RAAF turns on an exhilarating show in Sale
An array of Royal Australian Air Force aircraft, old and new, thrilled a crowd of more than 10,000 people during the Anzac Weekend Air Show at West Sale Airport, Victoria.
CAPTION: RAAF Roulettes conduct an aerobatic display during the Anzac Weekend Air Show 2022 at West Sale airport in Gippsland, Victoria. Story by Flight Lieutenant Nick O’Connor.
Spectators were treated to a unique blend of flying and static displays by No. 100 Squadron heritage aircraft, including the CA-25 Winjeel and CT-4A Airtrainer, a No. 35 Squadron C-27J Spartan, Air Force balloon tethered flights and live music from the Air Force Band.
Among the highlights were the displays from the locally based Roulettes aerobatic team, with six Pilatus PC-21 aircraft from the Central Flying School wowing the crowds.
RAAF Base East Sale Senior Australian Defence Force Officer Group Captain Nigel Ward said participating in the air show was a way of thanking the Gippsland and Sale communities for their ongoing support.
“This is a very important event for the Sale community for a number of reasons. It is the inaugural Anzac Weekend Air Show in this location, and it is great to be able to come together as a community after a number of years where events were put on hold due to COVID-19 restrictions,” Group Captain Ward said.
“From an Air Force perspective, it is very important to come here and support the Air Show, as we see ourselves as very much part of the local community.”
Commanding Officer of Central Flying School Wing Commander Damien Buswell paid tribute to the local people for turning out in force.
“The Roulettes were very pleased to be part of the Royal Australian Air Force contingent to take part in the Anzac Weekend Air Show,” Wing Commander Buswell said.
“The aerobatics team wanted to pull together a display routine that would impress all who attended the show.
“The team performed a number of exhilarating manoeuvres as part of the display, at times travelling towards each other in excess of 1000km/h and pulling up to 6 G-force, flying in formation only three metres apart and finishing off the display with a bomb burst.”
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