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Australia’s largest air show, Wings Over Illawarra, was finally able to take place last weekend, after the 2020 show was cancelled and 2021’s event was postponed earlier in the year.
Australian Aviation was lucky enough to attend the spectacular event, which ran across Saturday and Sunday, 27-28 November.
The energy was high at the event – despite the grey skies and the rain – as attendees enjoyed static and aerial aircraft displays, food trucks, classic car exhibits, carnival rides and the iconic vintage aircraft over at the nearby HARS Aviation Museum.
While poor weather conditions unfortunately meant that much of Saturday’s aerial displays were cancelled, Sunday thankfully saw better flight conditions.
Notably, the Australian Defence Force was also present, with plenty to celebrate and commemorate.
This year of course marks 100 years of the Royal Australia Air Force, however the RAAF also took the opportunity of the air show to mark the retirement of its Classic Hornet F/A-18 aircraft, which formally took place on 29 November.
The ADF also chose Wings Over Illawarra as its stage to showcase the Hornet’s replacement, the F-35A Lighting II, for the first time in a public setting.
If you missed the air show, check out some of the incredible photos and videos captured below.
On YouTube, user @TGBN caught on video the F-35A Lighting II’s full show, marking its air show debut.
Also on YouTube, user @Nigel Woolley uploaded this fantastic video of the last ever air show display of the RAAF Classic Hornet.
Over on Twitter, user @JoelArmstrong47 also caught on video the RAAF’s new F-35 showing off for the crowd.
First attempt at video on new #EOSR6 (with 70-200mm), hit stop too soon!#f35 lightning unleashing at the #wingsoverillawarra yesterday.
That’s $3 Billion AUD right there.
?Sound on pic.twitter.com/b3zMQGjYJb
— Joel Armstrong (@JoelArmstrong47) November 29, 2021
Meanwhile, Twitter user @ScaleAussie captured some beautiful photos of both the Classic Hornet and the Lightning II.
What an amazing time at wings over illawarra on Sunday, got to see the last ever display flight of the Classic FA-18 Hornet and the first display flight of the F35 A Lightning II in Australia ?? #fa18hornet #raaf #f35lightning #love pic.twitter.com/7jF5S69HlV
— Aussie Scale Models (@ScaleAussie) November 29, 2021
As did user @fluidprojectth1.
@wingsoverillawarra F-35s tomorrow and this girls last two runs before heading back to Williamtown. @RobLee0871 @CHartleyPhotos @CcibChris @ron_eisele pic.twitter.com/5m2qz9DNfU
— Frosto (@fluidprojectth1) November 28, 2021
Plus, the RAAF took to YouTube to upload this round-up of its experience at Wings Over Illawarra 2021.
If you want to hear more about Wings Over Illawarra, check out our latest podcast, where the team sits down with RAAF C-130 Hercules pilot Flight Lieutenant Brendan Smith, the Australian Association for Uncrewed Systems’ Greg Tyrell and working dogs handler, Leading Aircraftwoman Lowana McDougall.
Craig H
says:I wish airshows would do away with the music. Everyone wants to hear the planes