Sat 19 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

60-0033 / MT Boeing B-52H Stratofortress (cn 464398) of US Air Force, 23rd Bombardment Squadron "Bomber Barons", 5th Bombardment Wing, Minot AFB, North Dakota, USA, named "Peace Persuader"

This aircraft made two flypasts – one with wheels down, one clean.

It flew from Guam non-stop with air refuelling, and conducted a practice bombing mission over Bradshaw bombing range in Northern Territory along the way, before flying non-stop back to Guam.

Photos © Matt Hayes

Sun 20 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

60-0004 / MT Boeing B-52H Stratofortress (cn 464369) of US Air Force, 23rd Bombardment Squadron "Bomber Barons", 5th Bombardment Wing, Minot AFB, North Dakota, USA.

NOTE: It has nose art under the cockpit windows - can anyone advise what this is?

This aircraft made two flypasts – one with wheels down, one clean.

It flew from Guam non-stop with air refuelling, and conducted a practice bombing mission over Bradshaw bombing range in Northern Territory along the way, before flying non-stop back to Guam.

Photos © David Eyre

19 & 20 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

62-3543 Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker (cn 18526) of USAF Reserve, 756th ARS, 459th ARW, Andrews AFB, Maryland, USA

Used callsign "DECEE99" (DECEE for Washington DC, which is near Andrews AFB) when returning to USA

Photo 1 & 2 © Matt Hayes

Photo 3 - 6 © David Eyre

Photo 7 - Being towed to the south end after the end of the air show on Sunday 20 May. © Ian Moy

19 & 20 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

730 Lockheed C-130H Hercules (cn 4842) of
Republic of Singapore Air Force, 122 "Condor" Sqn, Paya Lebar Air Base, Singapore

The Republic of Singapore Air Force acquired the first of ten C-130 Hercules aircraft in 1977, followed from 1980 by six C-130H. 730, the aircraft in these photos, was their first C-130H.

From 2010, ST Aerospace began to modernise the RSAF Hercules fleet with new avionics and a digital glass cockpit, designed in Singapore.

Photos © David Eyre

Sat 19 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

9107 Pilatus PC-21 (cn 115, civil reg 9V-YYG) of Republic of Singapore Air Force, 130 "Eagle" Sqn, based at RAAF Base Pearce.

Taking off to fly in the massed "Thunderbird" formation with RAAF PC-9/A aircraft.

The PC-21 replaced the SIAI-Marchetti S-211 jet trainer in the Republic of Singapore Air Force from June 2008.

The PC-21 is also being offered to the RAAF as a PC-9/A replacement, and there would be benefits if both the RSAF and RAAF operated the type at Pearce.

Photo 1 © Matt Hayes

Photo 2 © Keith Anderson

19 & 20 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

9108 Pilatus PC-21 (cn 116, civil reg 9V-YYH) of Republic of Singapore Air Force, 130 "Eagle" Sqn, based at RAAF Base Pearce.

The PC-21 replaced the SIAI-Marchetti S-211 jet trainer in the Republic of Singapore Air Force from June 2008.

The PC-21 is also being offered to the RAAF as a PC-9/A replacement, and there would be benefits if both the RSAF and RAAF operated the type at Pearce.

Photos © David Eyre

19 & 20 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

9109 Pilatus PC-21 (cn 117, civil reg 9V-YYI) of Republic of Singapore Air Force, 130 "Eagle" Sqn, based at RAAF Base Pearce.

The PC-21 replaced the SIAI-Marchetti S-211 jet trainer in the Republic of Singapore Air Force from June 2008.

The PC-21 is also being offered to the RAAF as a PC-9/A replacement, and there would be benefits if both the RSAF and RAAF operated the type at Pearce.

Photo 1 © Keith Anderson

Photo 2 © David Eyre

Sat 19 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

9113 Pilatus PC-21 (cn 121, civil reg 9V-YYM) of Republic of Singapore Air Force, 130 "Eagle" Sqn, based at RAAF Base Pearce.

Taking off to fly in the massed "Thunderbird" formation with RAAF PC-9/A aircraft.

The PC-21 replaced the SIAI-Marchetti S-211 jet trainer in the Republic of Singapore Air Force from June 2008.

The PC-21 is also being offered to the RAAF as a PC-9/A replacement, and there would be benefits if both the RSAF and RAAF operated the type at Pearce.

