Once again the RAAF Museum Point Cook held its biennial Air Pageant on February 24th 2008 where over 20,000 spectators witnessed a wide range of aircraft from yesteryear as well as there more modern counterparts demonstrate their grace and agility in the skies over South Western Melbourne. Located 25 kilometres to the South-West of Melbourne, Point Cook is steeped in history as Australia’s oldest air force base belonging to the second oldest air force in the world. However what people came to see was the diverse range of aircraft in attendance with everything from beautifully restored classic piston engine fighter’s right up to the modern fast jet trainers, all being put through their paces in a show that left very few disappointed. To start the pageant the Commando Skydivers provided a spectacular display of precision skydiving complete with a huge Australian flag suspended beneath them. Considering that there was a very stiff breeze, they showed remarkable skill landing right in form of the audience on time and on target without a hitch.

Next on display was a Lockheed C-130J Hercules Tactical Transport of No 37 Squadron based at RAAF base Richmond NSW. The ‘J’ variant is latest rendition of this venerable airlifter and is powered by four 4,591 SHP Allison AE2100DE engines each coupled with a Dowty Aerospace R391 six bladed propeller system. The ‘J’ model also features a state of the art two person cockpit incorporating multifunction LCD screens, holographic Heads up Displays (HUD), digital flight controls and GPS navigational system. The pilots demonstrated the ‘J’s outstanding versatility with an impressive display of Short Take Off, and Landing (STOL) capability. The C-130J is capable of seating 120 passengers or 92 ground troops or 64 paratroopers, within the medivac role up to 74 stretcher patents can be carried.

The Southern Knights then provided a fantastic display in their beautifully restored WWII Harvard trainers with a series of formation aerobatics including thrilling loops, roles and cross over passes. The Harvard was the standard Commonwealth trainer during WWII and is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 radial piston engine that develops 550 HP providing a maximum speed of 335 k/ph to a ceiling of 7,400 m. There is nothing sweeter than the harmonic sound of the three big radial engines all flying in unison while performing thrilling aerobatics. Another classic basic trainer of yesteryear is the De Havilland Tiger Moth which provided a graceful display, demonstrating that despite its age it is still a very agile aircraft while other trainers such as the Ryan and Chipmunk performed a routine followed by a solo Harvard trainer demonstration.

As a regular on the Australian air show scene, Pip Borman thrilled the crowd with his usual stunning display of aerobatic agility in his Zivko Aeronautics (ZA) Edge 540. The Edge is a US built single seat unlimited class Aerobatic aircraft powered by a Lycoming IO-450 engine producing in excess of 327 HP providing a climb rate of 3,700 ft/min. Another favourite in attendance was the Temora museums beautiful CAC CA-13 Boomerang fighter. This aircraft was until recently originally owned by Mr Matt Denning who lovingly restored it after 27 years of intense work and is the only example of the type flying in the world today. The standard of restoration and attention to detail is exemplary. Ironically, this iconic Australian fighter was designed by Fred David, whose original name was Friederich Wilhelm Dawid. David originally worked for the Heinkel Aircraft Company in Germany and later moved to Japan and designed the Japanese Imperial Navy (IJN) Aichi D3A “Val” carrier based dive-bomber.

David then moved to Australia in 1939 and following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941 designed the Boomerang. The new fighter was based on the Commonwealth Aircraft Factory (CAC) Wirraway trainer utilising the same Pratt and Whitney R-1830 engine. In total only 105 Boomerangs being delivered to the RAAF. The Boomerang flown at Point Cook made several low level passes highlighting its impressive stability which made it such a good platform in the ground attack role and although the armament of two 20mm Hispano cannons and four .303 inch Browning machine guns are no longer installed you can still hear the haunting whistling sound made as air passes through the now empty gun ports. The Boomerang saw only limited RAAF service during WWII as more capable types began to arrive from the US and Great Britain. These types were also well represented at Point Cook by an immaculate Curtiss-Wright P-40E Kittyhawk and a superb Supermarine Spitfire Mk 8.

The RAAF operated 841 P-40’s up until 1947 when the type was eventually replaced by the CAC licensed built P-51D Mustang. The P-40E was powered by a single Allison V-1710-73 or 81 engine producing 1,600 HP providing a top speed of 582 k/ph. Armament typically consisted of six .50 cal Machine Guns, bombs could also be carried. The example flown at Point Cook is based at Albury NSW. Australia also operated 656 Spitfires during WWII, the example at Point Cook was a Mk 8 powered by a single Rolls-Royce Merlin V-12 piston engine producing 1,710 horsepower and providing a top speed of 650k/ph. Typical armament consisted of two 20mm Hispano Cannon and four .303 Browning Machine Guns. This Supermarine Spitfire is a Mk 8 and belongs to the Temora Aviation Museum of NSW.

