Better than Christmas
It’s been nine years since RAAF Base Pearce put on a show for the public, and it was worth the wait, as Corporal Simone Liebelt discovered.

PLTOFF Sean Rutledge shows Tom Roberts,10, the cockpit of a 79SQN Hawk during the Defence Air Show at RAAF Base Pearce.

FLTLT Gavin Oakley, FLTLT Paul Smart, FLGOFF Troy Holmes and FLTLT Jonathon McMullan from 10SQN man an AP-3C display.

37SQN pilot FLGOFF Shaun Wilkinson gives Zachary NcQuistan, 5, a tour of a C-130J cockpit.

CPL Greg Strong, right, joins CPL Jeff Cause and LAC John Zappia, from the RAAF Central Band, in entertaining the crowd on saxophone.

Pilot SQNLDR Craig Whiting and navigator FLGOFF Scott Hannah from No. 6 Squadron bank right after taking off for a spectacular air display, featuring the popular dump and burn.

LAC Ryan Banting and other 79SQN ground crew prepare to launch four Hawks for an air display.

Military working dog handler LAC Russel Hargrave and his dog Ally guard the USAF B1 Bomber on display at RAAF Base Pearce.

26 PC-9s fly over in formation as a finale to the air displays at the Defence Air Show.

Photos by LAC Steve Hobbs

THE drought was finally broken out west when RAAF Base Pearce opened its doors to the public for the first time in nearly 10 years.

Hot sun and swarms of flies didn’t deter more than 45,000 visitors from flooding through the gates during the two-day Defence Air Show – the sixth in a series to be staged around Australia – on November 19 and 20.

Crowds huddled under aircraft wings for shade, while those more enthusiastic waited in long queues to get a glimpse inside some of the static aircraft on display.

The big ticket item was a US Air Force B1 Bomber, which towered over the surrounding displays like a massive bird of prey.

Also on show were F/A-18s from No. 3 Squadron, Hawks from No. 79 Squadron, PC9s from No. 2 Flight Training School, an F-111 from No. 6 Squadron, an AP-3C from No. 11 Squadron and a C-130 from No. 37 Squadron.

A Republic of Singapore Air Force KC-135 refueller and two F-16 fighters were also popular displays, along with a Navy Seahawk helicopter and a beautifully restored Spitfire Mk22 static aircraft from the RAAF Association.

The RAAF Central Band entertained the crowds, while children’s rides, helicopter joy flights, corporate exhibits and military working dog handling demonstrations kept people busy in the lead up to the air displays.

Filtered through the crowd were Air Force members in a mixture of DPCU, blues and flying suits – some travelling in golf buggies, some on bicycles – assisting with traffic control and security around the base.

Joining the crowd on the second day were 15 families from the Starlight Children’s Foundation, who were flown in on a National Jet aircraft from Perth.

Known as a “Starlight Escape”, the donated trip gave seriously ill children and their families a chance to enjoy a unique day out. The base kindly provided a marquee during their visit.

The flying displays began with model aircraft demonstrations followed by gliders and civilian and warbird aircraft, including a Cathay Pacific A330 and Winjeel trainer.

A parachute jump by the Army Red Berets and fast rapelling display by Navy clearance divers led into the military display – which was what everyone was waiting for.

Flying the Hawk for the first time at an Australian air show was Flight Lieutenant Thomas Van Rooyen from No. 79 Squadron, an experienced pilot of 23 years.

“It’s a little bit out of the ordinary as it’s not something we do all the time, but it’s definitely enjoyable,” he said.

“There’s a bit more pressure with people watching, but the pressure doesn’t come from the crowds – more from your peers watching.

“I think the air show is fantastic, as a lot of people out there don’t know what we do; they see and hear us fly over all time, so this gives them the chance to come out and see what their tax dollars pay for.”

A four-ship Hawk formation also wowed the crowd, along with an F/A-18 solo display, and an AP-3C impressed with some unexpected manoeuvres. But it was the F-111 from No. 6 Squadron with its ever-popular “dump and burn” that stole the show.

Watching it from the crowd was Head of Special Events, Air Commodore Des Long.

“It was the first time I’d actually sat down and watched a display,” he said. “Squadron Leader Paul Simmons’ F/A-18 display was fantastic and the F-111 wowed the crowd.

“Everyone stood up and watched the dump and burn, and everyone I was with made comment. No matter how many times you watch it, it’s spectacular.”

The final fly-over was also a spectacular sight – 26 PC9s in formation, flown by the instructors from No. 2 Flight Training School.

After the show, one visitor commented, “To watch my children’s faces when they saw the air displays was amazing. It was totally priceless. My six-year-old son was just hypnotised by the static displays and when the fly-overs began, he was more excited than on Christmas morning. I hope we don’t have to wait another nine years for the next one.”

The show took more than 12 months to organise, thanks to the hard work of a small team of Australia-wide
reservists and local members.

Among them was Officer Cadet Andrew Leonard, from RAAF Base Pearce, who Air Commodore Long said, “probably knows more about running the show than I do”.

“I have been to other air shows, but you just sort of turn up to the event and see a few aircraft flying around and think, how hard is this to organise,” Officer Cadet Leonard said.

“It was a big project and the enormity of the task wasn’t apparent to me at the beginning.

“A lot of it was paperwork and computer work so the biggest satisfaction for me was seeing the guys putting up the fences and knowing the air show was actually going ahead.

“It was a great challenge to get involved with and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Next year’s show is planned for RAAF Base Richmond in October.

 

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