Centenary of Military Aviation Air Show 2014

The Centenary of Military Aviation 2014 Air Show is proudly presented by the Royal Australian Air Force at RAAF Williams, Point Cook, Victoria over the weekend of 1st and 2nd March 2014.
Point Cook is the birthplace of military aviation in Australia and the oldest continually operating military airfield in the world.

Encompassing a spectacular Air Show with air displays and ground displays, the Centenary of Military Aviation is a national event celebrating 100 years of military aviation in Australia.

Gates are open from 8am to 4pm. Flying displays will be held from 10am to 3:30pm.

The flying program is the same for both days of the Air Show.

Entry is by pre-paid ticketing which will be available from December 2013. Please refer back to this website for further details in the coming weeks.

The event highlights the significant advances in military aircraft during the past 100 years.

On display for the first time at Centenary of Military Aviation Air Show 2014 will be a newly built replica of a Bristol BoxKite aeroplane. The Bristol BoxKite was the first military aircraft flown in Australia at RAAF Point Cook, on 1 March 1914. No original Bristol BoxKite aircraft survive today. Three reproductions were built for the making of the film ‘Those magnificent men in their flying machines’. One is on display at the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery, another is on display at the Shuttleworth Collection in Bedfordshire (where it is still flown during flying displays), and the third one is on display at the Museum of Australian Army Flying in Queensland.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, The Hon Darren Chester MP, and Deputy Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Leo Davies CSC, launched the Centenary of Military Aviation Air Show.

Parliamentary Secretary Chester said the Air Show will commemorate a significant moment in Australia’s military aviation history.

“The first of March 2014 will be the 100th anniversary of the first military flight in Australia when Lieutenant Eric Harrison, originally from Castlemaine and an aviation instructor with the Central Flying School, took off in a Bristol Boxkite here at the spiritual home of the Air Force, Point Cook.

“This air show will provide a wonderful opportunity for Australians to see the evolution in technology and capability of military aviation in this country,” he said.

On display for the first time at the Air Show will be a newly built replica of a Bristol Boxkite aeroplane. No original Boxkite aircraft exist today. The Boxkite replica, built at the RAAF Museum at Point Cook, recently completed a program of flight testing when the aircraft was successfully flown on 11 September, 2013.

Deputy Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Davies, said the Air Force was proud to host the Centenary of Military Aviation Air Show.

“The air show is an opportunity to demonstrate the professionalism and aviation capabilities of today’s Defence Force.

“We have chosen the theme of Tradition, Innovation and Evolution for the event to reinforce the extraordinary journey of military aviation from hand built aircraft like the Boxkite to the complex and powerful military aircraft of today,” Air Vice-Marshal Davies said.

The Centenary of Military Aviation Air Show will be held 1–2 March 2014 at the home of military aviation, RAAF Williams, Point Cook, Victoria, and will be a spectacular event featuring static and flying displays by historic and contemporary aircraft.

Tickets for the air show are now on sale. Details about the air show, including prices and how to purchase tickets are available at: www.airforce.gov.au/airshows.

Media contact:
Ms Kate Kennedy, Regional Manager Public Affairs Vic/Tas (03) 9282 5255