By
FLTLT Gavin Barnett
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Pilot
Officer David Scott and Officer Cadets Andy McWatters and
Troy Anderson with VH-JFR, a C172 they flew from RAAF Base
Williamtown to attend the Scone air show.
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Photo
by FLTLT Gavin Barnett
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THE
past returned to the skies over the upper Hunter Valley, heralded
by the rumble of vintage aircraft engines at the Warbirds Over
Scone air show.
Air Commander Australia Air Vice-Marshal John Kindler opened the
show which the Scone Aero Club hosted on October 5.
AVM Kindler spoke about Australia’s contributions to aviation,
particularly our valuable warbird heritage.
He was “delighted and honoured” to attend the event which coincided
with celebrations for the 100th anniversary of powered flight.
The ADF’s contribution to Warbirds Over Scone was small, but enjoyed
by all.
A C-130H from No. 36 Squadron flew in en-route to Richmond, conducting
low passes over the runway, and an Iroquois from 171 Operational
Support Squadron did a flypast.
Popular vintage aircraft took pride of place. Crowd favourites
were the propeller-driven P-40 Kittyhawk, CA- 19 Boomerang, CA-16
Wirraway, the thunderous T-6 Harvard, and the P-51 Mustang.
Former Soviet jet aircraft made an impression with onlookers as
well, with flying displays by a MiG-15, L- 29 Delfin and L-39
Albatross.
They were accompanied by allied jets, including a BAC-167 Strikemaster
and a Cessna A-37 Dragonfly.
Warbirds Over Scone is popular with general aviation pilots, many
of whom fly in to the airfield especially for the event. The RAAF
Williamtown Flying Club (RWFC) had a small contingent on hand.
The next air show is already being planned for 2005. For more
information on Warbirds Over Scone, visit the event web site at
http://www.sconewarbirds.org/
The RWFC’s site is at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/raafweb/sites/rwfc/
