF and SAF, and finally, industry aircraft provided by Boeing, Qantas, Ansett and Dakota Air. The flight line proved the drawcard for all as we perused the craft, measured the stats and daydreamed a little.

Among the featured performers was renowned international stunt flier Eddie Andreini and cohort, the fearless man aloft, Anders Brandi.

The Defence exhibit was a combination of relics from a military bygone through to the 62nd Fighting Falcons, essentially a tactical flight combat simulator, whose PC-based software was the focus of many pilots and some potential.

Speaking with exhibitor and member Barry Puttee, ex-RAAF weapons technician with the F-111 at RAAF Amberley, the concept of the program is to provide military air combat simulation developed through declassified information pertaining to actual terrain on which air battle or training has taken or takes place. This renders the software program globally, the most accurate PC-based training military combat simulation.

Originally developed in the 1990s, the United States program has had input worldwide from flight and mechanical engineers, pilots, aviation technicians, avionics system experts and more to make the software the most advanced, high fidelity combat simulation outside the military. The shelf-bought package has according to Barry, been modified and tweaked with the declassified information, which includes flight simulation out of places such as Aviano Air Base in Italy, North Vietnam, Korea, and even Tindal in Northern Territory.

The Airshow turned into a particularly sad occasion for No. 2 Squadron located at HMAS Albatross and those attending, as Commanding Officer of 2SQN, Squadron Leader Murray Neilson was killed during practise flight for the public exhibition days. SQNLDR Neilson, a member of the Royal New Zealand Air Force had been on pilot exchange in Australia approximately four years.

SQNLDR Neilson was on a final training routine in the lead A4 Sky Hawk practising an air-to-air refuelling exercise, when his aircraft clipped a tree near the Base and fatally crashed. The tragedy was a timely and confronting reminder of the occupational dangers faced by pilots each day. In a tribute to Squadron Leader Neilson, his wife and two daughters, the final day of the Australian International Airshow was dedicated to the pilot.

The success of the Airshow is as much the positive result of those attending to demonstration aircraft capability and display associated industry wares, as it is to those ran the show behind scenes and to those who answered the call for volunteer help, to which special thanks must be made. The Airshow remains and gains momentum; an air-must.

Much has been said and written about the Avalon Airshow 2001; however, one thing stands true, with or without the industry freebies, displays, simulations or the multitude of other optional extras, the opus of aircraft at the show will never fail to induce and hypnotise a passionate crowd, present for sightings and little more.

Story by Amber McKinnon
Photgraphs by SGT W.Guthrie

Mr Jum Falkiner, from Moriac, takes a walk down memory lane; Jum was the first pilot to fly a Spitfire in an operational role.	The flight line was demanding for crews, there to share aircraft information with hundreds of people eager to see, touch, listen and of course, photograph.
CPL Brendan Church, left, and CPL Christian Bland both with 37SQN assist the tarmac officer dropping off the airconditioning cart for the C-130J.	As always, the F-111 impressed the crowd below.