Warbirds #389 | Restored RNZAF Harvard takes flight

Restored RNZAF Harvard takes flight and Southern Cross replica inches closer to take-off

The highly anticipated Avalon airshow marked its official return in 2023 – and it sure came back with a vengeance. After COVID-19 restrictions caused the postponement and eventual cancellation of the 2021 show, the country’s largest airshow and trade convention finally took flight from 28 February to 5 March this year and was decidedly bigger and better than ever. Both the trade show and public airshow were said to be the largest in Avalon’s history, with just under 250,000 people in attendance – a hefty 25 per cent premium on 2019’s attendance figures.

Corporate attendees were treated with access to hundreds of exhibition stalls with nearly 800 aviation, space and defence businesses participating in the three-day industry-only convention. Aside from stalls and networking, the convention also included numerous panels and conferences, with presentations by the Australian Space Agency, the Royal Aeronautical Society, The Royal Australian Air Force and many more.