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| Show business By Andrew Stackpool Volume 49, No. 02, February 22, 2007 |
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The countdown is on for the biggest and best aircraft spectacular in the country – the 2007 Australian International Air Show. Thirty-one Air Force aircraft, a range of ground equipment and weaponry and more than 150 personnel will join their Navy and Army colleagues, warbirds, aerobatic aircraft and more than 1,000 varied static aircraft at the show at Avalon, near Melbourne, from March 20-25. The theme of the event is ‘Breaking the Barriers’, marking the 60th anniversary of the first breaking of the sound barrier by aviation ‘great’, BRIG Charles “Chuck” Yeager. BRIG Yeager is the guest of honour at the show. The 60th anniversary of the formation of the United States Air Force will also be saluted, with USAF being represented at the show. In addition to the displays, mock dogfights and aerobatics, a highlight for the public will be the ‘Boeing Night Alight’ display, which will be staged on the afternoon and evening of March 23. Two expos will be held in conjunction with the show – the Australian International Aerospace and Defence Exposition and a careers exposition. The aerospace exposition brings together an international group of senior government, Defence and related business leaders, as well as displays and demonstrations of the latest in aviation and Defence technologies. It is closed to the general public until 2pm on March 23, but will open on March 24 and 25. The careers exposition will be held on March 23 when careers advisers and teachers will run a number of information sessions about educational requirements and employment opportunities in the aviation, aerospace and Defence industries and the three Services. This will be followed on the weekend by a number of presentations on recruitment and employment by Defence and aviation and aerospace companies. Throughout the show, Air Force personnel at the various static displays will also provide recruiting support. Staff Officer Reputation Management SQNLDR David Worrall said that Air Force will be mounting several supporting displays and events. “We are providing a large ground display of technical trades at the careers expo, while the [Air Force] Museum will have a large display focused on ‘breaking the barrier’. The theme is aimed at more than just the sound barrier; it is looking at several barriers in aviation, including females’ achievements [breaking the ‘glass barrier’], the first flight and other ‘firsts’,” he said. According to the show’s organisers, this includes the breaking of other barriers in the scientific, industrial, commercial and social arenas that aviation has heralded. “Also, to date, 48 countries have responded to our invitation to attend CAF’s international conference on March 19, at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, which is great news,” SQNLDR Worrall said. Under the theme ‘Smaller Air Forces and The Future of Air Power’, the conference will explore Air Force’s future after the current reshape and rebalance activity is concluded. It will also explore likely changes in combat forces and potential solutions to the challenges presented by regional and Coalition operations. DCAF AVM John Blackburn and ACAUST AVM John Quaife will speak on reshaping the Air Force. Various Air Force speakers will address future air operations, while the Air Force Chiefs from Canada, the UK and Singapore will explore the perspectives of their countries or regions. |
