RAAF PEARCE AIR SHOW 2012 - 19 & 20 MAY 2012
After a seven year wait, in May 2012, it was the turn of Western Australia's RAAF Base Pearce to host the annual Defence Force Air Show.
An estimated 50,000 spectators attended the Air Show over the weekend.
This caused some traffic problems for those who attended. Some who went to the show later in the morning were caught up in lengthy traffic jams - some people were stuck in this traffic for so long that by the time they reached the Base, the gates were closed. Poor traffic management in the base car parks at the end of each day caused problems for those trying to get away early - many people spending four hours stuck in the car park, trying to get out of the air base. Traffic problems aside, the air show contained a number of highlights.
Perhaps the most anticipated aircraft was the US Air Force Boeing B-52H Stratofortress which performed two flypasts each day, flying direct from Guam with air refuelling, and performing a practice bombing mission in the Northern Territory along the way, before returning direct to Guam.
The Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets of the RAAF's No.1 Squadron were also a big attraction, with one of these performing a very brief air display to open the military part of the air show.
A four-ship formation of "classic" Hornets (F/A-18A) of 75 Squadron performed some excellent close formation flying, using the name "Black Diamonds". They also conducted a mock airfield attack, and the pyrotechnic "bomb explosion" started a small bush fire on the Saturday.
The Boeing C-17A Globemaster III of 36 Squadron performed an impressive display, including using reverse thrust from its engines to reverse on the runway, and did a three-point turn on the runway on the Sunday.
A Lockheed AP-3C Orion of 10 Squadron made a spirited display, including demonstrating its ability to loiter with an engine shut down.
The Lockheed C-130H Hercules of 37 Squadron RAAF made what is almost certainly the last air show appearance of the RAAF's H-model Hercules at an air show on the Sunday. The
C-130H is being retired from RAAF service on 30 June 2012. A C-130J-30 of 37 Squadron was on static display.
The Republic of Singapore Air Force sent one of their recently upgraded C-130H Hercules for the static display, together with a pair of their PC-21 trainers, which are based at Pearce.
The Pearce-based PC-9/A of 2FTS with a solo air display and massed "Thunderbird" formation of 18 PC-9/A. The Hawk 127 Lead In Fighter aircraft of 79 Squadron (also based at Pearce performed a solo display, 4-ship formation display and airfield attack.
On the civilian side, the last Grumman Albatross amphibian aircraft produced was on static display, looking immaculate. This had recently been delivered to Mack McCormack, and will be based at Broome in the north of Western Australia for tourist flights.
A Rebel 300 aerobatic aircraft flown by Tony Blair (not the former British PM) gave a fantastic display of aerobatics and some very low-level passes along the runway.
AIR SHOW AIRCRAFT LIST - CLICK HERE
AIR SHOW PHOTOS PART 1 - CLICK HERE |
AIR SHOW PHOTOS PART 2 - CLICK HERE |
|
