Bicentennial Air Show Builds Thrust

The Australian Bicentennial Air Show is a joint venture between the Royal Australian Air Force and the Australian Bicentennial Air Show Organisation. It is being run with the support of the Australian Bicentennial Authority and the Department of Transport and Communications. The major sponsor is Qantas, with Ansett and Mobil Oil as associate sponsors.

Significant displays of aircraft representing the First and Second World Wars, Korea and Vietnam are planned, plus a full history of civil aviation in Australia, and aircraft depicting the part played by aviation in the community, such as the flying doctor, air ambulance, police, parks and wildlife, and other public utilities, will also be on show.

A number of rare vintage military aircraft will be brought to Richmond from the RAAF Museum at Point Cook and the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, including, possibly, Australasia’s only Messerschmitt Bf109. This aircraft has recently been released after many years of impoundment by Customs, after an attempt was made to take it out of Australia. (Refer p69 Jan 88 AA)

As well, the RAAF Museum expects to have flying at the show its PV-1 Ventura, which is being brought from the USA in exchange for an RAAF Canberra, and Australia’s second airworthy Vampire, which has been restored by air force personnel. It will Demon A1-8 in the static display. The superbly-restored H-Roy al Australian Navy Historic Flight also plans to have flying in time for the Air Show its Sea Venom fighter in addition to its rebuilt Scout helicopter and a rare Bristol Sycamore helicopter.

One aircraft which, unfortunately, will not be on display is the Australian War Memorial’s 8-25 Mitchell, which is now officially grounded. However, the memorial’s Dakota, operated by 486 Sqn at Richmond, will be a participant.

Ansett Airlines is presently rebuilding to flying condition for the show, DC-3 VH-ABR, the oldest of its type in Australia. ABR is a true blue DC-3, not a converted C-47; it went into service with Australian National Airways in October 1938. It was impressed into the RAAF on the outbreak of war, but was released back to ANA after eight months’ service. It last flew in 1975.

The Southern Cross replica VH-USU will likely have star billing at The Air Show, and plans are in train to mark the 60th anniversary of the first crossing of the Tasman, which departed from and landed back at Richmond. The 60th anniversary of the return flight from Woodbourne to Richmond is only four days before the Bicentennial Air Show opens. The RAAF has confirmed that its CA-27 Avon Sabre will also be flying again in time for the show.

The high level of international support for the Aerospace Expo at the show is continuing. Bye early this year, more than two-thirds of the exhibition space in the indoor pavilion areas had been sold, as had more than half of the sponsor’s chalets. Almost all of the remainder were ‘spoken for’.

In addition to the big names among exhibitors such as Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, Lockheed, British Aerospace and Airbus lndustrie, companies as diverse as Embraer of Brazil, Canadair, Saab, Thompson-CSF of France and the big Italian companies Aermacchi and Aeritalia had confirmed their attendance. A joint Bell-Boeing team will promote the V-22 Osprey Tiltrotor. As Australian firsts, the Soviet Union will be represented by both civil aircraft and static displays, and the People’s Republic of China will promote commercial satellites and its Long March launch vehicles.

Major Australian organisations such as Hawker de Havilland, Hawker Pacific, Aerospace Technologies (the former Government Aircraft Factories), the Office of Defence Production, the Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Qantas, Ansett and Mobil will be using the opportunity to underline the range and quality of Australia’s high-tech aerospace resources.

The United States Department of Commerce is coordinating an American national pavilion for anticipated 60 US aviation and aerospace companies. The British Overseas Trade Board and the Society of British Aerospace Companies are working together on a UK pavilion, and aerospace and trade authorities in Israel, Italy, Canada and New Zealand are also planning national pavilions.

Although the final details of foreign military participation cannot be confirmed until sever al months prior to the Air Show, organisers are expecting to attract the following types: from the USAF/US N, Boeing 8-52, C-5 Galaxy, KC-10 Extender, F-14 Tomcat, F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, E-2 Hawkeye, HC-130 and AC-130 Hercules gunship and the A-1O Thunderbolt 11. The Royal Air Force is expecting to send two Tornado F. 3s, and a Nimrod, a Lockheed Tristar tanker and a stretched C-130, in addition to the Falcons parachute team.

The RNZAF has promised its excellent Skyhawk formation aerobatic team and a range of various transport and training aircraft. Canada is sending a CP-140 Aurora, the Netherlands is bringing a Navy P-3 Orion, and a Fokker F27M maritime reconnaissance aircraft, and the Papua New Guinea Defence Force will display one of its new Israeli IAl-200 Arava transport aircraft.

As well, personnel and aircraft from a large number of naval ships visiting Sydney for t he Bicentennial Naval Review can be expected to attend.

As we closed for the press Air Show organisers were continuing to negotiate for the appearance of a USAF Rockwell B-1B bomber and the SR-71 Blackbird strategic reconnaissance aircraft, as well as the US Navy’s Blue Angels aerobatic team (flying the F-18 Hornet) and the Italian Air Force’s Frecce Tricolori team.