Photo 1 © Ian Moy

Photo 2 © Matt Hayes

Sat 19 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

9114 Pilatus PC-21 (cn 122, civil reg 9V-YYN) of Republic of Singapore Air Force, 130 "Eagle" Sqn, based at RAAF Base Pearce.

Taking off to fly in the massed "Thunderbird" formation with RAAF PC-9/A aircraft.

The PC-21 replaced the SIAI-Marchetti S-211 jet trainer in the Republic of Singapore Air Force from June 2008.

The PC-21 is also being offered to the RAAF as a PC-9/A replacement, and there would be benefits if both the RSAF and RAAF operated the type at Pearce.

Photos © Matt Hayes

19 & 20 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

A7-027 Macchi MB-326H (cn CA30-27) in RAAF 2FTS markings

A7-027 made its first flight on 15 August 1968 and was delivered to the RAAF on 22 August 1968. It served with the Central Flying School, the Roulettes aerobatic team and 76 Squadron at Williamtown, NSW.

Upon being replaced by the BAE Systems Hawk, it was retired from service and allocated to 25 (City of Perth) Squadron for promotional purposes. It is normally on display near the main gate to RAAF Base Pearce, but was moved to this hangar for the air show.

Photo © David Eyre

19 & 20 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

A7-041 Macchi MB-326H (cn CA30-41) in RAAF 79 Squadron markings

A7-041 made its first flight on 6 March 1969, and was delivered to the RAAF on 19 March 1969.

It served with 2 FTS at Pearce and the Central Flying School and Roulettes aerobatic team at East Sale, VIC.

Upon being replaced by BAE Systems Hawk aircraft, it was allocated to RAAF Pearce for promotional purposes.

Photo © David Eyre

19 & 20 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

A8-141 General Dynamics F-111C (cn D1-17) of the RAAF Heritage Centre, Amberley, QLD.

This is the crew module only.

On 25 October 1978, A8-141 of 6 Squadron, RAAF was participating in Exercise Longex 78 in New Zealand when it crashed in the Hauracki Gulf, northeast of Waiheke Island near Auckland.

Fuel was being dumped to enable an emergency landing at Whenuapai. but some fuel entered the wheel well and was ignited by a ruptured hot air line, causing an explosion. The two crew ejected safely in the escape module at 2,700 ft and 226 kts. The aircraft was destroyed, and the crew module is all that survived.

Photos © David Eyre

19 & 20 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

A9-751 Lockheed AP-3C Orion (cn 5657) of RAAF, 10 Sqn, Edinburgh, South Australia.

This aircraft flew twice on the Saturday, reportedly due to the C-130H Hercules A97-007 being unserviceable on Saturday.

It also appeared in the static display on the Sunday and performed a single air display.

The AP-3C demonstrated its ability to loiter with one engine sut down to save fuel, extending time on station or range. It is usually the No. 1 engine (port outer engine) which is shut down, as it is the only engine which has no generator attached, and because it removes exhaust efflux, enhancing visibility from the aft observer window (which is also on the port side).

Ex 160751.

Photo 1: 19 May 2012 © Steve Jaksic

Photos 2-4: 19 May 2012 © Matt Hayes

Photos 5 & 6: 20 May 2012 © David Eyre

18 May 2012: RAAF Pearce - Pre-show practice &

19 & 20 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

RAAF McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18A Hornets flying formation:

A21-23 (cn 483/AF-23) of 75 Sqn, based at Tindal, NT.

A21-36 (cn 595/AF-36) of 75 Sqn, based at Tindal, NT.

A21-44 (cn 707/AF-44) of 75 Sqn, based at Tindal, NT.

A21-28 (cn 521/AF-28) of 2OCU, based at Williamtown, NSW.

Photos 1 & 2: 18 May 2012 (practice) © Keith Anderson

Photo 3: 18 May 2012 (practice) © Michael Foss

Photos 4 & 5: 19 May 2012 air show © Matt Hayes

Photo 6: 20 May 2012 © David Eyre

20 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

RAAF McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18A Hornets line-up (nearest to furthest from camera):

A21-6 (cn 287/AF-6) of 3 Sqn, Williamtown, NSW

A21-23 (cn 483/AF-23) of 75 Sqn, based at Tindal, NT.

A21-36 (cn 595/AF-36) of 75 Sqn, based at Tindal, NT.

A21-44 (cn 707/AF-44) of 75 Sqn, based at Tindal, NT.

A21-28 (cn 521/AF-28) of 2OCU, based at Williamtown, NSW.

