Show blasting into public days

AIRBORNE daredevils, screaming jets and massive fire bombs will kick off the public days of Avalon’s international airshow today.
Organisers expect more than 250,000 patrons at the show, which began with a giant private trade expo earlier this week and which will feature the first observance of the Gallipoli centenary.
World War I aerial dogfights featuring Sopwith Camels and Fokker triplanes, earthbound military re-enactments, state-of-the-art Super Hornet fighter planes, giant cargo craft, ultra-expensive private jets and the world’s best aerobatics artists will also appear.
Almost 1000 airplanes will be on show, either on exhibit or flying overhead, including Spitfires, Mustangs, Meteors, Sabres, Catalinas, Canberras, Nieuports, Kittyhawks, Hornets, Hawks, C17s and B52s.
Trade worth billions of dollars can be exchanged in the trade expo, which this drew 90 military, industry and political delegations and around 50,000 people to the airshow’s 26 conferences.
The airshow’s business side is Geelong’s biggest trade show and features ground-breaking technologies.
Among the sophisticated aerospace hardware on show is a 3D-printed jet engine, which Deakin and Monash universities developed with the CSIRO. The airshow will be the first public exhibition of the printed engine.
Aerospace Australia Limited boss Ian Honnery said the innovation program went to the trade show’s “very reason for existing…to support the development of Australian industry capability and capacity“.
“Innovation lies at the heart of Australia’s technology-rich aerospace and defence industries and the innovation showcase, along with our industry innovation awards program, is our way of contributing to the fundamental health of this vital industry sector.“