RAAF 90th Avalon 2011

[Ykato]

Air Force to mark 90th Anniversary at 2011 Avalon Air Show

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is planning to make the 2011 Australian International Air Show a centrepiece of RAAF’s 90th anniversary activities, Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin announced today.

The Air Show at Avalon next March will be one of the largest and most comprehensive air shows ever conducted in the Southern Hemisphere.

“The air show will coincide with RAAF’s 90th Anniversary. So the 90th will be a key theme for this world class event which is run by Air Shows Down Under,” Air Marshal Binskin said.

“This will be a great opportunity for the public to get a close look at Air Force’s current high-tech fighter and strike capabilities, including the potent F/A-18F Super Hornet and the Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft, both of which came into RAAF operational service this year.”

“The air show will be a major opportunity to highlight RAAF’s future, in particular our transition to the cutting-edge Joint Strike Fighter,” Air Marshal Binskin said.

“The Avalon air show and associated conferences will also focus on unmanned aircraft. Air Force’s Heron is already providing crucial support to operations in Afghanistan, and remotely piloted aircraft will be a key feature of our future capability.”

“We anticipate nearly all of Air Force’s aircraft types will be represented at Avalon next year, along with Navy and Army aviation assets. Dozens of Australian Defence Force aircraft will participate. We’re also planning major displays of the ADF’s ground-based equipment and capabilities.”

“The Australian International Air Show is a key opportunity for Defence to engage our industry partners. The air show and conferences will also draw senior military personnel from the Asia Pacific region and across the world. This makes it an ideal forum to meet and exchange ideas with our international military counterparts,” Air Marshal Binksin said.

The air show will occur at Avalon from 1 to 6 March 2011.

www.defence.gov.au/media/DepartmentalTpl.cfm?CurrentId=10933

[Calum]

Oh to see something other than Hornets eagles and F-16's. If they could get something new I might be interested in paying to visit

[yak2]

Avalon is basically a trade show. The airshow component is aimed at a general public that has little knowledge/understanding of aviation. The organisers burnt their bridges many years ago with many of the warbird and antique aircraft owners/operators, who now don't bother to attend.
They prefer to throw money at cute overseas 'acts' rather than supporting local ones of equivalent appeal.
But hey, don't let me put you off

[Dave Homewood]

It always seems a bit odd to me that the RAAF runs a trade show. Wouldn't that be more a commerical venture than the job of an Air Force? I don't think that would ever happen here.

[yak2]

The RAAF is attending the event Dave. They do not organise it. Likely the Victorian government funds most of it, with the attendent trade show usually extensive and impressive. I really enjoyed the year the Russians "invaded". The Su27 and An124 flying displays were fabulous. And the Russian trade displays were very good, but I don't think they managed to flog much. Driving in to Avalon is a pain. So is flying in, especially if diverted to the adjoining paddock strip.
Gee I've become a grumpy old bugger ;D

[Calum]

I've been a couple of times with work. watching from the corporate chalet, away from the great unwashed, drinking free beers and eating good food is the only way to experience Avalon

[Dave Homewood]

Sorry Rob, I misunderstood. Thanks for the correction.

[yak2]

Oct 14, 2010 17:43:19 GMT 12 Calum said:

I've been a couple of times with work. watching from the corporate chalet, away from the great unwashed, drinking free beers and eating good food is the only way to experience Avalon

Chalets are the way to go. The year the Russians attended Avalon, the US Navy had a Chalet. They also required an off-airfield venue nearby for some high powered entertainment for their senior officers and hangars on. They hired a friends magnificent old homestead. And that is how a brown nosing mate got to sail on the 'Big E' from Pearl Harbor to San Diego as personal guest of the Commander US Pacific Fleet ;D

[jaybee]

Hi all

The provisional list of aircraft attending at Avalon has been listed at www.airshow.net.au/avalon2011/airshow/flying-display.html

Current military aircraft include F-22 Raptor, B-2 Spirit, KC-135 Stratotanker , B-52 Stratofortress , C-17 Globemaster III, B-1B Lancer , MH-60R Sea Hawk, T-6C Texan II, F-16 Viper, E3-D Sentry, Hongdu K8 x 2, CASA235, C27J Spartan, F/A 18A/B Hornet , F/A 18F Rhino, BAe Hawk 127, Lockheed Orion AP-3C, KC-30A, Pilatus PC 9 Roulettes, C-130J Hercules, C-17 Globemaster III, Boeing 737 Wedgetail , UH1-B Iroquois, AS350A Squirrel, Sikorsky Seahawk, Westland Sea King x 2 , ARH Tiger, Sikorsky Black Hawk, MRH-90, etc

Warbirds include Spitfire, Hudson, Meteor, Sabre, Neptune, MB 326-H, Catalina, Mirage III, Mustang, Kittyhawk, Canberra , Sea Fury, Vampire, Boomerang, L-39 Albatross, Soko Galeb etc

Other notable aircraft include Constellation and Lockheed 12.

cheers

[oldnavy]

And the mighty Islander! Both a BN2B-20 and a BN2T with knobbly bits! ;D

[Naki]

Wow F-22 & B-2! ..K-8 is another exotic..Mirage and MB-326 warbird - static only? Presumably the T-6 Texan and MH-60R are part of a sales push to the RAAF and RAN.

Where is the RNZAF?