Photos © David Eyre

20 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

A21-6 McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18A Hornet
(cn 287/AF-6) of RAAF, 3 Sqn, Williamtown, NSW

Photos © David Eyre

Sat 19 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

A21-23 McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18A Hornet (cn 483/AF-23) of 75 Sqn, based at Tindal, NT.

Pulling up steeply during the simulated airfield attack display.

The pyrotechnics used to simulate bomb explosions caused a small bushfire, which the fire service quickly extinguished (they were on standby nearby as a safety precaution).

The large double-deck "aircraft" in the background is actually an airliner mock-up, used by the Australian SAS Counter Terrorism squadron, Tactical Assault Group (West) as an anti-hijacking training aid, to practise airliner entry and hostage rescue.

Photo © Matt Hayes

Sat 19 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

A21-26 McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18A Hornet (cn 506/AF-26) of 2 OCU, based at Williamtown, NSW.

Solo "classic" Hornet air display, which concluded the air display each day.

Photos 1-4 © Matt Hayes

Photo 5 © Keith Anderson

Photo 6 © Matt Hayes

Photo 7 © Ian Moy

20 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

A21-28 McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18A Hornet (cn 521/AF-28) of 2 OCU, based at Williamtown, NSW.

4-ship formation & simulated airfield attack

Photo © Keith Anderson

19 & 20 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

A21-38 McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18A Hornet (cn 483/AF-23) of 75 Sqn, based at Tindal, NT.

Painted in special 70th anniversary colours, with:

• "75 Squadron - 70 Years" tail markings
  
• "1942-2012" on Leading Edge eXtension (LEX) fence
  
• "75 Squadron - 70 Years 1942-2012" and
  "Once a Magpie Forever a Magpie" on nose gear doors.

Photo 1 © Keith Anderson

Photo 2 © David Eyre

Photo 3 © Michael Foss

Photo 4 © David Eyre

Fri 18 May 2012: RAAF Pearce - Pre-show practice &

Sat 19 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

A21-44 McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18A Hornet (cn 707/AF-44) of 75 Sqn, based at Tindal, NT.

Photo 1: 18 May 2012 - landing at 14:12 after the practice formation session.
© Keith Anderson

Photo 2: 19 May 2012 - taking off for air show
© Matt Hayes

Sun 20 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

A23-001 Pilatus PC-9/A (cn 501) of RAAF 2 FTS, based at Pearce.

This was the first of 67 PC-9/A aircraft delivered to the RAAF. The first two aircraft were assembled by Pilatus Aircraft at Stans, Switzerland, and the other 65 were assembled by Hawker de Havilland at Bankstown, NSW.

This particular aircraft made its first flight on 19 May 1987 registered as HB-HQA. It was displayed at the Paris Air Show in June 1987.

It later departed the Pilatus factory at Stans with HB-HQB (which later became A23-002) on the 12,576 mile delivery flight, arriving at Bankstown, NSW on 16 October 1987.

Photo © David Eyre

Sat 19 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

Line of Pilatus PC-9/A aircraft of RAAF 2 FTS, based at Pearce (nearest to furthest):

A23-041 (cn 541)

A23-043 (cn 543)

A23-011 (cn 511)

A23-024 (cn 524)

A23-021 (cn 521)

All of these aircraft took part in the massed "Thunderbird" formation on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Photo © Matt Hayes

Sat 19 & Sun 20 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

A23-054 Pilatus PC-9/A (cn 554) of RAAF 2 FTS, based at Pearce.

Performing the solo PC-9 display.

Photos © Keith Anderson

Sat 19 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

A23-058 Pilatus PC-9/A (cn 558) of RAAF Roulettes Aerobatic Team, based at East Sale, Victoria.

Taxying in after the Roulettes air display.

Photo © Matt Hayes

Sat 19 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

A23-059 Pilatus PC-9/A (cn 559) of RAAF Roulettes Aerobatic Team, based at East Sale, Victoria.

This aircraft did not fly, as it was the spare aircraft for the Roulettes, in case one of the Roulettes' aircraft went unserviceable.

Photo © Matt Hayes

Fri 18 May 2012: RAAF Pearce - Pre-show practice &

Sat 19 & 20 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

The Roulettes aerobatic team, flying their six Pilatus
PC-9/A aircraft formation during a practice session before the air show at 12:41.

Aircraft in the formation are:
A23-046, A23-057, A23-058, A23-060, A23-061, A23-067.

