Point Cook Air Show Sunday

[ballaratdragons]

Just a Heads Up for Aircraft enthusiasts.

Point Cook RAAF Base and RAAF Museum and Air Show is on this Sunday.

FREE ENTRY http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/news_events/acquisitions.htm

I'm going with the RAAF Association (I am ex-RAAF) and RAAF Cadets (my son is a cadet :thumbsup: )

See you there! :)

[The_bluester]

That is a bugger for timing Ken, with the ASV Messier night on Saturday I will not be able to make it.

Don't think we managed to talk about it when I came to last months Snake Valley night, I am ex RAAF as well.

[ballaratdragons]

That's a pity Paul. They get bigger each time :thumbsup:
I just hope the Sunday Thunderstorms are cancelled by then :sadeyes:

[Auster1b]

If the weather plays the game, look out for the old blue and white Auster.

Neil.

[Brundah1]

Thanks for the heads up Ken & Neil,

Just arranged to fly down to go to the airshow with Brendan.

It just so happens that my wife, our 6 months old daughter and my friend Graham flew in his Auster J5 VH-KAP from Lovely Banks to Point Cook Airshow in 1972! Graham was thrilled that his smooth landing back at Lovely Banks did not wake our baby!
At the time I was doing my PPL at Lovely Banks.

I will keep an eye out for your Auster Neil.

Cheers,

David

[ballaratdragons]

Weather report has improved.

It was for Thunderstorms.

It is now for 'Sunny and 34 degrees'. :thumbsup:
Scroll down to the 7 day forecast here: http://www.weatherzone.com.au/vic/melbourne/werribee

[wasyoungonce]

After a household of all girls....some serious man time will cure me! Looking forward David!

Brendan

[ballaratdragons]

Just a last reminder for the folk into Aircraft.

Tomorrow is the Air Show at Point Cook at RAAF Base Williams :thumbsup:

Free entry :)

[wasyoungonce]

Maybe David and I will see you there Ken.

We'll be the goon looking types wearing green ARDU baseball style caps....amongst all the crowd!;) Yeah...dicky I know...maybe David will turn his nose up and want one of my 75SQN caps?:shrug:

Brendan

[ballaratdragons]

:lol:
We'll be the group of people that came on a bus, with hats on with fold-up chairs just near the other 15,000 people :rofl:

Going to be HOT! 34c

[Hans Tucker]

Your ARDU cap is now a collectors piece as ARDU technically doesn't exist as that organisation.

[ballaratdragons]

They still operate out of RAAF Edinburgh as ARDU :thumbsup:

[Hans Tucker]

Yes, but now they come under AOSG so no doubt ARDU members now will be required to wear AOSG caps. I was at RAAF Edinburgh all last week...jeez it has changed from 1RTU days...but I did drive past this which was actually in a carport and apparently was trucked back from Amberley for display at Edinburgh. I hope they keep this in better condition compared to the Mirage and Macchi I saw there.

[Auster1b]

We arrived yesterday, did a practice in the afternoon when it was a bit cooler and less gusty.

Had pizza and beer with the Museum guys and then slept in the condos out back.
Woke up to WIND.

We were originally a four ship of Ragwings: Pup, Tiger, Cadet and the Auster.
Because of the forecast and actual winds, the biplanes cancelled and we elected to do the display solo with takeoff from nest to our tiedown point and then straight into wind. This was then abbreviated to a takeoff, downwind, flypast and departure. Rough ?, just a bit.

Here is a picture of the old girl amongst friends. Yes, the AEROPLANE !
.

David, that certainly was a smart looking Auster of Grahams, do you know what became of it ?.

Deborah has a website of Ozzie Austers and would like to have permission to add it to the archives.
http://www.auster.com.au

Neil

[ballaratdragons]

Ahhhhh, so that was you Neil!!!
I thought you meant you were going to WATCH the Air Show, not be IN IT! :lol:

It was a fantastic day from a spectators point of view (except for the wind).
So many good memories watching so many of the aircraft :)

I do miss seeing fly-by's of the Hercules, Caribou, F111, Phantom amd Mirage.
And what happened to showing of the might of the FA-18's?
At least they flew the Iroquois :thumbsup:

In a way it was a let down not seeing all those aircraft flying, but it was still a great day (as we got blown away :lol: )

Highlights: Iroquois, Vampire, and Sabre :thumbsup:
then coming home to watch the most fantastic Thunderstorm lightning show in years! I can still see it out the front now. Averaging about 15 strikes each 10 seconds :)

[ballaratdragons]

You would have been horrified if you were at Point Cook today Hans.
The F111 on display is in atrocious condition!
Sad to see it in such a disgusting way :sadeyes:

[Hans Tucker]

:sadeyes: +1

I think it may be scheduled for a bit of TLC later on. Currently the museum staff are occupied building up a Mosquito.

http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/exhibitions/restoration/dh_98.htm

So how was the Air Pageant..it seemed to not even rate a mention on the news.

