Post by stereoimage on Mar 18, 2009 15:25:25 GMT 12
Hi there! This is my first post here. I have always been a keen aviation enthusiast, and got into photography a few years ago. I am lucky enough to spend about 8 months a year travelling for my 'day' job (Audio Engineer), so I often get my employer to change my tickets here or there to allow me to attend an Airshow. So far I have photographed the AIA Airshow 2007 (Aus), RIAT at Fairford 2007 (UK), MAKS 2007 (RUS) and the ILA 2008 (Germany). You can find the photos from these shows here: smg.photobucket.com/albums/v128/chrisgee/Aviation/
I spent the last week photographing the Australian International Airshow in Avalon, Melbourne. I will post a bunch of photos here.Hope you like them. Hopefully its not too many photos...
This was the last year that the RAAF F-111 will be displayed as it is due to be retired next year. Its is being replaced by the F/A-18E-F Super Hornet until the JSF comes online in 2015... There is much controversy as to whether the JSF will be able to rplace the capabilities of the F-111...
I for one will miss her She is a great aeroplane to watch!
As always the RAAF F/A-18A was at the show in force, performing solo displays as well as Formation and Role Demo attacks. I never get bored of watching these machines!
This was the last year that the RAAF DCH-4 Caribou will be on display, as the type is being retired next year... This will leave dozens of small pacific islands unreachable, since the Caribou was the olny cargo plane able to land there. The Lockheed/Alenia C-27J Spartan and CASA CN-235 are in a competition to replace the Caribou in the RAAF. The Caribou always gives an impressive display of slow flying, Short takeoff/landing and supply drops. This aircraft will be sorely missed in the pacific!
The venerable RAAF C-130H still puts on a great show, performing a Khe-Sanh approach (http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A4187621), Short take-offs and landings, and the dropping of landrovers onto the runway. The C-130H is in the process of being replaced by the C-130J.
This is the cockpit of the new C-130J
The ADF put on a Role Demo display every day, simulating the insertion of troops to push the enemy off the runway, where they were bombed by F/A-18's. Not entirely realistic but great to watch.
There was also some hardware on static display
As a kiwi the RNZAF 757 display is always a highlight! The things these guys do with what is essentially an upgraded commercial airliner defies beleif. This aircraft has recently upgraded with better engines, Cargo door / handling system and satellite communications.
Chief Boeing display and test pilot Ricardo Traven made a welcome return to the Avalon Airshow flying the F/A-18F Super Hornet. This is a very impressive aircraft and in his hands performs manouvers that seem to defy the laws of physics... By the time the next Avalon Airshow comes around in 2011 there may well be Super Hornets displaying in RAAF markings...
The USAF had a big presence at the Airshow as usual. The F-16 display reminded us of why this is the most prolific modern fighter in history...
While four C-17A Globemasters has been purchased by the RAAF, it was a USAF C-17 that gave the display at this years airshow. Always an impressive sight!
The B-1B Lancer has been at the Avalon Airshow before, but this was the first year that it contributed a flying display. There is nothing else that compares with the deafening thunder of this beast taking off...
This year we were lucky enought to have some of the worlds finest Aerobatic talent on offer... World Aerobatic champion Nikolay Timofeev and his Sukhoi Su-26 have to be seen to be believed... Have a look at youtube footage of his display!
Now THIS guy know how to fly... Kent Pietsch performs a highly entertaining display of of old-school "Barnstorming" in his Interstate Cadet. Often breaking into the displays of other Aircraft, and pretending he doesnt know how to land his plane... Pieces fall off his aircraft during his show (including an Aileron and a wheel!), as he scrapes his wing on the runway and then lands on a flat-top RV truck. The most incredible flying I have ever seen!
The only Lockheed Super Constellation flying in the world today, the HARS "Connie" is everybodies favourite at the Avalon Airshow. Beautifully restored and maintained she is the classic reminder of a golden age of commercial aviation.
You cant have a real Airshow without the WWII Classics
A P-51D Mustang and Yak-9 gave flying displays when the weather allowed.
After the tragic bushfire disasters in Victoria recently, the staff of the CFA (Central Firefighting Authority) have become heroes. In honor of the victims of the fire a ceremony and 1 minutes silence was held on the Friday night of the Airshow, including a parade of Firefighting assetts.
One of the most unique aspects of the Avalon Airshow is the Friday Night Spectacular. Dont dont know of any other airshow that continues into darkness. The F-111 Dump and burn, F-111 and F/A-18 night attacks, fireworks, the jet engine powered Mad Blitz truck are awesome to watch at night. This year a the parade and ceremony for the bushfire victims was very moving.
Something of a novelty this year was the Jet Powered Man-Pack, by Jet Pack International. While not a very pragmatic form of transport, it was certainly entertaining!
The main purpose behind the AIA Avalon Airshow is the Expo and the business deals that go down during it. I always attend the non-public Trade Days at airshows when possible. The static displays are not fenced off, there are no queues to get into the aircraft and there is no elbow-pushing to get the best spots at crowd centre. The expo gives a great insight into the latest technology on offer and for sale. Sometimes however, the way the salemen talk you would think they were selling Washing Machines, and not Weapons of Destruction...
The new Qantas Airbus A380 was on display for the first time, and as always was impressive not just for its size, but also its manouverablilty and low noise.
The 'Dancing' display by the RAN AS350 Squirrels was fantastic. Formation helicopter aerobatics is always so exciting to watch!
Even though I spent a whole week at the Avalon Airshow, I was constantly finding aircraft I hadnt seen before or displays that were new. I would not have experienced even half of what was on offer if i had just attended the Public Days.