Photo 1: 19 May 2012 © David Eyre

Photo 2: 20 May 2012 © Keith Anderson

Photo 3: Fri 18 May 2012 practice session - "Wedge" formation. (At 15:30 that day, they also performed a display over Cottesloe Beach).
© Keith Anderson

Photo 4: Sat 19 May 2012 air show - "Wedge" formation.
© Keith Anderson

Photo 5: Sat 19 May 2012 air show - "Vulcan" formation.
© Matt Hayes

Photo 6: Sat 19 May 2012 air show - "Break" manoeuvre.
© Matt Hayes

Sat 19 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

18 Pilatus PC-9/A aircraft of RAAF 2FTS, based at Pearce, flying in the "Thunderbird" formation.

This formation is usually flown whenever a Pilots Course graduates at Pearce.

Aircraft in the formation on both Saturday and Sunday were:

A23-003, A23-006, A23-008, A23-010, A23-011, A23-013,
A23-017, A23-019, A23-021, A23-024, A23-028, A23-033, A23-040, A23-041, A23-043, A23-053, A23-054, A23-065.

Photo © Matt Hayes

Sun 20 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

Pilatus PC-9/A aircraft of RAAF 2 FTS, and
BAE Systems Hawk 127 aircraft of 79 Squadron.

All based at Pearce.

Photo © David Eyre

Sun 20 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

A27-01 BAE Systems Hawk 127 (cn DT01, ex ZJ632) of RAAF, 79 Squadron (with 76 Squadron tail markings), based locally at RAAF Base Pearce.

A27-01 was the first of 33 Hawks delivered to the RAAF - the first 12 were assembled by BAE Systems at Warton in the UK and the remaining 21 were assembled by BAE Systems at Williamtown, NSW.

This aircraft made its first flight using UK serial ZJ632 on 16 December 1999 at Warton, UK, and entered service in 2000.

Photo 1 © Keith Anderson

Photo 2 © David Eyre

Sat 19 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

A27-03 BAE Systems Hawk 127 (cn DT03, ex ZJ634) of RAAF, 79 Squadron, based locally at RAAF Base Pearce.

This aircraft wears an experimental dark grey scheme to assess whether it provides increased visibility in flight.

Photo 1: Taxying out for its display © Ian Moy

Photos 2-4: Solo air display © Matt Hayes

Sat 19 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

BAE Systems Hawk 127 of RAAF, with 76 Squadron tail markings, taking off for their 4-aircraft formation display and simulated airfield attack.

A27-13 (cn DT-13)

A27-17 (cn DT-17)

Photo © Matt Hayes

Sat 19 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

BAE Systems Hawk 127 of RAAF, taking off for their 4-aircraft formation display and simulated airfield attack.

A27-34 (cn DT-13) of 79 Squadron, RAAF - based at Pearce

A27-07 (cn DT-07) - no tail unit markings.

Photo © Matt Hayes

Sat 19 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

BAE Systems Hawk 127 of RAAF, with 76 Squadron tail markings, during their formation display.

A27-13 (cn DT-13) - wearing 76 Squadron tail markings

A27-17 (cn DT-17) - wearing 76 Squadron tail markings

A27-34 (cn DT-13) of 79 Squadron, RAAF - based at Pearce

A27-07 (cn DT-07) - no tail unit markings.

Photo © Matt Hayes

Sat 19 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

A27-07 BAE Systems Hawk 127 (cn DT-07) of RAAF, with no unit markings on the tail.

This aircraft took part in the 4-ship formation display and simulated airfield attack.

Photo 1 © Keith Anderson

Photo 2 © Ian Moy

19 & 20 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

A27-15 BAE Systems Hawk 127 (cn DT-15) of RAAF, 79 Squadron, based at RAAF Base Pearce.

Static display.

Photo 1 © Ian Moy - showing a blue-painted Mk.82 500 lb bomb and instrumented Sidewinder missile near the wingtip.

Photo 2 © David Eyre - showing the CBLS (Carrier Bomb Light Store) practice bomb carrier

19 & 20 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

A27-30 BAE Systems Hawk 127 (cn DT-30) of RAAF.

Experimental two tone grey camouflage. No unit markings on tail.

Photos © David Eyre

Sat 19 May 2012: RAAF Pearce Air Show 2012

A27-34 BAE Systems Hawk 127 (cn DT-34) of RAAF, 79 Squadron, based at RAAF Base Pearce.

Taxying in after the four-aircraft formation display and simulated airfield attack.

Photo © Keith Anderson