[ballaratdragons]

Ahhh yes, the wait in the queue method :thumbsup:



It was pretty good, See my description about 3 posts back :)

[Brundah1]

G'day Neil,

Just arrived home in BNE 2345K after 75min delay at MEL due to a typical BNE Tropical Thunderstorm passing over MEL and the usual mucking around after it.

We called by your Auster but nobody around, then saw your park position takeoff - well done!

The camo Mustang (is that Judy Pay's?) and CAC Sabre put on an awesome close formation routine, followed by the Sabre precision solo with drop tanks, Sidwinders and cotton ball Cumulus in the background a sight to behold. It would be simply stunning to have a pair of Sabres do that routine.

Anyone know if the original Temora Sabre is pregressing to flying condition?

David

Regarding Graham's VH-KAP - its now owned by his nephew - not sure of current paint scheme - I will PM you about contact details for the Auster list. Your Auster looks great - that's close to the original Auster paint scheme!

FYI prev owner of KAP was a QF LAME mate - we did a full major in his garage including recovering the wings and full repaint - paint scheme was my artwork - yes got quite a few comments when it was bright and shiny.

BTW in my pic Graham holding our baby - I HAD more hair then:D

David

[wasyoungonce]

Hi David...had a good day yesterday...must have been a long one for you.

The Flying displays was excellent.

Sad to see the F111 is poor form. I think the Museum will be at it some time in the future. Also noted lack of Mirage IIIO and the state of some of the facilities...Hangers in poor nick.

Yes ARDU is not what it once was but this is pretty much the same as most units in the RAAF. Big drive for modernisation and reduction of maintenance/support costs so they can have more planes/pilots.

They forget the Roman army history lesson...it marched on it's stomach.

Anyway David objected to my ARDU hat offer, didn't even want a 75SQN hat.....in his defence ...they did look a bit moth eaten....;)...and worse:lol:.

The Mirage at ARDU was in a paddock for years. It was used for radar turbine signature tests. Had a big electric motor stuck in it to turn the turbines/compressor, holes in canopy lots of corrosion, it's pretty rough.

[Brundah1]

G'day Neil,

These aren't high qual as I just took my FZ8 rather than lugging a bag of canon lenses BNE-MEL-BNE. So the heat played havoc with autofocus.
Anyway here are some pics of your short field takeoff and flypast.

Shame the winds kept the other rag aeroplanes away.

BTW you missed a fantastic disply by the Sabre, with the clouds in the background, plus drop tanks and sidwinders the polished display was awesome. The Bristol Box Kite has been constructed to professional standard and will be an amazing sight when calm conditions allow flight.

Many thanks to my excellent chauffeur Brendan and yes I prefer my DH-82 or B777 hat for sun protection.

The day was definitely worth the 20 hour round trip - even with the 90 min delay at Tulla for a BNE style Tropical Thunderstorm :thumbsup:

David

[wasyoungonce]

Enjoyed the Air display, here's the Sabre ...

I need a better lens!;)

[Brundah1]

Much better than mine Brendan, as the lens don't matter when your battery runs out:sadeyes:

You had to be there and be able to recall the glorious days of the Sabre displays :) The North American Classic pair were great to see waltzing together, but a brace of Sabres :eyepop: well we can only dream it will happen.

[ballaratdragons]

Fantastic pics guys.

I grabbed heaps of videos on my phone but they look pretty bad and the noise of the wind is deafening.

I will try upload them to the laptop and make a You Tube video, but I doubt they will be good enough. Just playing them back on the phone shows they are crummy.

[ballaratdragons]

My 16 yo son Aaron (Harry) is having his 1st ever flying lesson this Sunday at RAAF Williams Point Cook :)
He is in AAFC :thumbsup:

[Auster1b]

Thank you David, it is always interesting to see what it looked like.

I am sorry that we did not manage to meet anyone, with briefings and changes to the display program we could only be at the Auster early for DI, then refuel and preflight and time to go.
As such we did not see that much of the show so thanks also Brendan for the Sabre pics.

We only got to see some of the practice routines on Saturday arvo before our slot, the standout being the Parrot formation display although I do not know if they flew their routine on Sunday.
Always a favourite are the Southern Knights who flew their practice last thing on Saturday to lighthearted critique whilst we were having an ale.

I am also a sucker for old heavy metal - there is no substitute for litres or cubic inches.

Our next fly in is the Antique gathering at Cowra 23-25th March.

Neil.

[ballaratdragons]

He found out tonight at AAFCadets that it is postponed :sadeyes:
He has to wait until they can hold another flying Day for them.

[pgc hunter]

Congrats to your son, flying lessons at 16 that's awesome, he'll be a qualified pilot before he gets his P's :thumbsup: :rofl: I had my first lesson a couple of years ago, alot of fun, but can't afford anymore tuition atm, but one day I will get my license :) In the meantime, FSX and FTX Australia gives me my aviation fix

[ballaratdragons]

Thanks Sab, I'll pass on your congrats.
It's all part of helping him gain access to ADFA (Australian Defence Force Academy).
He wants to be a RAAF officer in Aerospace Enginering Electronics/Armament :thumbsup: