The Australian International Airshow is held every two years at Avalon, between Melbourne and Geelong in Victoria, just off the Princes Freeway. Airshow '99 opens to the general public at 6pm on Friday 19 February, leading to the night sky spectacular from 7pm to 10pm, and the main flying days of Saturday and Sunday 20-21 Feb'. Airshow '99 trade and industry days opened on Tuesday 16 Feb'.

Some of the big toys (below) flew in on the weekend of the 13/14th, a Lockheed C5A Galaxy transporter with BlackHawk under its wing, Boeing KC135 fuel tanker, and Boeing B52 Stratofortress from the USA.

Right: BAe Red Hawk / Denel Rooievalk (sp?). There is always special interest from arms manufacturers when there is the sniff of a major contract in the air. This year the Australian Army's Project Air 87 for a new helicopter is current, so a remarkable concentration of military and commercial helicopters has turned up.

There are also the beginnings of mutterings about what will replace Australia's F/A-18's (yes we only bought those yesterday) when they get long in the tooth, so there are presentations on the next generation of fighter and ground attack aircraft (supersonic cruise, stealth, agility...), although expect that forum to get hotter from 2001 and 2003. One need that has been settled is the Royal Australian Air Force's fighter training requirement, with British Aerospace Australia (BAeA) to deliver the Hawk jet.

Australian Air Force F111 US Air Force F16

Back on four wheels, the Army's Project Bushranger is in the final competition stages, so you will get the chance to see the latest in four wheel drive armoured personnel carriers.

Seriously fast ground machinery was also seen sneaking in ... to remind us of the Australian Formula-One Grand-Prix at Albert Park, Melbourne in a couple of weeks.

Monday 15 February, and the stands are going up (below) for the Expo section of the 1999 Australian International Airshow:

Inside all is organised chaos, but come Friday it will (probably:-) run like a well-oiled machine.

Left: Fun rides? Above: Classic Military Vehicles.

A popular part of the airshow is devoted to aviation heritage with the Warbirds recalling WWII and other conflicts. Classic military vehicles will also be on show. Overall 500+ aircraft from micro-lights to the Galaxy, and 450+ exhibitors from 30 countries are expected by the organisers.

The Australian International Airshow is held every two years, at Avalon Airport, access from the Princes Freeway, 40 minutes S.W. of Melbourne.

The 1999 airshow's public days are Friday 19 (gates open 6pm-10.30pm), Saturday 20 (8am-6pm) and Sunday 21 (8am-6pm) February, 8am to 6pm, flying from 10am. General admission tickets per day are adult $25.00, child (5 to 14) $10, family (2+2) $50.

The airshow is organised by: Airshows DownUnder

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