On Saturday 5th October the HARS C-47 Dakota, Catalina Flying Boat, Caribou transport and Connie the Constellation took part in the Royal Australian Navy 100th anniversary salute air display (click for more) which took place over Sydney Harbour between 2.15pm and 5.30pm on Saturday 5th October 2013. Our photo taken by aircrew Jim Marshall from the Catalina blister shows our Caribou following with Naval Review ships in the background. The full airshow program appears below.
Salute to Navy’ Air Displays
2.15pm to 5.30pm – A ‘Salute to Navy’ air display involving Australian naval and military aircraft, supported by civil emergency services and heritage types will showcase Australia’s naval and maritime aviation, past and present. The air displays will be centred between the Harbour Bridge and Shark Island but will also encompass the entrance to the Harbour from the Middle Head to Bradley’s Head. Aircraft will be flying as low as 500 feet (150 metres) over water giving spectators the closest possible view of more than 50 fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.
| Time | Theme | Display |
|---|---|---|
| 2.15pm | ‘Huey’ | The Navy Heritage Flight UH-1B Iroquois that served in Vietnam was flown by Australian Navy pilots in units alongside US Army and RAAF crews. |
| 2.30pm | F/A-18A Hornet | The RAAF’s Hornet fighter also provides maritime defence, capable of anti-ship strike and fleet protection, it will demonstrate its handling capabilities. |
| 2.45pm | Heritage Trainers | Before they graduate to operational aircraft, all naval aviators have to learn to fly starting in trainers, whether in the ‘Tiger Moth’ of the 1930s, the Winjeel of the 50s or the Airtrainer of the 70s. The venerable C-47 Dakota was used for transport and to train Australian Navy observers. |
| 3.00pm | Emergency Services | Whether during bushfires or rescues at sea the Navy works hand in hand with our emergency services to assist when disaster strikes. NSW Police, Westpac Rescue, Careflight, RAAF Rescue, NSW Ambulance and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority will parade their aircraft as a Navy Seahawk demonstrates the rescue of a survivor from a raft. |
| 3.15pm | Heritage Helicopters | Helicopters that have served the Navy over the last 40 years return briefly with the Vietnam Iroquois, an Army Kiowa which flew from the Navy’s survey ships and the Careflight Agusta A109 that trained naval aviators. |
| 3.30pm | ‘Embarkation’ | Watch out for the ‘Seahawk’, ‘Squirrel’, ‘Lynx’, ‘Panther’, ‘Taipan’ and ‘Seasprite’ as they return for a mass landing onboard their parent ships anchored around the harbour. |
| 3.45pm | Modern Navy | Each current type of Navy helicopter (plus the ‘Huey’) will demonstrate their capabilities. The Seahawk, Taipan, Squirrel, Bell 429, together with the Heritage Iroquois, will each will take a turn in front of the crowds at 5 different locations (Farm Cove, Milson’s Point, west of Cremorne Point, Athol Bay and near Clark Island). |
| 4.15pm | Fast Jet Formation | Pel-Air Westwinds and Learjets provide the Navy with high speed target aircraft and will fly down the Harbour in formation, an unusual sight for traditional business jets. |
| 4.30pm | Maritime Heritage | The Lockheed AP-3C Orion represents Australia’s current maritime reconnaissance aircraft and the 1940s Catalina from HARS is one of our earliest. The Caribou served for many years as a transport aircraft and also as the last sight a trainee parachutist saw before their first jump at the Parachute Training School based at the Naval Air Station Nowra. |
| 4.45pm | ‘Connie’ | The HARS Lockheed Super Constellation opened up Australia’s first round the world airline service and provided global transport and weather aircraft for the US military. |
| 5.00pm | Roulettes | The RAAF’s aerobatic team will perform a show specially designed for Sydney Harbour. All Navy pilots begin their career flying the Pilatus PC-9. |
| 5.15pm | Farewell | Navy Squirrel and Bell 429 helicopters will wave farewell to the spectators. |
| 5.30pm | Close | But standby for some surprises during the evening Pyrotechnics and Light Spectacular |
