EA-18G Growler to debut at Riverfire
The Australian Defence Force today announced it will once again support Brisbane Festival’s Sunsuper Riverfire on Saturday 30 September – with the RAAF’s recently arrived EA-18G Growler electronic-attack aircraft making its debut at the popular event.
FILE PHOTO: An F/A-18F Super Hornet flies low over the Story Bridge during the lead up to Riverfire 2013. File photo by Corporal Glen McCarthy.
Late on Saturday afternoon, one EA-18G Growler will fly a series of low passes along the Brisbane River down to 250 feet and up to a maximum of 450 knots.
Two EA-18G Growlers will conduct a flypast to commence the fireworks later in the evening.
As part of preparations for the event, the aircrew of both flypast aircraft will conduct practice runs at 12:30 and 13:20pm on Friday 29 September.
The Air Force’s formation aerobatic team, the Roulettes, will also perform breathtaking flying displays at Sunsuper Riverfire for the first time in eight years.
All seven members of the Air Force’s Roulettes team will be involved in Riverfire with six pilots and aircraft taking part in the aerial acrobatics display and the seventh pilot providing commentary on the ground.
The Roulettes are based at RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria and their last appearance at Riverfire was in 2009.
The workhorse of Air Force’s aircraft fleet, the C-17A Globemaster, will also provide a flypast before the fireworks display and up to four MRH90 helicopters from the Army Aviation Centre at Oakey will also conduct a helicopter flying display.
The Royal Australian Navy Band Queensland will entertain crowds at the South Bank Plaza in the lead-up to the fireworks display.
The band’s repertoire ranges from timeless jazz standards through to hits of the 70s and 80s, as well as current Top 40 hits.
An Anzac Centenary pop-up exhibition on the Battles of Polygon Wood and Beersheba will also be featured at South Bank Plaza which will include two ASLAVs (Australian light armoured vehicles) from 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment.
All flypasts and flying displays are subject to variables including air traffic control requirements, weather and operational availability and, as such, may be subject to cancellation at short notice.
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