Temora Aviation Museum's Warbirds Downunder Airshow gets RAAF F/A-18 Hornet

Temora Aviation Museum is gearing up to host its inaugural Warbirds Downunder Airshow on November 19 with the addition of an RAAF F/A-18 Hornet to the schedule.

UPDATE: November 10, 2011
Temora Aviation Museum has just announced that the Warbirds Downunder Airshow will host a reunion of RAAF 75 Squadron Members, which will include 75 Squadron’s newly painted jet commemorating the Squadron’s 70th Anniversary.

“A number of surviving 75 Squadron WWII veterans will be in attendance at the airshow as the unit prepares to commemorate the 70th anniversary of its formation on 4 March 2012,” Wing Commander Phil Arms, Commanding Officer 75 Squadron, said.

Flight Lieutenant David ‘mac-daddy’ McGregor, who is serving as an instructor pilot on the F/A-18 at No 2 Operational Conversion Unit at RAAF Base Williamtown, will fly the Hornet through a high energy aerobatics display on the day.
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Temora Aviation Museum Chief Executive Kenny Love said the addition of the Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 Hornet, which has a top speed of Mach 1.8 (2,200km/h) thanks to 14,516kgs of combined thrust delivered by its two turbofan engines, to the event will top off an exciting line-up of display aircraft.

“The addition of the F/A-18 Hornet to the flying program is the icing on the cake and we are extremely fortunate to have this support from the Air Force,” Love said.

As well as the RAAF F/A-18 Hornet, Warbirds Downunder will feature most of the Museum’s collection, from the Tiger Moth and Spitfires and the Hudson through to historic jets such as the Meteor and Sabre. A number of visiting aircraft have also committed to taking part including the RAAF Museum’s Mustang, Allan Arthur’s P-40 Kittyhawk, Doug Hamilton’s Lockheed 12 and aircraft from Judy Pay’s Old Aeroplane Company. And the RAAF Roulettes will also be on hand to fly their six-ship formation aerobatic routine.

This all mounts up to a much larger flying program than that of the regular aircraft showcase days that Temora Aviation Museum currently runs. All aircraft will take part in handling or aerobatic displays and some will be in formation with Temora Aviation Museum’s aircraft.

“This will be an amazing opportunity for visitors to get up close to the wide variety of
aircraft from the Museum’s 1936 Tiger Moth, which actually served at Temora during
WWII, through to the current serving frontline fighter, the F/A-18 Hornet,” Love explained. “The best part of Warbirds Downunder is that all these aircraft will take part in flying displays.

“Warbirds Downunder will be an important event for the Temora Aviation Museum.”

For further information on the Warbirds Downunder Airshow and to purchase tickets visit Temora Aviation Museum’s website now.

Flying into the Warbirds Downunder Airshow? Read this information for visiting pilots.