AUSTRALIAN International Airshow leaders are deep in talks with NASA as they forge plans for a 2009 celebration of lunar exploration.
The March Avalon airshow will be world's first major airspace show to celebrate the 40th anniversary of man's landing on the moon.
"We'll be having displays, exhibits and hope to have special guests," Australian International Airshow chief executive Ian Honnery said.
"We've been in discussions with NASA about presentation of a major display. The discussions are well advanced but still subject to final approval.
"We're looking at bringing out to Australia people deeply and very significantly involved in the race for space."
Mr Honnery said a NASA edge would mesh naturally with the 2009 show theme Towards Tomorrow.
Tickets to the 2009 show are now on sale through Ticketmaster and Mr Honnery urged front-row fans to get in early for first-class gold passes offering reserved grandstand seats on the front runway.
The show will run from March 10 to 15 and be open to the public from March 13. Dates were shifted during June to avoid a clash with Melbourne's Australian Grand Prix.
Officials have heralded the ticket release by unveiling a fresh billboard on the Princes Freeway at Avalon.
Mr Honnery promised the 2009 show would again feature the latest and best of military hardware and many displays and amenities would be upgraded.
He said the Towards Tomorrow theme would include a major national forum and showcase of airspace careers.
The show delivers more than $22 million in economic flow-on for the Geelong region and more than $120 million to state coffers.
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