UNIQUE AND INTERESTING

AIR SHOW DISPLAY

The Defence Force Air Display in Townsville was the eighth in the series of annual Air Shows around Australia which took place on 26th September, 2009 in Townsville to celebrate the 10th anniversary of ‘The Strand’.


The air show event was a break from the past format.






The air show display was held on The Strand over water rather than on the Royal Australia Air Force (RAAF) Base.

The air show gave a wider frontage for spectators and it drew a large crowd that gathered from surrounding regions. The big draw card for the display was the United States Air Force demonstration Team, ‘The Thunderbirds’, in six F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. They were accompanied by two C-17 Globe master transport aircraft and two KC-10 tanker aircraft for en-route refuelling.






Featuring the United States Air Force (USAF) Air Demonstration Squadron, the ”Thunderbirds”, the Air Display also included the popular RAAF Air Demonstration Squadron the ”Roulettes”; the C-17 Globemaster; C-130H Hercules; FA-18 Hornet; Hawk 127, Army Helicopters including the Chinook, Blackhawk and MRH 90; War Birds; skydivers and the ”Red Baron”. Thousands came along to see the air show on the Strand, and the Chinook and Black Hawk helicopters even gave a chance to get covered in sand and sea water.


The Air Display took place approximately for about three hours long.



The Australian Defence Force Air Display was one of the most colourful mounted by the Air Show team since the current series commenced in 2001.

There were different types of food and amusements rides through the afternoon and evening and following the air display there was a 90 minute concert by the Air Force Band and 1st Battalion Bands.

Ground displays included the Force Ten RAAF Band; Australian Federation Guard Precision Drill Team; Townsville Pipe and Drum Band; along with rides, exhibitions and a plethora of food and drinks.

At the end of the event there was fantabulous fireworks show which took place for 30 minutes. The fireworks display was supported by the F-111’s spectacular ‘torch’ demonstration.

Everybody had a wonderful time and I was very much excited to see all the various types of flights.

The successful day’s event concluded with the F-111 performing it’s spectacular ’dump and burn’, followed by a dazzling fire works extravaganza on the foreshore. The Air Display is said to have attracted around 70,000 spectators, equivalent to roughly 40% of the population of Townsville.

I enjoyed the Air Show very much and it was a life time experience to see this wonderful show and it will be a memorable event for me.