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Post by Mustang51 on Sept 28, 2022 18:27:03 GMT 12
I am sorry to say that I have just been advised that the 2022 Warbirds Downunder has been cancelled. At last weekend's Showcase it was obvious that all the grounds, camping areas and the car and aircraft parking areas were saturated and plans were being drawn up for alternative arrangements. However, despite all their efforts the weather Gods have put paid to anything that could be done to provide for the visitors and participating aircraft. Temora required clear and hot weather for the entire period from now to the show in order that the grandstands and other facilities could be provided as well as providing a mud free environment for camping and general admission. Weather forecasts for this week expect between 50 and 100mm with potentially more to follow in the following weeks. This would have resulted in the grounds being torn up to allow the necessary heavy transport for the grandstands etc and the proposed car parks would have been a nightmare of bogged vehicles. Like Murray, Harps and the entire crew at Temora, I'm shattered that it is not going ahead. So much has been done to prepare for the show which would have been one of if not the best ever held - the souvenir programs have even been printed and delivered. The official announcement shall be made at 1630 today AEDT and I am assured that there shall be more planning soon as to when Warbirds Downunder may return - hopefully in 2023....
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Post by colford on Sept 28, 2022 18:42:52 GMT 12
They posted on FB and sent out the emails advising of the cancellation just before 4PM. Absolutely gutted for everyone involved.
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Post by 11SQNLDR on Oct 5, 2022 11:45:32 GMT 12
Huge disappointment but understand completely. Flights, rental car, accommodation all cancelled and nil costs incurred... roll on 2023 hopefully and hoping like hell Avalon is all systems go!  |
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Post by planecrazy on Oct 5, 2022 16:51:56 GMT 12
Gutted for all concerned, would I be correct in saying the next showcase will now be 1/4/23?
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Post by colford on Oct 6, 2022 14:08:51 GMT 12
Gutted for all concerned, would I be correct in saying the next showcase will now be 1/4/23? What is currently up on the TAM website says that their first aircraft showcase for 2023 will be 1 April 2023. Then 6 May, 16 September, then 21 October. On top of that, expect appearances by TAM Aircraft as a part of the No.100 (Heritage) Squadron RAAF contingent at Avalon in early March, the Pacific Airshow on the Gold Coast in August, Wings Over Illawarra in November, plus other airshows still to announce their 2023 dates, the calendar soon fills up. Maybe we could hope they might consider doing a larger weekend two day show October 2023 to tide us over to Warbirds Down Under returning in 2024? |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 6, 2022 14:29:21 GMT 12
What do the aircrew members of No. 100 Squadron do between air displays and practices for such? Do they all fly other types in other units like our Air Force Heritage Flight pilots? Or are they permanently based at Temora and only flying warbirds like BBMF members? Or are they actually a territorial unit and it's the same civvie pilots that used to fly the aircraft when David Lowy owned them?
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Post by Brett on Oct 6, 2022 15:39:38 GMT 12
The specialist groundcrew, the OC and a couple of clerical/support staff are attached to the BBMF but the aircrew are all volunteers and are active on other RAF aircraft - Typhoons, Hercs, A400Ms, various trainers etc.
I think the Aussie pilots are classified as RAAF Reserve.
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Post by planecrazy on Oct 6, 2022 18:13:48 GMT 12
What do the aircrew members of No. 100 Squadron do between air displays and practices for such? Do they all fly other types in other units like our Air Force Heritage Flight pilots? Or are they permanently based at Temora and only flying warbirds like BBMF members? Or are they actually a territorial unit and it's the same civvie pilots that used to fly the aircraft when David Lowy owned them? I was at the showcase when some of the pilots became honorary Flight Officers in the RAAF, pretty sure it was June 2019. Ando could probably fill in the details, I know Matt Denning comes down from Brisbane to fly the Boomerang, Steve Death comes up from Albury to fly the Spitfires and Hudson, Doug Hamilton from Wangaratta flies a few of them as well. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 6, 2022 18:15:48 GMT 12
Do you mean Flying Officers?
Flight Officer was a WAAF rank, no longer used. Lol
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Post by colford on Oct 6, 2022 21:06:54 GMT 12
The makeup of the staff of No.100 (Heritage) Squadron RAAF is slightly complex.
It brings together what were originally the members of the team of pilots associated with Temora Aviation Museum - from memory they had a TAM Flying Club or something similar which the pilots were all members of to qualify to fly the Museum's aircraft who were drawn from a range of different service and non-service flying backgrounds. When the TAM Collection was gifted to the RAAF, those aircrew were given commissions in the Air Force Special Reserve with the rank of Flight Lieutenant. Some of the TAM pilots are ex-RAAF and retain the rank and privileges of their rank but as Reservists. The Air Force Special Reserve is distinct and different to the Air Force Reserve (Active) officers in that it is used to provide commissioned rank to people that have special skills or qualities that the RAAF wishes to utilise and have covered by RAAF administrative and other arrangements. Also the arrangements for the Special reserve limits what those officers can be utilised for (not outside the speciality for which they were commissioned) and there is a cap on the number of days per year that they can perform their duties.
So for example, Australian comedian, speaker and author, Michael Vietch who has written a number of books on the WW2 history of the RAAF holds the rank of a Squadron Leader in the Special Reserve, for duties related to the RAAF History & Heritage Branch.
Similarly, a local TV newsreader/journalist, holds the rank of Wing Commander in the Special Reserve and is used to MC major RAAF functions and events and narrate RAAF Media productions, also act as a RAAF Media Liaison for special events.
The other half of No.100 (Heritage) Squadron is based off the flying activity at RAAF Museum Point Cook and that is where the Squadron is based. In the main the personnel there are RAAF Reservists - Active Reserve - and in addition to their duties with No.100 (Heritage) Squadron fulfil other roles within the RAAF Reserve - primarily in relation to flying training, flight safety, with some still having aircrew roles with RAAF active Squadrons, again primariy based around training and flight safety. There is then also a small cadre of administrative and technical staff, a couple are RAAF current full time serving personnel to provide the 9 to 5 Monday to Friday coverage, the remainder being reservists.
That was how it was all explained to me a while back by someone within the RAAF who was within the History & Heritage and RAAF Reserves Management areas.
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Post by planecrazy on Oct 6, 2022 21:07:21 GMT 12
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Post by planecrazy on Oct 6, 2022 21:27:57 GMT 12
Found this extract about David Lowy, I got the rank wrong Flight Lieutenants.
Lowy is the President and Founder of Temora Aviation Museum housed at the former site of the largest Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) World
War II training field in New South Wales, He became a Special Capabilities Officer in the RAAF Reserves (rank of Flight Lieutenant) in 2019.
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