Just before the end of WWII the RAAF began to re-equip with the North American P-51D Mustang. Mustangs in RAAF service were licence built by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) as the CA-18 with Australia being the only county to produce this formidable fighter outside of the USA. Australia operated a total of 200 Mustangs of various marks, with the aircraft on display at Point Cook being a CAC built CA-18 Mk 23. The Australian built Mustang is powered by a single Packard Merlin V1650-7 piston engine producing 1,490 hp providing a top speed of 636 km/h to an altitude of 12,771 m. Armament typically consisted of six .50 Browning Machine Guns, bombs or rockets. As a thrilling highlight to the flying displays of the aforementioned types several formation passes were made that included the Kittyhawk, Mustang and Spitfire. The combination of all three fighters in formation was truly a rarity and something very special to see on the Australian air show scene.

Search as Rescue (SAR) plays an important role in all air forces and the RAAF is no exception. The mainstay of the RAAF SAR capability is the Sikorsky S-76A helicopter which provided a demonstration of rescuing a downed pilot by lowering a medic and stretcher (litter) before returning them both to the safety of the rescue helicopter. As an outsourced initiative , these machines are leased from Lloyd Offshore Helicopters Pty Ltd by the RAAF with this particular aircraft being based at RAAF base East Sale Victoria. Next was a BAe Hawk 127 Lead-In Fighter Trainer (LIFT) of No 76 Squadron based at RAAF Williamtown NSW which provided brief but stunning display of handling and agility. Hawk is utilized by the RAAF within the Lead-In Fighter Trainer (LIFT) role to prepare aircrew for transition to fast jets such as the Boeing F/A-18 or General Dynamics F-111 C/G. Hawk is a two-seat, low wing aircraft of all metal construction and is powered by a single Turbomeca Adour Mk-871 turbofan engine providing a top speed of 1,207 k/ph to an altitude of 15,250 m.

The De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou Tactical Transport demonstrated its astounding STOL capability. Operated by No 38 Squadron based at Amberley Queensland, the primary role of this robust airlifter is to support the Australian Army. Caribou was introduced in 1964 and it is still recognised as one of the most versatile short haul transport aircraft in the world today. The Caribou is Australia’s only aircraft capable of operating the Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System, (LAPES) where up to two tonnes of sled mounted equipment can be extracted by parachute only one metre from the ground. Another classic radial powered twin was present in the form of a beautifully restored Lockheed A-28 Hudson bomber that provided a very spirited demonstration of its capabilities as a WWII bomber. In total 52 Hudson’s were operated by the RAAF during WWII and were powered by two Wright Cyclone GR-1820-G205A Cyclone radial piston engines each producing 1,200 HP providing a top speed of 406 k/ph. The Hudson was also utilized in the troop transport, meteorological reconnaissance, VIP transport and air-sea rescue roles. The Hudson displayed at Point Cook belongs to the Temora Aviation Museum of NSW.

Another timeless classic displayed was the Douglas DC-3. Two of these beautiful old machines were present in the liveries of, the now defunct Ansett Airlines of Australia, and Melbourne’s Gooney Bird flight charter of Essendon Airport Victoria. What more can be said about the classic DC-3 that hasn’t been said already. These old workhorses are still regularly seen around the world flying in one form or another, there is even a firm that specialises in installing Gas Turbine engines in them! So we will still see them flying in one form or another for some time to come. A Yak 9 is described as arguably one of the best fighters of the Second World War and the example at Point Cook gave a magic demonstration in handling. It is claimed that the Yakolev Design Bureau 9-U could outmanoeuvre a P-51, Spitfire, ME109 and FW109 making for a very formidable aircraft indeed. The Yak 9 displayed at Point Cook is in current production and powered by a single Allison V1710-99 engine rated at 1,200 HP providing a top speed of 600 k/ph.

The De Havilland Vampire T Mk 35 jet trainer of the Temora Aviation Museum was the only other jet aircraft to demonstrate its capabilities at Point Cook. The Vampire was initially developed as a single-seat fighter aircraft however a twin seat trainer version was later developed entering service with the RAAF in 1951. RAAF Vampire Trainers were based at the Central Flying School, East Sale and were used to train instructors while the type was also used by the RAAF aerobatics team ‘The Telstars’, predecessor to the current RAAF Aerobatic team, The Roulettes. As the current basic trainer of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), the Pilatus PC-9A is a two-seat, single engine aircraft powered by a single Pratt and Whitney PT6A-62 turboprop producing 950 SHP. The Pilatus PC9-A was designed in Switzerland and made under license by Hawker De Havilland in Sydney. The PC-9 was initially introduced into RAAF service in 1987 and is now the regular mount of the Roulettes aerobatic team based at Central Flying School East Sale Victoria. Unfortunately, due to prior commitments only one of the Roulette team could make it to the Point Cook Pageant, but never the less provided a great solo demonstration.

Other trainers of more recent times made a strong appearance in the form of two former RAAF CT-4’s, also affectingly known as the ’The Plastic Parrot’. The CT-4 is a two place trainer that is still utilised for ADF basic flight training. While its predecessor, the CAC CA-25 Winjeel, also provided a great display of tandem formation flying. Both types have also proven to be quite popular with warbird enthusiasts as they provide an affordable introduction into the local warbird scene.
All in all a great day was had by all who attended and our appreciation must go to the volunteer and permanent staff of the RAAF Museum Point Cook, for without their assistance this report would not have been possible.

Edgar Wassenaar / CHK6 Australia

Release 3.1/2008

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