[yak2]

Feb 2, 2011 14:53:33 GMT 12 oldnavy said:

And the mighty Islander! Both a BN2B-20 and a BN2T with knobbly bits! ;D

Excellent news. May have to attend if only to enjoy the hospitality in the ON chalet
Islanders aside, an impressive lineup of aircraft. Unfortunately we have seen similar displays promised by the organisers in the past only to be disappointed on the day.

[strikemaster]

Mirage III and Canberra too. Sweet. I went to the inaugural one and haven't been back since tho. Traffic is abysmal. Might have to go tho, looking at that line up.

B757 listed as RNZAF. Ah well, at least we got something in.

[Dave Homewood]

I didn't realise the B-1B Lancer was still in service. Does it ever get used in America's wars? You seldom hear much about the type. It's a bomber isn't it?

[11SQNLDR]

The Bone is very much in active service Dave

The remaining fleet operates from Dyess AFB, Texas (38 aircraft) and Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota (29 aircraft). The B-1B is expected to in be service until 2025.

In March 2008, the B-1B became the first aircraft to fly at supersonic speed using synthetic fuel. The fuel was a 50/50 blend of conventional JP-8 petroleum and a synthetic fuel derived from natural gas using the Fischer-Tropsch process. The flight was part of an ongoing USAF programme to certify the alternative fuel for all USAF aircraft.

In February 2009 Boeing received a $45m contract from the US Air Force to upgrade avionics software on the B-1 heavy bomber. The contract ensures that B-1 crews are well equipped to meet its ever-expanding role.

Boeing has recently upgraded the B-1 aircraft with a fully integrated data link (FIDL) and the upgraded aircraft took its maiden flight in July 2009. The upgrades included cockpit modifications, new processors, colour displays and communications architecture, enhancing B-1 crews' situational awareness and communications capability and Ethernet network.

The FIDL system reduces the workload of the crew by automatically retasking the weapons system. Boeing Integrated Defense Sytems is expecting a contract in November 2010 from the USAF to installing FIDL systems in its B-1 fleet.

"In March 2008, the B-1B became the first aircraft to fly at supersonic speed using synthetic fuel."A Sustainment Block Program (SBP) was unveiled in 2003. The program includes upgrading the nation's 67 B-1B long-range heavy bombers fleet with advanced software avionics every year.

In December 2007, a $45m contract was awarded to Boeing, by the USAF, for improving the B-1B bomber's avionics software as part of the SBP. The contract enables to start work on the Sustainment Block SB14. SB 14 is currently undergoing flight test at Edwards Air Force Base, California. It will be delivered to the USAF in 2011.

A $28m contract of Phase 1, which included hardware and software development, was completed in April 2009.

The USAF has also awarded an $84m contract to Boeing in October 2009, under the SBP, for upgrading the Sustainment Block SB 16 of B-1 bomber fleet with state of the art avionics software.

The upgrades encompass changes to navigation, weapon delivery, radar, electrical multiplexing, communication/navigation management system software, controls and displays. The design and development of the SB 16 is yet to begin.

The low radar cross section, variable-geometry wings, modern avionics, and afterburning engines enable the B-1 to carry the largest payload strike and offers long range, maneuverability, high speed and survivability.

The USAF awarded a $23m contract to Boeing in November 2009 to upgrade the B-1 Laptop Controlled Targeting Pod software of Phase 2 development. The upgrade will allow the targeting system of B-1 to identify both stationary and moving targets.

Integration of the sniper pod with the aircraft's software which will deliver single-moving-target kill capability using the Guided Bomb Unit-54 (GBU-54) Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition (Laser JDAM) will be completed as part of Phase 2.

A Boeing B-1 bomber aircraft has successfully completed the Phase I of flight tests in December 2009 following an upgrade with fully integrated data link (FIDL). The upgrade replaced 25-year-old avionics processing, displays and keyboards.

In May 2010, Boeing B-1 bomber has completed its 25th Anniversary of operations at Dyess US Air Force Base. The swept-wing geometry allows the aircraft to travel at higher speeds and deliver better ordinance in a shorter time than other platforms.

Flight testing of the B-1 Lancer started in June 2010 following an upgrade using new digital avionics for the aft cockpit and a line-of-sight Link 16 data link. The Link 16 data link was tested by sending and receiving text messages, and receiving virtual mission assignment data such as target coordinates for a weapon. Three flight tests were executed in June 2010 under B-1 programme and additional flight tests are scheduled until January 2011.

[corsair67]

The B-1 was at Avalon in 2009 - first time I'd ever seen one in action.

All I can say is that I wouldn't want to live anywhere near Dyess or Ellesworth; they are bloody loud!

Wasn't planning on going this year, but may be convinced to change my mind.

[Andy Wright]

Quite active over Afghanistan too IIRC.

[Hoffy]

Oct 14, 2010 17:43:19 GMT 12 Calum said:

I've been a couple of times with work. watching from the corporate chalet, away from the great unwashed, drinking free beers and eating good food is the only way to experience Avalon

My father and a mate flew an old DC3 over to an airshow ( I think it was at Richmond IIRC) and parked it off one of the runways.
They took along some friends + partners and spent the afternoon sitting out of the sun eating and drinking under one of the wings.
Now that's the way to watch an airshow...

[strikemaster]

When I went to Avalon, there were a heap of Aussies RAAFers sitting on the wing of a Herc. It was perfect, pointing right out to the runway.

[Ykato]

F-22 for Avalon
australianaviation.com.au/2011/02/f-22-for-avalon/