Features

ON WITH THE SHOW
The Avalon experience

A US B-1 Bomber, flown from its base in Texas for the airshow, cuts an imposing figure on the flightline.

A Pig performs a spectacular dump-and-burn.

Flight Lieutenant Luke Breer commentates for the F-111 display.

An impressive manouevre from one of Eurocopter’s NH-90 troop-carrying helicopters.

Picture of contrasts: an F-111 taxis past a Fokker triplane similar to that the Red Barron flew in WWI.

The awe-inspiring Super Hornet struts its stuff.

Sergeant Natasha Crawford is congratulated by Flight Lieutenant Simon Ashworth after she completed her first marshalling of an aircraft.

Crowds at Avalon gather adjacent to the runway as one of the show’s main attractions, the Super Hornet, lands.

A Mustang, one of the many historical aircraft that participated in the airshow, lands amid a cloud of smoke.

A Black Hawk from No. 5 Aviation Regiment at Townsville silhouetted against a brilliant sunset.

An F-111 creates a spectacular halo during a low pass at the Avalon airshow.

By Sue Caddaye and FLGOFF Simon Paton

Photos by LACW Simone Liebelt, SGT Dave Grant and SGT Troy Rogers

EXCITEMENT hangs in the air as the assembled crowd waits for that first glimpse, then all of a sudden the heavens explode with noise.

And so the show begins.

The 2003 Australian International Airshow at Avalon takes off with a Hawk Lead-in Fighter from No. 76 Squadron screaming past the crowds.

From the moment this first fast jet flies by, the crowd hears nothing else.

This is life at one of the world’s biggest airshows – full of excitement, anticipation and noise.

For the Air Force crews involved, it is also an avenue for them to meet the public and show off their skills.

Leading Aircraftman Kris Georgiadis, an Avionics Technician from No. 76 Squadron, was proud to represent the Air Force at the show.

“People see the Hawk flying and don’t know what it is,” he said. “They then come looking for it and I am only too happy to tell them about it - it’s a great aircraft.”

Pilot Officer Anthony Batchler, of 76SQN, was pleased to be with fellow aviators.

“It’s great to be somewhere where we all have a common interest, and the public on the whole have
been great,” he said.

Flying Officer Aaron Ferrari, who works with the Caribous, said it had been great to see the enthusiasm that the public had for Air Force aircraft.

“It’s been great fun doing the displays and when you land and the public claps and cheers, it’s just amazing.”

For Sergeant Natasha Courtney, the opportunity to support 76SQN at the nation’s largest airshow extravaganza was one she was thrilled to accept.

Natasha was transferred to the squadron and her new home at RAAF Base Williamtown in January after a stint of 11 years at RAAF Base Richmond with No. 285 Squadron supporting warehousing and air movements.

“I was very fortunate as the new EQUIPO in the squadron, that I had the opportunity to deploy with the other 11 people called to support our contribution to the Avalon Air Show,” SGT Crawford said.

76SQN had four aircraft participating in the Air Show with flying displays forming a part of the activities of the squadron.

But with the show over and the crowds gone, what will be the lasting memories?

For Flight Lieutenant Justin O’Brien, of No. 6 Squadron, it will be the questions he was asked.
“One woman came up to me and asked what type of car I drove. When I told her a Camry, she was visibly disappointed,” he said.

“So I asked her what she thought would have been a better answer, and she said ‘anything but a Camry’.

“But for every strange question, there has been at least 20 good ones, and that has made it all the more worthwhile to have been at Avalon.” .