Thread: Airshow 2019 - Avalon

Some more pics.

Started off the day with a few pics of the general display areas before the gates opened.
IMG_0215 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0216 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0214 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Frontline have a lot of the current auction items here, including some of the PC-9's and plenty of the Kiowa's.
IMG_0219 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0220 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

And plenty of Perenties, Mogs and Macks too. All the Perenties have new paint and canvas. A mix of GS's and FFR's
IMG_0224 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0223 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Then it was time to check out a few more of the Military Aircraft. Started at the B-52. This one is from 1960. Was chatting to the crew and the current policy is to keep them in service until 2050. They seem to think if they keep them to 2050 they'll keep them until 2052 which will be 100 years since the first flight of the prototype. Seems incredible that an Aircraft could still be in service after 100 years. They have never had airframe overhauls or anything - they have basically upgraded the weapons systems and capabilities over the years, but not much more than that. Flight controls are all still manual, no automation has ever been introduced to how they fly.
IMG_0229 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0231 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0232 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0228 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Then onto a full guided tour of a KC135 Supertanker. Seems I didn't end up with a pic of the exterior.... Will get that sorted...

This thing is older than the B-52 - First flew in 1957 - this is one of the original A models or which the US Airforce took delivery of 400 of these.

Anyway, no stairs available, so tarmac entry up a ladder better suited to people a little thinner and lighter than me, but I made it.
IMG_0233 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0247 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Wasn't game to try and get into the cockpit - I doubt I would have got out again.
IMG_0234 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

View across the keyhole
IMG_0235 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Then down the back for a look at how the refuelling is done. Quite a bit of room for other missions as required.
IMG_0241 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Bit hard to see but this is where the Boom operator lies down and guides the boom for refuelling - anything from fighters to B-52's. An F-16 can be refuelled in 2 minutes, a B-52 stays connected for 25 minutes to get its fill. The KC-135 can stay in the air more than 12 hours as 'A Gas Station in the sky' as they put it.
IMG_0239 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

The other side of the glass from the ground.
IMG_0242 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Was a great tour - that won't be open to the public come this weekend. One of the benefits of being able to chat to the crews before the gates open. Big thanks for Justin from the US Airforce for a very informative nuts and bolts tour.

Great pics Gav - I look forward to seeing whatever you post - thanks.

good to see you included a photo of your new Bushmaster

I/m not going to this year's Air Show, but I went to the last one, and it was,......FANTASTIC,....as I have no doubt this one will be.
BUT, the traffic, getting there etc?
We were lucky enough to have spent a few days holidaying in Queenscliff and were coming back home today along the Geelong Rd,.....no problems for us, but the traffic out of Melbourne was gridlocked from just out've Melbourne,....I reckon ya'd have had about a 2 hr delay to get into the air show?
So, IMHO, better to go by train.
Pickles.

Ok, sorry for the delay, work got in the way a lot this weekend. Here's some more pics. Haven't got anywhere near covering everything here - it's been the biggest Airshow ever here - so much more than last time and apparently it will be bigger again in 2 years for the RAAF Centenary. I'd strongly recommend anyone who finds these pics interesting to come take a look in person in 2021 - you won't be disappointed.

So the Point Cook RAAF Base Museum had a the old and the new in it.
IMG_0257 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

And one of the new PC-21's which are replacing the PC-9's as the RAAF trainers. Quite a bit bigger than the PC-9 and a lot more power too.
IMG_0255 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Interior of a Chinook.
IMG_0263 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

A few random pics of some of the Commercial Private Jets, etc - no idea what any are, just here for those interested.
IMG_0269 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0273 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0274 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0275 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0278 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

The crowd building yesterday - despite the heat, it was a huge turnout. Just shy of 100,000 through the gates yesterday I'm let to believe.
IMG_0284 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Trying to get out last night, we were stopped at the taxiway to let the F-35 go park up for the night.
IMG_0288 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

The VMVC put on a very good show as they have done for the last few shows. They put a lot of work into their setups for the public to view and should be commended on their efforts - I took a few people through there this morning who haven't ever really seen any ex Military vehicles in any numbers and they all commented on how impressive the site was, so if anyone here is from the VMVC, please pass this onto the club, well done.

IMG_0292 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0293 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0294 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Lots of H1 Hummers
IMG_0295 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Hello - What do we have here...?
IMG_0299 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Yep, Mick Morriseys LRPV
IMG_0301 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

IMG_0302 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0303 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0304 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0305 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0306 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0307 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0308 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0309 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0310 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0311 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0312 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0313 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0314 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0315 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0317 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0318 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0319 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

And for the eagle eyed who spotted the 101 in an earlier pic -
IMG_0321 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Also in that area was a large marquee set up like some trenches with information and weapons on display.
IMG_0291 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0289 by Gavin Gregory, on FlickrIMG_0290 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

And for the Drone fans - there was a a lot of very expensive hardware on display. There was also an area under a big top tent where they were racing some, but never got a chance to get there when this was happening.

IMG_0324 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0325 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0326 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0327 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Here's something worth talking about - the drone hanging on the steep angle behind the guy standing there is a racing drone believe it or not - it is HUGE. They have been designed for TV/Stadium racing so they can be seen easily. This monster accelerates faster than an F1 car and has a top speed of 230KPH. The angle it is hung on is the angle it flys at - the crossarms holding the motors are basically wings, so it gains lift from the top and bottom spa. Total power is 60KW! The builders of these are trying to get an international race series together with these in the coming year or so - will see what happens.
IMG_0328 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0330 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

This is from the same crowd and is also a very fast racing drone. These are 500mm long and run 2 cameras - the FPV for the pilot and an HD camera for broadcast. Again, with the popularity of drone racing soaring, they are designing a class big enough to see on TV.
IMG_0329 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

And now to some of the most serious Cinematographic setups you'll see. This one has a Red 8K camera on it - with the gimble, around $100K for that bit alone, then the drone to carry it.
IMG_0331 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

Then there's this - words fail me on this one and I didn't get enough time to ask the price. Bit hard to see on the pic, but this has a large film camera slung underneath it.
IMG_0332 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr

And a couple of others.
IMG_0333 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr
IMG_0334 by Gavin Gregory, on Flickr