The 31st running of the Royal Victorian Aero Club’s Dawn Patrol takes place in a month from today to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
The RVAC has hosted the Dawn Patrol annually since its inception in 1980. The event was originally the brainchild of pilot and RVAC member Dr Paul Matthews, who gathered together a number of ‘Royal Vic’ pilots to fly over the Shrine of Remembrance to pay tribute to fallen aviators. Since that first dawn flight, the Dawn Patrol has continued to grow in popularity and is now an important event on the RVAC’s calendar.
The Dawn Patrol Memorial Fly-Past is held on the Sunday morning closest to September 15, the anniversary of the zenith of one of the greatest aerial battles of all time, the Battle of Britain, which occurred during the summer of 1940. While the event commemorates the Battle of Britain, it has become recognised as a memorial flight for all aviators who have made the supreme sacrifice in all theatres of war.
At first light on Sunday September 12, up to 60 aircraft of various types will depart Moorabbin Airport in stream formation at approximately 20-second intervals. The planned route takes the aircraft over the Shrine of Remembrance, Westgate Bridge, Point Cook Aerodrome (the birthplace of the RAAF) and Avalon Airport, returning to Moorabbin Airport via Port Phillip Heads.
Following the flight a traditional cooked breakfast will be held in the RVAC Maintenance Hangar, where a military aviation veteran will recount tales of his war-time experiences and pay tribute to his fallen comrades. Attendees will then be treated to a visit and display by various aircraft and other items of interest in front of the RVAC’s facilities.
The RVAC’s committee members, organisers and participants welcome visitors to the club and encourage opportunities to promote this unique event to the wider community.
To download a pilot application form click here.
To download a breakfast application form click here.
To download pilot briefing notes for the Dawn Patrol click here.
For further information about this event phone (03) 9580 0088.
SEE BELOW FOR MORE CLUB MEMBER PHOTOS FROM THE 2007 RVAC DAWN PATROL...