Its always worth applying for access to the trade days! I get in as a Freelance Photographer. All youhave to do is supply a business card.
If you are a real geek (like me!) and want to see more images from the Airshow you can find them here:
smg.photobucket.com/albums/v128/chrisgee/Aviation/AIA%20Avalon%202009%20-%20AUS/?start=all
I spent the last week photographing the Australian International Airshow in Avalon, Melbourne. I will post a bunch of photos here.Hope you like them. Hopefully its not too many photos...
This was the last year that the RAAF F-111 will be displayed as it is due to be retired next year. Its is being replaced by the F/A-18E-F Super Hornet until the JSF comes online in 2015... There is much controversy as to whether the JSF will be able to rplace the capabilities of the F-111...
I for one will miss her She is a great aeroplane to watch!
As always the RAAF F/A-18A was at the show in force, performing solo displays as well as Formation and Role Demo attacks. I never get bored of watching these machines!
This was the last year that the RAAF DCH-4 Caribou will be on display, as the type is being retired next year... This will leave dozens of small pacific islands unreachable, since the Caribou was the olny cargo plane able to land there. The Lockheed/Alenia C-27J Spartan and CASA CN-235 are in a competition to replace the Caribou in the RAAF. The Caribou always gives an impressive display of slow flying, Short takeoff/landing and supply drops. This aircraft will be sorely missed in the pacific!
The venerable RAAF C-130H still puts on a great show, performing a Khe-Sanh approach (http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A4187621), Short take-offs and landings, and the dropping of landrovers onto the runway. The C-130H is in the process of being replaced by the C-130J.
This is the cockpit of the new C-130J
The ADF put on a Role Demo display every day, simulating the insertion of troops to push the enemy off the runway, where they were bombed by F/A-18's. Not entirely realistic but great to watch.
There was also some hardware on static display
As a kiwi the RNZAF 757 display is always a highlight! The things these guys do with what is essentially an upgraded commercial airliner defies beleif. This aircraft has recently upgraded with better engines, Cargo door / handling system and satellite communications.
Chief Boeing display and test pilot Ricardo Traven made a welcome return to the Avalon Airshow flying the F/A-18F Super Hornet. This is a very impressive aircraft and in his hands performs manouvers that seem to defy the laws of physics... By the time the next Avalon Airshow comes around in 2011 there may well be Super Hornets displaying in RAAF markings...
The USAF had a big presence at the Airshow as usual. The F-16 display reminded us of why this is the most prolific modern fighter in history...
While four C-17A Globemasters has been purchased by the RAAF, it was a USAF C-17 that gave the display at this years airshow. Always an impressive sight!
The B-1B Lancer has been at the Avalon Airshow before, but this was the first year that it contributed a flying display. There is nothing else that compares with the deafening thunder of this beast taking off...
This year we were lucky enought to have some of the worlds finest Aerobatic talent on offer... World Aerobatic champion Nikolay Timofeev and his Sukhoi Su-26 have to be seen to be believed... Have a look at youtube footage of his display!
Now THIS guy know how to fly... Kent Pietsch performs a highly entertaining display of of old-school "Barnstorming" in his Interstate Cadet. Often breaking into the displays of other Aircraft, and pretending he doesnt know how to land his plane... Pieces fall off his aircraft during his show (including an Aileron and a wheel!), as he scrapes his wing on the runway and then lands on a flat-top RV truck. The most incredible flying I have ever seen!
The only Lockheed Super Constellation flying in the world today, the HARS "Connie" is everybodies favourite at the Avalon Airshow. Beautifully restored and maintained she is the classic reminder of a golden age of commercial aviation.
You cant have a real Airshow without the WWII Classics
A P-51D Mustang and Yak-9 gave flying displays when the weather allowed. 
After the tragic bushfire disasters in Victoria recently, the staff of the CFA (Central Firefighting Authority) have become heroes. In honor of the victims of the fire a ceremony and 1 minutes silence was held on the Friday night of the Airshow, including a parade of Firefighting assetts.
One of the most unique aspects of the Avalon Airshow is the Friday Night Spectacular. Dont dont know of any other airshow that continues into darkness. The F-111 Dump and burn, F-111 and F/A-18 night attacks, fireworks, the jet engine powered Mad Blitz truck are awesome to watch at night. This year a the parade and ceremony for the bushfire victims was very moving.
Something of a novelty this year was the Jet Powered Man-Pack, by Jet Pack International. While not a very pragmatic form of transport, it was certainly entertaining!
The main purpose behind the AIA Avalon Airshow is the Expo and the business deals that go down during it. I always attend the non-public Trade Days at airshows when possible. The static displays are not fenced off, there are no queues to get into the aircraft and there is no elbow-pushing to get the best spots at crowd centre. The expo gives a great insight into the latest technology on offer and for sale. Sometimes however, the way the salemen talk you would think they were selling Washing Machines, and not Weapons of Destruction...
The new Qantas Airbus A380 was on display for the first time, and as always was impressive not just for its size, but also its manouverablilty and low noise.
The 'Dancing' display by the RAN AS350 Squirrels was fantastic. Formation helicopter aerobatics is always so exciting to watch!
Even though I spent a whole week at the Avalon Airshow, I was constantly finding aircraft I hadnt seen before or displays that were new. I would not have experienced even half of what was on offer if i had just attended the Public Days.
Its always worth applying for access to the trade days! I get in as a Freelance Photographer. All youhave to do is supply a business card.
If you are a real geek (like me!) and want to see more images from the Airshow you can find them here:
smg.photobucket.com/albums/v128/chrisgee/Aviation/AIA%20Avalon%202009%20-%20AUS/?start=all
