Blasting in from the past
The skies of Temora echoed with aviation from the past and present, with the Air Force supporting the Warbirds Downunder Air Show from October 19 to 20.
CAPTION: A civilian Beechcraft D18S and two civilian T-6 Harvards fly in formation at Warbirds Downunder in Temora, NSW. Story by Flight Lieutenant Imogen Lunny. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Paris Rigney.
The Temora Aviation Museum celebrated its long-standing connection with the ADF, with the return of one of the nation’s biggest gatherings of historic military aircraft.
Showcasing 40 aircraft over the two-day event, the air show highlighted the then, now and everlasting in Australian aviation.
Executive Officer 100 Squadron Squadron Leader Samuel da Graca Costa said the participation of the heritage fleet was a way the Air Force could pay homage to the past while inspiring future generations.
“The air show provides an opportunity to honour Air Force’s heritage and showcase the great breadth of Australian aviation,” Squadron Leader da Graca Costa said.
“It’s about keeping those emotional connections alive with our past, continuing our national pride for what we were able to achieve previously and demonstrating what we can achieve into the future with our current aircraft.
“It’s an opportunity to honour the Air Force’s 80-year connection with the Riverina community. Temora remains an integral part of Air Force’s history, and 100 Squadron is grateful to continue our presence here with our heritage fleet.”
CAPTION: A 100 Squadron Supermarine Spitfire MK XVI and Roulette Pilatus PC-21 on show at the Warbirds Downunder Air Show.
Air Force planes first took to the Temora sky in 1941 with the establishment of 10 Elementary Flying Training School. At its peak, the unit managed 97 de Havilland Tiger Moth aircraft, graduating 2400 pilots during its five years of operation.
The Temora Aviation Museum was opened in 1999, with the Air Force taking ownership of 11 of the museum’s heritage aircraft in 2019.
The Warbirds Downunder Air Show is just one of the opportunities for the Air Force to put its heritage fleet on show – flying platforms such as the CT4A, Spitfire Mk VIII, CAC Winjeel, Lockheed Hudson, Ryan STM-S2 and Tiger Moth in varying formations, in an ode to Australian aviation history.
CAPTION: The Roulettes perform a bomburst during an aerobatic display at Warbirds Downunder.
Also putting on a spectacle for the 15,000-strong crowd were fan favorites including the Roulettes aerobatic display team, C-130J Hercules and F-35A Lightning II. The Air Force band were also in attendance, as were interactive demonstrations from the RAAF Balloon and ADF Recruiting.
CAPTION: A F-35A Lightning II performs a handling display in Temora, NSW.
Riverina resident Jack Knight, who attended the event alongside his grandson, Cooper, had the event marked in his calendar since the first tickets were released.
“I came to the last show in 2018. This time around I enjoyed the trainer formation with Winjeels and CT4s the most,” Mr Knight said.
“It’s been great to share the weekend with Cooper, who has had a few runs on the flying simulators.”
100 Squadron operates Air Force’s fleet of heritage aircraft out of RAAF Base Point Cook and Temora Aviation Museum. The squadron maintains artefacts of Australia’s national heritage and conducts flying displays to commemorate those who have fallen in service of the country, to promote the Royal Australian Air Force and inspire future generations.
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