Wings over the Illawarra 2014

[Tim B]

Its that time again, and really, for Sydneysiders, the only chance to attend a local airshow.
Wings over the Illawarra is on next weekend, Sunday 4th May, and this year looks like being a good one, with Connie back up in the air, and Kittyhawk, Spitfire and Mustang flying displays, And the RAAF sending down a couple of FA-18 Hornets, you can't go wrong. Add in a Sabre, L-39, Jet Provost, Grumman Avenger and Lochheed Hudson flypasts and you can't go wrong.

full flying program:

Flying Program
Flying Program

The Wings Over Illawarra 2014 Flying Display Program.

As you can see we have put together a great flying display program full of exciting aircraft.
For the first time ever, Wings Over Illawarra will this year feature classic warbirds conducting aerobatic manoeuvres.

This year's show is a not to be missed spectacular.
10:15 am Caribou departs for parachute drop
10:30 am Arrival of 2 F/A-18 Hornets from RAAF Base Williamtown
10:35 am Red Berets parachute drop with Flag to officially open the show
10:40 am Paul Bennet high energy aerobatic display in his Pitts S1S
10:50 am Caribou return, low level fly pasts and landing
10:55 am L39 Albatross aerobatic display
11:05 am Boeing Stearman aerobatic display
11:15 am Matt Hall thrilling aerobatic display by Australia’s Red Bull Air Racer in his Extra 300L
11:25 am Wirraway aerobatic display
11:35 am T6 Texan aerobatic display
11:45 am Super Constellation low level fly pasts
11:55 am Spitfire aerobatic display
12:05 pm Marchetti S211 aerobatic display
12:15 pm Jet Provost aerobatic display
12:30 pm NSW Ambulance/CHC Helicopters AW139 winching display
12:45 pm Jet Car demonstration
12:55 pm Catalina low level fly pasts
1:10 pm Piper J-3 Cub fly pasts by Australia’s oldest Cub
1:25 pm Formation fly pasts by C47, P40 Kittyhawk and P51 Mustang
1:35 pm P40 Kittyhawk aerobatic display
1:45 pm P51 Mustang aerobatic display
2:00 pm Avenger low level fly pasts
2:10 pm RAN Squirrels formation helicopter display
2:20 pm L39 Albatross aerobatic display
2:30 pm Hudson low level fly pasts
2:40 pm RAN Historic Flight Huey display
2:50 pm Sabre low level fly pasts – Airshow debut
3:00 pm F/A-18 Hornets display and departure
3:15 pm RAAF Roulettes formation aerobatic display
3:30 pm Air Show Concludes



The flying display program above, whilst still being preliminary, is not expected to change a great deal, however it is subject to serviceability and operational requirements.

[Tim B]

That was the flying program, it seems the parking program is just as complex. basically there is no parking at the airport, its a park and ride system.

There will be NO general admission parking available at the airport

Due to the large numbers of visitors attending Wings Over Illawarra and the absence of large parking areas at the airport, visitors travelling by car will need to park in one of the 3 park and ride locations shown on the map.

Parking Locations

1. Haywards Bay in the North - Access from the Princes Highway

2. Albion Oval in the South - Access from the Princes Highway

3. Croome Road - Access from Tongarra Road

Each of these locations will be well signposted and easy to access and will be manned by Rural Fire Service volunteers. There will be NO charge for parking or the shuttle busses. Parking and riding to Wings Over Illawarra is FREE. There will be plenty of shuttle busses from all 3 locations to ensure visitors do not have a long wait.

Security guards will be present at all park and ride locations to help ensure the safety of vehicles.

Those planning on riding the historic steam or diesel trains to and from the show should aim to park in the Croome Road parking area which is situated directly opposite the Illawarra Light Rail entrance gate. Traffic control will be in place to ensure safe crossing of Tongarra Road.

There will be on airport parking available for busses, coaches, motorcycles and holders of accredited state disabled permit pass holders ONLY. Access to this area will be via Airport Road from the Princes Highway.

Traffic management will be in place however some delays may be unavoidable.

To avoid traffic delays why not consider arriving by train, Albion Park train station is situated opposite the main entrance gate, less than 100m from the airport. Sydney Trains will be providing additional services for the day and why not take advantage of the $2.50 per person Family Funday Sunday fare.

[Jayden Laing]

After a couple of years of absence, I will finally be attending again this year! Weather forecast at this stage looks promising with sunny skies, temps in the low 20's & winds from the south!

[Nigel C]

If you're coming today, be sure to bring some lip balm or Chapstick. It's blowing fairly strong right now from the northwest.

