Over cast and some would say cool conditions, but for us it was freezing. At least it was not raining!
Dave Benson holds the world record for parachuting with a flag 48.5 x 23 mtrs.
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The ROULETTES in action!
The Roulettes are the Royal Australian Air Force's elite formation aerobatic display team that showcase Air Force flying skills to the Australian public. Team members are flying instructors at the Air Force's Central Flying School. The Roulettes currently fly Pilatus PC-9/A aircraft, however, the history of Air Force aerobatic teams dates back to well before the introduction of the PC-9/A.
Chris Sperou in VH-XPS Super Stinker, custom built to fit! Chris was a local West Coast lad, more later on Chris.
Eh! No smokin' guy's!
All very high tech in the bush!!, now you know why we don't have to Queue!
VH-ODW - Air Tractor 802 - Fire Fighting, Water Bomber, 3,100 litres, stattioned in Woodside or Port Lincon.
Pitts S-1-11B Super Stinker VH-XPS - Chris Sperou, 2005 Amateur Built Aircraft
Yak18 - VH-RUZ - David Forsythe. see air craft details next photo
VH-KRM - Wise
The Yakovlev Yak-18T is a four-place, fully aerobatic utility aircraft. Introduced to train Aeroflot pilots, it has recently gained some popularity as a sportplane both inside and outside the former USSR. It is powered by a 268-298 kW (360-400 hp) Vedeneyev M14P radial engine, and is designed for stresses of +6.4/-3.2 g.
The Yak-18T prototype had its first flight in mid-1967 and subsequently the type was placed in production in Smolensk.
VH-ZIZ - De Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunk Mk 22A
The aircraft was built in Chester, England, for the RAF and entered service in June 1952 with service number WP 791.
It saw military service in a number of RAF locations including Hornchurch and Castle Bromwich. In 1959 it was converted to civilian use and was initially based at Croydon Airport where it was the last aircraft to fly out of this famous airport before its closure. It then spent a number of years at the Surrey and Kent Flying Club, and in 1966 it won the Kings Cup air race.
The aircraft was shipped to Australia in 1993, and repainted in its original RAF colour scheme in 2007.
Tiger Moth - Daniel Pluess
1942 De Havilland Aircraft Pty Ltd DH-82A C/N 941
Tiger Moth essentials!
Chris Sperou - Aerobatics
the Ceduna aerodrome to catch a glimpse of military aircraft staging through Ceduna which was a fuel stop.
At the true adult age of 21 Chris immediately joined the Royal Aero Club of South Australia. The trainer was the DH 1 DeHavilland Chipmunk, which was used in the past to train Military Pilots. He went solo in only a few hours and quickly engaged in 'unusual attitudes' -AEROBATICS!
Chris won his first National title before anyone realised that he was
never endorsed to fly aerobatics. That changed when later in life a very
good friend, who was a Chief Flying Instructor and ex-airforce pilot,
asked Chris to show him a few of the more unusual manoeuvres that he had
developed over the years after which he stamped Chris' Pilot Log Book as
aerobatic rated.
Chris represented the South Australian Aero Club in a three man
formation team, winning and assisting to win the National title nine (9)
times, the National Aerobatic & Unlimited title 13 times as well as
representing Australia in the World Aerobatic titles. They did not
possess competitive aircraft to match those used by other more liberal
countries but his team did manage to win a bronze medal in the USA in 1980.
Over the years Chris has perfected an unlimited routine of low level
aerobatics down to 50 feet in his Super Pitts Special Bi-Plane. His aircraft is equipped with a smoke generator and he flies all his routines trailing smoke.
He is the only pilot in Australia approved to carry out the "Inverted Ribbon Cut" which involves rolling upside down at 30 ft above the ground and descending to 25 ft. above the ground inverted to cut a ribbon stretched between two poles, with his propeller.
Chris performing the last fly past for the crowd
The sun's out at last - Dave Benson signing off!
A great day and air show all round!
