The Footy Show hosts (L-R) Paul Harrigan, Peter Sterling and Paul Vautin do the 'hard yards' of a different kind during filming of the show at RAAF Base Wagga. Photo courtesy of Wagga Daily Advertiser.

It takes a lot to lift the roof off an Air Force hangar.

But there was a moment or two during broadcast of The Footy Show at RAAF Base Wagga when World War Two veteran, Hangar 84, looked like she might just have met her match.

For 105 minutes, RAAF Base Wagga and Hangar 84 became the focus of the rugby league world as they played host to the Channel Nine sporting phenomenon, The Footy Show.

More than 1700 screaming fans packed the hanger-come-studio for a night of high-flying hi-jinks, as popular hosts Paul 'Fatty' Vautin, Peter 'Sterlo' Sterling and Paul 'Chief' Harrigan unleashed the unrehearsed mayhem that makes them one of the top rating programmes in the country.

The show was brought to Wagga and the base to coincide with the City versus Country Origin clash the following night, the stars and their producers thinking it might be 'a bit of fun'.

What they got instead was a reception that blew even these seasoned entertainers away - and had them singing the praises of both Wagga and the Air Force.

'Wow, listen to the crowd. That is a crowd, wow,' said a beaming Harrigan as the trio waited to enter the hangar after a pre-recorded opening segment that was sheer Hollywood.

The trio was first shown undertaking a grueling obstacle course on the base, to the barks of PTI Corporal Scott Fairweather, whose starring role has made him an overnight celebrity on base.

Then the trio was shown taxiing up to the hangar doors in three gleaming Macchi jets before leaping from the cockpits and running into the hangar.

In actual fact, the taxiing shots had been filmed the night before and the live broadcast was only picked up when the trio jumped from the stationary aircraft.

The trio entered the hangar to a 'two thumb' salute from a line of Air Force trainees, who reveled in their national television debut.

A key focus of the night was the return to the base of Peter Sterling, who had spent several years at RAAF Base Wagga as a teenager while his father served as a dental technician.

'I am just wrapt to be back - I have so many great memories of this place,' said Sterling.

Wagga too it seems has plenty of memories of Sterlo, with a This Is Your Life segment featuring colourful tales from boyhood sporting friends.

RAAF Base Wagga, its history and its professionalism featured highly during the show's presentation, with all three presenters enthusiastically thanking the base and its personnel, many who had volunteered their evenings and weekends to ensure the show ran smoothly.

Even the Prime Minister, who had flown to the base that morning on a visit to the region, gave his own vote of confidence during an interview filmed with Vautin.

'The Air Force Base has long been a part of the city of Wagga Wagga and will continue to be so for years into the future,' said Mr Howard, who revealed he was disappointed his schedule prevented him from being in the audience.

Vautin closed the show with a formal thank you to Base Commander RAAF Wagga, Wing Commander Ron Hodges, extolling their professionalism and expertise of all the base personnel who had played host to The Footy Show during the week.

'This Base and the Air Force are absolutely top notch. I cannot say enough about how good these people are,' said Vautin.

By Tracey Atkins