Some of the best aerobatic displays and pilots are scheduled to feature at the 2015 Wings over Illawarra (WOI) air show.
WOI will be held at Illawarra Regional Airport in Albion Park, NSW, over the weekend of 2-3 May.
The display schedule includes some of the best pilots in Australia, including Red Bull Racer Matt Hall, air show stalwart Paul Bennet and warbird authority Jeff Trappet.
"We are very excited about the calibre of flying displays scheduled for this year," said WOI marketing man Andrew Herring. "Most of the aircraft and pilots who were scheduled to fly last year are returning, and we are anticipating strong support from Defence.
"We are also expecting big crowd numbers over the weekend. Ticket sales are up compared to the same time last year, as more people have become aware of this professionally-run air show on Sydney’s doorstep and want to come along to enjoy it. Although we are expecting a strong attendance, by spreading that attendance over two days we don’t expect the event will feel crowded."
As with all air shows, the schedule can be a day-by-day proposition depending upon aircraft availability, but at the moment, WOI organisers are confident of the following line-up.
- Paul Bennet's Wolf Pitts Pro, TBF Avenger and Wirraway
- Jeff Trappet's CAC Sabre and Mustang
- Matt Hall (enough said)
- Southern Biplane Adventures' Boeing Stearman
- Top Gun Australia's Albatross and Jet Provost
- Temora Aviation Museum's Mk VIII Spitfire, Hudson and Boomerang
- RAAF Roulettes
- RAAF F/A-18 Hornets
- RAN Squirrels, MRH90 Taipan and Seahawks on display
Albion Park is also the home of the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS), so many of the HARS aircraft are expected to feature on static display, including their latest additions, a Boeing B747-438 and GAF Mirage IIIO A3-42.
As Herring points out, WOI is no longer a local fly-in that it has evolved from.
"Wings Over Illawarra is no longer the relatively sedate air show it once was, comprised mostly of low level fly-pasts. It is now a fully-fledged air show with low altitude and formation aerobatics included in a program which features some of the best air show pilots and aircraft available in Australia.
"The dynamic program and vast array of display aircraft and activities make Wings Over Illawarra an event that truly offers something for everyone."
The 2014 show has entered into folklore for being effectively canceled by high crosswinds that made it nearly impossible for most display aircraft to operate. It was a freak event that WOI organisers hope will never be repeated.
"The weather experienced at Wings Over Illawarra 2014 was not only unprecedented in the history of the event, it was the worst weather ever recorded at Illawarra Airport on that weekend since weather records were kept for that location," Herring says.
"Prior to 2014, ever since Wings Over Illawarra was scheduled on the first weekend in May there had never been a single flight canceled due to weather.
"Basically, last year’s weather was a freak event that we don’t expect to see repeated this year. But, just in case, we’ve changed the event layout to keep both runways open, which will give us more options to allow aircraft to take off and land safely in the event of a strong crosswind.
"We are expecting a fantastic event this year."
WOI is well supported by sponsors, with Destination NSW, Paul Bennet Airshows, Shell Aviation, Canon, Bose, McDonalds, WIN TV and Wave FM all adding their weight to the air show.
Information including ticketing information is available on the WOI website.