[David C]

Wind at YWOL at the moment is 280/35 gusting 41kts !!

Dave C

[Grahame Hutchison]

2339 UTC 03/05/14 Airservices Australia
Location Briefing

Valid from 2339 UTC May 03, 2014 to 2339 UTC May 04, 2014
Weather Information
-------------------
Wollongong (ywol)
TAF YWOL 031831Z 0320/0408
28020G30kt 9999 SHOWERS OF LIGHT RAIN FEW040 BKN080
FM032200 27020G35kt CAVOK
RMK FM032000 MOD/SEV TURB BLW 5000ft
T 12 16 18 17 Q 998 1001 1003 1004
SPECI YWOL 032334Z AUTO 28030G41kt 9999 // NCD 16/07 Q1000
RMK RF00.0/000.0

[Nigel C]

It's probably fair to say the flying program has been well and truly cancelled, which is a real shame for the organisers because the flying program looked to be a good one. Westerlies at 40+ knots would be producing horrible rotor winds off the escarpment, and would also explain why I've been able to get some sleep today!

[Grahame Hutchison]

When I checked the ATIS this morning I decided to cancel the trip down, unfortunate, as I have been a regular visitor to WOI and really love the show. Sydney has improved quite a bit throughout the morning, and is now sunny and 22deg with a more gentle breeze.

1233 EST Update - Still quite windy down at Illawarra Regional Airport 25kts gusting to 35kts.

SPECI YWOL 040233Z AUTO 28025G35KT 9999 // NCD 18/06 Q1001

[Jaryd stock]

It was an absolute shame today, helping with a few things for the show and getting things organized. To have weather like yesterday threaten things then this damn wind, we couldn't unfortunately switch runways and reorganize static area and flight box in about an hour! So what do you do!

We've already begun planning next years event, and if it comes off! For the size of the event, it will make Avalon look like child's play.

So I encourage all to not give up on this event, the flying program for today was going to be a cracker with a few more surprises that people didn't know about that was planned, but we can't outwork the goings on, on a freak of day that usually would be common place around August not May!

[Nigel C]

But......the Sabre just did a demonstration. So at least something's getting up in the air, albeit late in the day.

[Jaryd stock]

Roulettes are up now Hornets are taxing out, so it's good for the ones who stuck around. Trust me earlier chasing stuff down the flight line was not fun!

[Todd Hendry]

Roulettes didn't display.
And the Sabre looked liked it was damaged during the landing.
Almost touched the right wingtip on the ground after a bounce. Big smoke from the left main gear for a good couple of hundred metres too. And was parked at the northern end of the field as we left.

[Nigel C]

I noticed the Sabre parked up when I was driving to work and thought it a strange place to stop.

Were the Connie and Caribou off-limits for the public? They were parked at the western end of 08/26 late in the day.

[Todd Hendry]

They had on caribou on display. By the Connie and the other bou were off limits.

[Nigel C]

There must have been a good reason for that. Connie on display is a staple part of airshows on the east coast these days.

[Todd Hendry]

She was supposed to fly Nigel. But the wind didn't allow. Maybe they kept it there just incase.

[Nigel C]

Yeah, the wind blew and I got some sleep in between night shifts, so not all was lost ;)

[Jaryd stock]

There's a reason it didn't go up.

[Nigel C]

Do tell...

[Todd Hendry]

Any word on the Sabre?

[Mike_S]

Connie went through the tarmac from what I've heard...

[Nigel C]

Apron? Broken drain? Or taxiway/runway?

[Paul F]

We've already begun planning next years event, and if it comes off! For the size of the event, it will make Avalon look like child's play.

You a drawing a longbow there.;)

[Jaryd stock]

If it comes off Paul you'll be the first one in the gate!

[Mike_S]

Apron? Broken drain? Or taxiway/runway?

Wasn't there myself, but found this photo

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152093837707304&set=a.10152093740402304.1073741848.554372303&type=3&theater

[Nigel C]

Any word on the Sabre?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tduAl_G9hc

The video shows the landing.

Apparently it blew a tyre on the port main gear.

This is a video showing the Hornets crosswind take-off. Love the black skid marks the first departure left :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYUm5Nl6318

[Jaryd stock]

Todd everything is fine with Sabre, tyre was changed Sunday night and Trappo was flying it out today. He said he got bounced around a bit by a stronger gust of wind touching down, hence the spectacular landing..

Nigel Connie is fine it was a pavement failure on both port and starboard bogeys, on cross runway western side, first time it's happened, because of the rain you guys have been getting down there apparently.

[Todd Hendry]

Thanks guys.
Awesome Vids too Nigel.

