Over the weekend of 26th and 27th of May 2018 the Red Thunder Airshow 2018 was staged at Watts Bridge Memorial Airfield, around 1.5 hours drive west of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The airshow was organised to coincide with the end of the Red Thunder TFC (Tactical Flying Clinic), a separate week-long event where owners of ex-Russian and Chinese aircraft get together to learn formation and tactical flying from experienced pilots.
In this article I focus on various aerobatic displays and demonstrations that took place across the weekend. This includes the following aircraft types:
Fokker DR.I and Bristol F.2B - Red Baron Display
The Australian Vintage Aviation Society (TAVAS) performed a re-enactment to remember the day just over 100 years ago when the Red Baron Manfred von Richthofen was shot down and killed by allied troops. They performed the same display a few weeks earlier at the TAVAS Great War Flying Display (GWFD) at their home Caboolture airfield. I covered that display in this previous article.
Pilots took off for a re-enactment of the final flight of the Red Baron in aircraft from the TAVAS museum. Their replica Fokker DR.1 Triplane VH-FXP took off first, pursued by their replica Bristol F.2B Fighter VH-IIZ to represent the aircraft of Canadian Roy Brown. These beautiful old stringbags made a few slow circuits of the airfield, a wonderful sight to see replicas of these iconic aircraft flying despite having modern engines. The crowd certainly enjoyed the spectacle, I’m sure young children were amazed that aircraft made of fabric, wood and wire could fly so nicely.
Russian Roolettes Aerobatic Display
The Russian Roolettes display team performed their aerobatic display several times across the airshow weekend. The team performs at various events throughout the year, flying Yakovlev Yak-52 and Nanchang CJ-6 trainers.
Flying in a pair of two-ship formations, they performed synchronised rolls, partial loops and turns with smoke trailing behind.
Nanchang CJ-6A "China Doll" and "Madam Chang"
I understand that Nanchang CJ-6A VH-CJX “China Doll” was piloted by Egon Mahr, VH-NNG “Madam Chang” by Sean Trestrail. Both are ex-RAAF pilots and have flown for QANTAS.
Yakovlev Yak-52s VH-VMI "Vodka Blue" and VH-YYK
Yakovlev Yak-52 Solo Aerobatic Displays
Cam Rolph-Smith of Fighter Pilot Adventure Flights put a couple of Yak-52s (VH-YRO and VH-YFO) through their paces in some thrilling displays. Lots of smoke really helps to emphasise the stall turns in these photos of VH-YRO.
Bell 214 Firefighting Display
Aero L-39 Albatros Display
Steve Boyd of Fighter Pilot Adventure Flights flew his Aero L-39 Albatros jet trainer inverted and in a series of tight turns in his display. Steve flies for Cathay Pacific as a Senior Captain, with more than 17,000 hours on the Airbus A330.
The L-39 was built in Czechoslovakia by Aero Vodochody, designed for the trainer and light attack roles. Over 2,800 L-39s were built before production ended in 1996, serving with more than 30 air forces worldwide. The type was designed to be able to operate from unprepared airstrips throughout Eastern Europe in the Cold War era, so the grass strip at Watts Bridge proved no problem for this nimble aircraft.
Rihn DR-107 Aerobatic Display
Alan Kilpatrick piloted his Rihn DR-107 VH-NIL through a full aerobatic routine each day of the airshow. Alan is a multiple Australian aerobatic champion in the Unlimited class. I was surprised on my first time seeing the DR-107 just how agile and powerful the tiny aircraft is. When flown by a pilot with this level of skill the little machine really does make you wonder how the human body stands up to the G forces.
Alan returned to park right at the crowd line, to a great round of applause from the appreciative crowd.
Other Information
Location
Watts Bridge Memorial Airfield is located near the town of Toogoolawah, around 125Km (1.5 hours) by road North-West of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. For more information about the airfield and its operation, visit the airfield’s website.
Image Galleries
If you’d like to view more of images on this topic, below are some links to my photography gallery website.
