Avalon 2011

[Bluebird]

Hey all just some quick shots form Avalon 2011.. Picked up a bug there so it was a cr@p weekend

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[HamiltonWest]

Awesome photo's Bluebird Thank you for shareing them all .

[Ian Warren]

Friggen pleased you posted - brother ribbin me about the show , i was the dumbie standing in during the EXPO , nah

[benwynn]

The B1B Lancer is one of my favourite planes, would love to visit Avalon to watch it at the show. Cheers for the pics!

[Naki]

Nice..would be great to see a B-1 blast off...I swear you had more more pics yesterday?

[h290master]

theres just something awesome about B1Bs although i can't say the same for the F-18F

[Bluebird]

Some more from Avalon

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[Ian Warren]

Bluebird When i first viewed the B1 , it was on a training run over Gelong years back , the C21 tho that display is impressive

[andrewb]

Here are a few of my newbie shots (first real outing with my new camera), mostly from Friday and a few on Saturday. I think next time I'd go gold pass for Friday only, get in early and look at more of the ground displays - as Saturday was crazy busy and super hot.

If you want to see more / the bigger versions you can check out my set on Flickr.

[deeknow]

Great pics Andrew. I'd love to see the Connie in the flesh, beautiful aircraft IMHO

[Ian Warren]

Way to COOL ! , the B1 .. ha ha , The ole 'CONNIE' proves even forty years on can poke the same stuff out

[andrewb]

Thanks Ian and Dean,

I had an awesome time, both in Melbourne and at the airshow. Glad I took your advice Ian, Friday got very cold as it was cloudy and there was quite a breeze. I was a bit torn between having my camera out or just enjoying the show, so I didn't get as many photos as I thought. I foolishly didn't take the time before Friday's flying display to wander around the ground displays more thoroughly, as with gold pass folks only for the first couple of hours there weren't really any crowds and it was easy to do things like walk through the Hercules.

The B1 was possibly my favourite - they'd been warning parents all afternoon/evening to warn kiddies about loud noise, and gave a special warning for the B1 as it took off at full power and the force really hit you in the chest, almost as much as the pyrotechnics they had going off for the explosions during mock battles etc.

The Connie was very graceful, and looked awesome with flames coming out the exhaust of those piston engines, she came back later on in the evening and did a slow pass in the twilight, which looked amazing as she approached so quietly to our right, all you could see was a silhouette and those flames.

Like I mentioned, Saturday was utter madness - insanely busy, I have a photo somewhere of the RAAF Wedgetail which shows the difference in crowds from the photo I took on Friday. I think the best bet is to go on the Friday, go gold so you can get in early and enjoy those ground displays without a lot of people around and then settle in for the flight display. I only lasted a couple of hours on Saturday due to the crowds and the heat.

The night alight was well worth staying around for and wrapped up about 9:15pm. Towards the end, they had a series of explosions along the runway, and a fire truck rolled out and was being a bit distracting with it's lights flashing - we thought it was checking the fires, when it turned on it's water cannon and a massive movie was projected onto the sheet of water - commemorating 90 years of the RAAF, followed by 90 "candles" being lit up and down the runway in a massive fireworks display and laser light show. It was truly amazing to see.

I was thinking of sneaking out a little earlier to beat the rush but glad I didn't, was in awe of the awesome organisation and planning to expedite everyone leaving the runway, getting back to their cars or shuttle buses and in my case, back onto the train into Melbourne. They had volunteers out with lighted wands until you got out of the seating, then massive portable floodlights lit the pathways - then they had lots of those portable electronic roadworks signs, indicating the direction to head for the carpark or bus terminal. Once at the bus area, the V-Line passengers were quietly herded onto about 40 waiting buses and driven over to the train station in Lara where a massive long train was ready. If I recall correctly, I was back in Melbourne by about 10:30pm.

The only real disappointment was no sign of one of the RNZAF 757's which I've yet to see perform in person - but unfortunately with the earthquake in Chirstchurch, it's understandable they cancelled their attendance to help ferry people and equipment, certainly proving their versatility and usefulness!

[spongebob206]

Awesome picks Guys

Thanks soooo much.


maybe next time i will be there too

[Bluebird]

Hey Andrew


Great Shots.. what did you think of Friday and would you go again?


Cheers
Todd

[andrewb]

Hey Todd,

I thoroughly enjoyed Friday - despite the grey clouds and cool breeze it was fantastic! I am definitely planning to go again if I can afford it, but would most likely only go for one day - a gold pass for the Friday. Get in early, check out the ground displays before the masses are allowed in - then sit back and enjoy the afternoon/evening flying display.

Hopefully at some point I can get a better zoom lens (again, finances...) as I only had the two lenses that came with my Canon 500D - an 18-55mm and 50-250mm. The 250 was pretty good, but I just needed a little more for the flying displays, then again - I was torn between taking shots or just enjoying the show.

I truly recommend anyone considering going next time (2013, I guess) to do it! Aside from that, as my first overseas experience - Melbourne (where I stayed, did tourist stuff) was fantastic. Great city, friendly people - I was amazed how helpful everyone was, to other tourists too - giving directions, helping them figure out the trams etc. The weather was beautiful too, although I kept my camera backpack pretty stuffed with a jacket, raincoat etc - just in case.

The only thing that disappointed me a bit was I had upgraded my flights with Air NZ to Works Deluxe, mainly for the space (reserved middle seat between you and the other passenger in your row). Also got to enjoy the Koru Lounge etc, but when I went to board at the gate, I was abruptly handed over to someone else who told me I'd been downgraded as the flight was full - and so the middle seat was occupied - and there ain't a lot of room on those A320's, not a comfortable four hour flight!

Thankfully, on the return journey I flew on the upper deck of a 747, in the exit row between premium economy and business - which was lovely!

[Bluebird]

Hey Great to see you had a great time. I had to fly Pacificblue so there was no leg room at all on those 800s. As for the airshow i thought 2009 was a lot better. To get me there again there would have to be something real good like a Mig or B2 Spirt. shame the 757 couldn't make it and the c17 leaving to go to Christchurch. but roll on 2013.

cheers Todd

[AlisterC]

Thanks so much for sharing guys. This one is a must visit one day. Nice camera work too!

[andrewb]

For crowd comparison purposes, here's another shot of the Wedgetail, taken on Saturday!

[krispilot]

thanks for sharing these should go some day

[HamiltonWest]

Awesome photo's also AndrewB Very Thanks for shareing them.