DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
MSPA 480/10
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
Air Force to mark 90th Anniversary at 2011 Avalon Air Show
The Royal Australian Air Force
(RAAF)
is planning to make the 2011 Australian
International Air Show a centrepiece of RAAF’s 90th anniversary activities, Chief of
Air Force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin announced today.
The Air Show at Avalon next March will be one of the largest and most
comprehensive air shows ever conducted in the Southern Hemisphere.
“The air show will coincide with RAAF’s 90th Anniversary. So the 90th will be a key
theme for this world class event which is run by Air Shows Down Under,” Air
Marshal Binskin said.
“This will be a great opportunity for the public to get a close look at Air Force’s
current high-tech fighter and strike capabilities, including the potent F/A-18F Super
Hornet and the Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft, both of which
came into RAAF operational service this year.”
“The air show will be a major opportunity to highlight RAAF’s future, in particular
our transition to the cutting-edge Joint Strike Fighter,” Air Marshal Binskin said.
“The Avalon air show and associated conferences will also focus on unmanned
aircraft. Air Force’s Heron is already providing crucial support to operations in
Afghanistan, and remotely piloted aircraft will be a key feature of our future
capability.”
“We anticipate nearly all of Air Force’s aircraft types will be represented at Avalon
next year, along with Navy and Army aviation assets. Dozens of Australian Defence
Force aircraft will participate. We’re also planning major displays of the ADF’s
ground-based equipment and capabilities.”
“The Australian International Air Show is a key opportunity for Defence to engage
our industry partners. The air show and conferences will also draw senior military
personnel from the Asia Pacific region and across the world. This makes it an ideal
forum to meet and exchange ideas with our international military counterparts,”
Air
Marshal Binksin said.
The air show will occur at Avalon from 1 to 6 March 2011.
Media contacts
Defence Media Liaison 02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
