The Centenary Of Military Aviation Airshow - RAAF Point Cook

[JDK]

Great pics, guys.

The 'Heavy Hitter' Auster was just repainted before / for the show by owner Allan Harding. Nice, eh?

And actually an Auster AOP probably unleashed the heaviest load onto target in history, acting as a spotter for the RN fleet on D Day.

Mar 5, 2014 16:33:21 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I love that Pup, who owns it? And what is the Emu marking? Is that a genuine Australian Flying Corps scheme?

What Errol said, and it's a genuine scheme, IIRC, for one of the training aircraft at HE (Home Establishment, UK).

I am not sold on the new RAAF camouflage but I think it looks more stylish then their other bush camo that would actually work as camo!

Loathe air forces using camo for general personnel. Other than ground defence and a few others (like security) if you're air force and you need camo, you've failed at the 'air force' bit.

Regards,

[exkiwiforces]

Well dave you are not the only some of us hate the new cams and we think it's a waste of money as well.

[Dave Homewood]

So is that blue camouflage uniform now worn as daily dress rather than the Air Force blues of old? IE in offices, sections and bays, etc? Not just for work in the field?

A lot of Seafire pilots were doing the Naval artillery spotting on D Day for the big US and RN battleships, not sure if they were more or less affective than the Austers.

[JDK]

I don't know (and care less, of course) but generally other ranks seem to wear camo as working dress. At the airshow, there were a lot in light blue proper air force uniform. It did rather id a certain segment of the 'workforce' but I'll stop there.

The Army Air Corps Austers were effective, Dave, and as artillery obs trained Army pilots, flying types able to loiter with a more appropriate view in the right directions, I have no doubt they were more effective than any Seafire pilots - not that the Seafire guys wouldn't have given their best, of course.

I realise (and I've just checked my refs) but I don't *know* the story about the Pup's scheme, so I'll check when I'm next in at the museum, and reply, if I remember!

[JDK]

More interestingly, I noted a couple (or the same, several times) of aircrew in growbags with RNZAF id; I presume they were on exchange, as there was no official foreign air force participation at the show. The latter point is a pity, but does anyone know what RNZAF presence there might be in the RAAF? Good to see, anyway.

[exkiwiforces]

Dave, the silly thing is that the silly buggers in AFHQ got rid of CWD's and last year the drabs so its tarmac dress or cams now. Some Sqns don't like their members wearing tarmac dress or when the RAAF is on deployment the Army and RAAF PR muppets don't like us wearing tarmac dress. But when you are in cams, everyone thinks you army not RAAF.
As me you won't see me dead in the new cams as they look like the US Navy cams. BTW we should have gone for thr
e RAN cams.

[exkiwiforces]

Mar 5, 2014 18:09:12 GMT 12 JDK said:

More interestingly, I noted a couple (or the same, several times) of aircrew in growbags with RNZAF id; I presume they were on exchange, as there was no official foreign air force participation at the show. The latter point is a pity, but does anyone know what RNZAF presence there might be in the RAAF? Good to see, anyway.

There is alot of ex RNZAF air crew in the RAAF unless the Kiwis pop over from East Sale.

[JDK]

Mar 5, 2014 18:20:13 GMT 12 exkiwiforces said:

There is alot of ex RNZAF air crew in the RAAF unless the Kiwis pop over from East Sale.

Sure, there's a fair number of Brits, too, but they wear RAAF togs, if they're RAAF members, no? But this (or these) guys were in RNZAF flight suits and looked like flight crew. So I'm assuming exchange.

[exkiwiforces]

Then I think they would be from East Sale where the School of Nav and we also trained our JBAC's.

[Dave Homewood]

Why was there no foreign Air Force participation on such an important anniversary? Was that the RAAF's choice?

[exkiwiforces]

Because it was held it at Point Cook also the theme of the was 100 yrs of military aviation in Oz. this year it's Dave's Gardners turn to have his wee airshow which is a inhouse affair due the length and size of Point Cook runways/taxiways.

[campbellbox]

Great Hornet with flare shot Brett. I was tempted to ask someone what the blue camouflage was supposed to blend with, but never worked up the courage. Anyone have any ideas?

[JDK]

Mar 5, 2014 18:51:42 GMT 12 exkiwiforces said:

Then I think they would be from East Sale where the School of Nav and we also trained our JBAC's.

What's a JBAC?

[exkiwiforces]

Mar 5, 2014 20:05:13 GMT 12 campbellbox said:

Great Hornet with flare shot Brett. I was tempted to ask someone what the blue camouflage was supposed to blend with, but never worked up the courage. Anyone have any ideas?

Where I work and what I for a job, we are still tiring to work that one that. All we can think as to why we have these silly blue cams because it's a PR stunt from the PR cell within AFHQ and some silly officer wants a gong/ promotion or both.

[exkiwiforces]

Mar 5, 2014 20:20:53 GMT 12 JDK said:

Mar 5, 2014 18:51:42 GMT 12 exkiwiforces said:

Then I think they would be from East Sale where the School of Nav and we also trained our JBAC's.

What's a JBAC?

In RAAF speak its means Joint Battlesspace Air Controller. In plan language it's mean anything from Air traffic control, Joint Terminal Air Controller and the dude in the back seat of the super's, but I think they called something else now. Note the JTAC training is run by 4Sqn at Willy Town.

