International Air Show

**Kev Y.** · 18th February 2003, 10:23 AM

Greetings all, I know this is NOT an announcment, but I figured it would go well here anyway.

I have just got back from 10 days at the International Air Show ay Avalon, and thought you may like to here some of the interesting/dumb things that happened and The real story behind a few of those that were reported by the media.

Even before the event statred there was a huge goof by the people unloading the super transporter - for those of you who didnt see it this thing looks lik a pregnant air bus - while unloading the new army helocopter from the transported some poor forklift driver managed to punch a hole in the side of the plane, result.... 3 days of activity and a quick repair job.. and a re-training course on how to drive forklifts around aircraft.

This next bit WAS reported by the media.
One of the site security staff - highly trained and skilled at his job - was shot in the foot while attempting to sit down (yeah right and I know an intelligent blonde) WHAT really happend was, our hero was showing off to the visitng Americain security troops on how fast he could draw his weapon, and spin it on his finger.. while re-holstering his weapon it went off causing wounds to his calf and foot.. pity it was not pointing up at the time!

As well as the usual BIG FAST aircraft, there was a shell air rally for planes of all shapes and sizes, wednesday of the show week these guy took off for a trip around the bay, unfortunatly for some of them the weather took a turn for the worse as they were returning, and several of then suffered landing gear troubles to be exact, 4 "incidents" in 15 minutes. some were still not repaired as of yesterday afternoon when I left.

Over in the east runway things were "bouncing" as well... One poor pilot was coming in for a landing, miss judged their exact location, did a go around, came in too fast and too high with the result of 3 bounces and a collapsed nose wheel, ending up at the end of the runway minus nosewheel and propeller and a visit from CASA.

Back to the Main runway.. A person I am told who was the runway boss, loaned his car to some of his team.. result the car and an arobatic plane sat the rest of the airshow in the workshop.. damage bill here $100,000 the car and the plane.

Some good news to end with.. The "make a wish" foundation organised for a 15 year old terminal patient to take a JOY flight in a MIG. I spoke to the pilot who said the boy was thrilled at the experience, zipping off down the great ocean road, and popping through the cloud cover to do a few barrel rolls.... however it apparently took a
little while to find his feet when he landed....

In amongst all this fun stuff I managed to pay a vist to the home of Shellawax, Thank you Neil and Pauline for the warm welcome...

Kev

[This message has been edited by Brudda (edited 18 February 2003).]

**Dean** · 18th February 2003, 12:40 PM

Did you come across the Flight Simulation displays?

**Kev Y.** · 18th February 2003, 03:10 PM

Dean, yep I saw a few of the filght simuators, but there was a long line waiting for the seat, There was even a couple of those hydraulic simulators as well, but I had better things to do with my time....

By the way, anyone who did attend, did you wonder down to the south end and see "MISS SHELL".. mmmmmmmm go well,go shell....

**Kev Y.** · 18th February 2003, 03:11 PM

OOOPS forgot to mention, for the second time in 4 years yours truely tested the readiness of the americain security forces.. and I am happy to report they are on the job and ever vigilant.......

Kev

[This message has been edited by Brudda (edited 18 February 2003).]

**ubeaut** · 18th February 2003, 05:14 PM

Friday night was a real disappointment, Friday at the 2001 Air Show left this one for dead.

Lots of the program was skipped over and the after dark show was a real fizzer.

One of 's highlights was watching a security guard get snotted whilst Julie was taking his prohibited weapon (little pocket-knife) back to the van.

We did enjoy it, but still reckon it was a disappointing, even more so for those who had left after being told it was all over. Only to find out they had missed the wall of fire because of an almost 5 minute delay with the pyrotechnics.

Then there was the poor radio controlled helicopter guys who were left sitting on the side of the runway for about an hour and a half waiting for their slot, then being cancelled. And what happened to all the wonderful night flying of the ulrta-lights and the glider, and then they canned helicopters and the army, etc. etc. etc.

And what the hell were they thinking when they park a bloody big truck right in front of the wheelchair viewing enclosure so they had no hope of seeing what was happening on the runway in front of them.

The last hour of the show seemed to drag on for about 2 hours and except for the flight of the Connie and F-111 was almost as exciting as watching the grass grow.

We will be going to the next one. Maybe they will have ironed out all the problems by then.

There's nothing like a couple of flyovers of an F/A 18 Super Hornet or F-16 Fighting Falcon and the good ol' F-111 to make all the crappy bits seem to vanish in a second.

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