Final count reveals record crowds for Avalon airshow

Record crowds attended this year’s Avalon Airshow, according to organisers’ final count.
More than 210,664 attended the event breaking the previous 2001 record by more than 9000, the organisers said.
The public days saw 176,742 people attend, while 33,922 people attended the industry-only days, again a record.
Airshow chief executive officer Ian Honnery said many factors contributed to the “outstanding result”.
“We were blessed with perfect weather and had a great array of aircraft including the Joint Strike Fighter which was making its Australian debut.”
“I thank our patrons, exhibitors and stakeholders for contributing to this brilliant outcome.”
The Airshow’s Aerospace and Defence Exhibition attracted a record 664 exhibitor companies from Australia and 25 countries.
Companies exhibiting gained more than $24-billion worth of business opportunities, Mr Honnery said.
The event also attracted 158 Australian and foreign delegations.
“We have established ourselves as the premier aviation, aerospace and defence trade event in Australia and the Asia Indo-Pacific region,” Mr Honnery said.
“We provide a shop window for local technology innovators and as such we bring the world to Australia and take Australia to the world.”
Mr Honnery thanked the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), State Government and City of Greater Geelong for their support.
“They play a key role and without them the Airshow would not exist.”
The show featured 634 aircraft with 108 military planes from eight nations. Of these 61 were RAAF planes while 12 were from the United States Air Force.
“The RAAF brought a record number of aircraft to this Airshow,” Mr Honnery said.
“We are also appreciative of the involvement of the United States Air Force which has been a long-time supporters of ours.”