[JDK]

Just to be clear, and a bit of background: The RAAF Museum Pageant is held at every second year, and is run by the RAAF Museum staff and volunteers, and the Friends of the RAAF Museum, (FoRM) and is a free show. It now alternates around this time of year with the commercial Avalon show, held on the other year.

This year, as it was the anniversary of military flight in Australia, as defined by the Australian Defence Forces (ADF) the annual ADF/RAAF airshow, which is a 'travelling' event, held at a different RAAF venue each year was held at RAAF Point Cook, but was run by the RAAF Airshow committee. The RAAF Museum staff and volunteers contributed to the show, and ran certain parts of it, but it was not an RAAF Museum event. This airshow also had an entry charge.

RAAF Point Cook has certain restrictions (published if you want to look them up, as it is also used by civilians) as to what can operate from the field. It also has certain advantages, in that it is still classified as an all-over grass field, and aircraft like the Boxkite operate off the grass. The largest buildings are W.W.II era Bellman hangars, often too small for modern mil aircraft. The Museum's C-130A, 130E, and C-130H, plus the Hs 748, Caribou and Freighter are parked outside because they won't fit inside, although some have been cocooned.

Point Cook had not previously had a C-17 visit until the show lead in, nor an F/A-18 or Hawk land here, all of which arrived for the static park. There are weight restrictions on some hardstandings and taxiways (not lengths, and normal show-type restrictions on widths due to extra aircraft parking by them) but there is plenty of space for lighter aircraft. The Meteor operates from the airfield, the Sabre does not.

For an airshow, it is stated that the road access is an issue for large crowds (but then RIAT is held at Fairford in the Cotswolds. Sometimes 'absolutes' are in fact people's 'norms', IMHO).

My opinion is the RAAF decided it was an RAAF event, and (understandably) majored on showing the full range of current RAAF metal, and a straight chronology of history, obviously starting with the Boxkite they were 'gifted'. There was participation from the Australian Army and Navy, and significant participation from select civilian aircraft as well, particularly private warbirds, light aircraft and the Antique Aeroplane Association of Australia.

We could of had some foreign participation, it would have been entirely appropriate to see some RAF, RNZAF, RCAF, SAAF etc. presence given they've stood shoulder to shoulder with the RAAF, and of course the US participation, a nation to whom we owe a huge debt for support and equipment, particularly in W.W.II. However anything sent would be big or expensive (or both) and some unable to land at Point Cook. Obvious too, most air forces are finding cash for these jaunts less available than in other years. (Contra, the Royal Australian Navy invited, and had, over a dozen foreign navy ships in Sydney Harbour in October 2013, and a notable air force presence of P-3 variants from (IIRC) the USN, Pakistani Air Force and RCAF. It can be done. Pointing out the navy did it isn't something air forces and armys like to hear though...)

Personally I'd have liked to see a C-17 land and instead of disgorging a plastic model F-35, deliver, say, R.E.8, S.E.5a, Camel, Snipe and other types of great significance to the Australian Flying Corps. It could be done, and the TVAL - Stowe Maries deal shows that's possible. Again though, that would require a particular external to ADF and funding approach. It would also take limelight from the current ADF element of the show, and while we might see it differently, one can understand the ADF seeing it as extra effort and cost for a home-team PR dilution.

This is my own opinion, not ADF, RAAF or RAAF Museum views, and the show's organiser has told us (on YouTube) that the show 'was a success'.

I've heard vociferous claims of the RAAF airshow team and / or RAAF Museum show team's capabilities and shortfalls, and I can point at both on both sides from personal experience - lots of partisan claims, too.  But that's not worth sharing. 

While there are things that could've happened, the feedback has been very positive, and I think most visitors would also say it was a success, too.

For me it was 'Boxkite & Friends' and I had a blast.  I'm enormously grateful we were able to share the Boxkite, and we had a safe, popular event. I'll take that!

Regards,

[JDK]

Thanks, exkiwiforces

[exkiwiforces]

The C-17 can land there if it's 1/4 loaded any more than it will be phoughing the runway up. Where I was based there talk of bring one in during a repatriation flight but there was a weight issue at the time. The master plan for PT Cook allows for a new runway and taxiways along with many other things that will happen there in future.

JDK, I hope your last comment was not aimed at me as I have had some dealings Dave Gardiner and when I was there I enjoyed my time at PT Cook. BTW it's jokely known around traps as Dave's airshow when the RAAF Museum have there Air pagnet.

[JDK]

Thanks again, exkiwiforces.

No not aimed at you (or anyone in particular) just a note that in terms of 'show goodness' there is a glass with a certain volume of liquid in; depends on the viewer if that's good or not.

I was also trying to clarify this was not a Pageant of the RAAF Museum's this year.

[Brett]

I think the show did perfectly well for what it was - a celebration of 100 years of military aviation in Australia. I was a bit surprised that other air forces weren't invited to the party, but the programme and display space was full enough that they weren't needed. Those wanting to see Yaks and T-28s etc have the opportunity to do so at Tyabb this coming weekend.

The show had the earliest aircraft though to the latest pilotless drone on display.