[Nigel C]

Having seen the TV footage of the damage done to the runway, I think it's fair to say the damage was caused by more than just a bit of recent rain. Initial repair estimates are around $15k, but if they decide to re-do the whole runway it'll be hundreds of thousands.


Perhaps one day the organisers might be able to allow public viewing from the western side of the main runway. For the photographers wanting aerial shots, the afternoon sun is a right royal pain at YWOL.

Below is the Sabre before the tyre blow-out, and one of the Hornet during its display. Both shots from west of the main runway
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x82/Kiska2/CACSabreA94-352VH-SBR0405141a_zpsa5d5bbc3.jpg

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x82/Kiska2/RAAFFA18Hornet0405141_zps35f095a4.jpg

[Jaryd stock]

Not if CASA have anything to do with it mate, it's already had the kibosh put on that idea!

[Nigel C]

I noticed that Croome Lane, which accesses the western fenceline of the airport, was closed for supposed 'roadworks' on the day of the airshow. Last year there was a reasonable number of people accessing that area to watch the flying displays.
Was that a deliberate strategy by the organisers to stop people from getting a free look at the activities?

[Jaryd stock]

I think my last post explained why. 200 meter clearance is given by CASA for the flight display box.

[Jaryd stock]

Here's my pics,

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5503/14121557154_4e795c3f0e_b.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/14121557154/)
Ex RAAF F-111C Pig A8-109 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/14121557154/) by Jaryd Stock Photography (https://www.flickr.com/people/jaryd_a_s/), on Flickr

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2895/14141291713_fcedbeaf64_b.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/14141291713/)
Ex RAAF CAC Mk.32 Sabre (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/14141291713/) by Jaryd Stock Photography (https://www.flickr.com/people/jaryd_a_s/), on Flickr

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2940/13934596020_756c98fbca_b.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/13934596020/)
RAAF F/A-18B's (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/13934596020/) by Jaryd Stock Photography (https://www.flickr.com/people/jaryd_a_s/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7357/14141291243_2866dac2dd_b.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/14141291243/)
RAN S-70B-2 Seahawk. (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/14141291243/) by Jaryd Stock Photography (https://www.flickr.com/people/jaryd_a_s/), on Flickr

[Jaryd stock]

Round 2
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5529/14117920101_29f860518c_b.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/14117920101/)
RAAF 2OCU F/A-18B A21-110. (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/14117920101/) by Jaryd Stock Photography (https://www.flickr.com/people/jaryd_a_s/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7343/14117920061_1ff78f0ea7_b.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/14117920061/)
image (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/14117920061/) by Jaryd Stock Photography (https://www.flickr.com/people/jaryd_a_s/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7381/13934840170_69c94538dd_b.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/13934840170/)
Jeff Trappetts Ex RAAF CAC Mk.32 Sabre (https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaryd_a_s/13934840170/) by Jaryd Stock Photography (https://www.flickr.com/people/jaryd_a_s/), on Flickr

[Nigel C]

I guess Croome Ln does run fairly close to the runway....I just wasn't aware that it ran that close. Did they have to close access to the landscape supply business as well?

[Jaryd stock]

Yep. As far as I'm aware.

[Kent Broadhead]

Jaryd - thanks for the pics and the info. I really will try and make it there one year!

[Jaryd stock]

Thanks Kent, yes there are some teething problems with last weekends show fair enough. But when organising team was given 3 months to organise a show with no contacts, and basically start from scratch with no funding I think they did alright! Even when everything just went wrong with the day.

Kent try to make it there one year if you can we are only just starting to scratch the surface of what can be achieved down there, hopefully next year with 100 years of ANZAC day we can definitely pull some star attractions. We are even looking three years advance for the show, so all the support we get the better.

[Nigel C]

I've long though the airport here has to be one the most under-utilised airports around. It services a quarter of a million people yet doesn't have an RPT service. It's really not that far from Sydney, yet its use as a GA training facility is relatively small. The relocation of HARS from Bankstown has been a success, yet there's so much more potential yet to be realised.

[Ray P.]

... But when organising team was given 3 months to organise a show with no contacts, and basically start from scratch with no funding I think they did alright! Even when everything just went wrong with the day. ...

Why was that? We were discussing this at work and we decided that what seemed to be missing was a basic risk assessment that addressed each of the plausible factors that affected the show. Fingers crossed for next time.

[Kent Broadhead]

Jaryd - will do. Being a Wollongong boy originally and with family still there makes my non-attendance more unforgiveable. I have visited HARS at other times though :)

[Jaryd stock]

Ray, it was struggling to gain traction.