The Royal Victorian Aero Club will host its 32nd annual Dawn Patrol on Sunday September 18 at Moorabbin Airport.
The RVAC is inviting all pilots to participate in the event, which is held annually as a means to acknowledge and reflect on the historic air battle that was the Battle of Britain.
Commemorating aviators who have made the supreme sacrifice in all theatres of war, the RVAC always stages the event on the Sunday morning closest to September 15, when the
Battle of Britain reached its zenith in 1940.
This year the RVAC expects around 60 aircraft to take part in its Dawn Patrol. The morning starts early with a briefing for the pilots, followed by a dawn flight past the city and around Port Phillip Bay. This is followed by the big hangar traditional hot breakfast, along with entertainment.
A number of flying scholarships will be awarded to the next generation of Australian pilots, and the event wraps up with an air pageant and aircraft handling display.
“We’re fortunate to have an actual Spitfire pilot as special guest speaker, who will bring back to life his memories of that historic struggle for air superiority,” the RVAC says. “We will also have other guests including pilots from World War Two and we will endeavour to bring their aircraft back together in a reunion.
“Other historic aircraft will also be on static display for attendees to view.”
Attendees at the Dawn Patrol can gain access on the day to Moorabbin’s Australian Air Museum, which has an extensive collection of historic aircraft and warbirds, via a gold coin donation.
For more information on the event, including aircraft registration, which is a must, call the RVAC on (03) 9580 0088 or visit www.rvac.com.au.
To read Australian Flying Editor Justin Grey’s first-hand account of participating in last year’s RVAC Dawn Patrol, see our November/December 2010 print issue.