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.
I made my way to the airfield on the final day of the TFC, as I had heard there would be the chance to get some sunrise images of a couple of the early attendee aircraft. This proved to be correct, with a CAC Wirraway and T-28 Trojan left out overnight to allow some other photographers to do some astro photography with these aircraft. I had made plans to camp overnight on the weekend to attend both days of the actual airshow, the Friday was a hastily-organised extra trip when I was told of the opportunity.
Which aircraft attended the airshow?
The weekend included flying displays of replica WW1 aircraft, WW2 and post-WW2 era aircraft and some of the participants from the Red Thunder TFC event. WW1 aircraft included replicas of Fokker DR.I Triplane in Red Baron scheme and a Bristol F.2B Fighter. WW2 era attendees included North American P-51D Mustang, Supermarine Spitfire MK.XVI, Yakovlev Yak-9, a Yakovlev Yak-3UPW (based on the original Yak-3 design but fitted with a Pratt and Whitney radial engine), Stinson L-5B Sentinel, and a CAC CA-16 Wirraway. Notable post-WW2 aircraft included an Aero L-39 Albatros, a Beechcraft T-34 Mentor and a pair of CAC CA-25 Winjeels.
Alan Kilpatrick put his Rihn DR-107 aerobatic plane through an eye-watering display each day, and McDermott Aviation performed an impressive water-bombing routine with one of their Bell 214 helicopters. The Red Radials formation team put their Nanchang CJ-6 and Yak-52 aircraft through their paces in synchronized displays. The RAAF tasked a C-130J Hercules to make a couple of low passes on its trip from RAAF Amberley to RAAF Richmond. A beautiful Waco YMF-5C biplane was kept busy all day doing joyflights. And no airshow would be complete without a few lovely old de Havilland Moths.
Across the three days I shot over 6,500 images, after many hours of editing I had around 650 keepers. Due to the number of aircraft that attended and the amount of images and information I want to show, I will divide the airshow up into separate blog posts, with this article being an overview of the weekend with links to the individual articles which are listed below.
I hope you enjoy my work, the weekend was certainly a thoroughly enjoyable one for me. Feel free to leave me a comment at bottom of this page to let me know what you think, and if you were there at the airshow.
Where is Watts Bridge Memorial Airfield?
Watts Bridge Memorial Airfield (ICAO:YWSG) 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.
Airshow Articles
Red Thunder Airshow 2018 – Sunrise and Dusk Aircraft Shoots
Over the weekend of 26th and 27th of May 2018 the Red Thunder Airshow 2018 was staged at Watts Bridge Memorial Airfield. In this article are some images I captured of some of the attending aircraft at sunrise and just after sunset.
Red Thunder Airshow 2018 – Red Thunder TFC Participants
Over the weekend of 26th and 27th of May 2018 the Red Thunder Airshow 2018 was staged at Watts Bridge Memorial Airfield. In this article I showcase the Soviet and Chinese aircraft that performed at the event.
Red Thunder Airshow 2018 – Piston-Engined Trainer Aircraft
Over the weekend of 26th and 27th of May 2018 the Red Thunder Airshow 2018 was staged at Watts Bridge Memorial Airfield. In this article I cover the piston-engined trainers that performed at the event.
Red Thunder Airshow 2018 – Piston-Engined Fighter Aircraft
Over the weekend of 26th and 27th of May 2018 the Red Thunder Airshow 2018 was staged at Watts Bridge Memorial Airfield. In this article I showcase the piston-engined fighter aircraft that performed at the event.
Red Thunder Airshow 2018 – Aerobatic Displays and Demonstrations
Over the weekend of 26th and 27th of May 2018 the Red Thunder Airshow 2018 was staged at Watts Bridge Memorial Airfield. In this article I cover the aerobatic displays and demonstrations at the event.
Red Thunder Airshow 2018 – Other Aircraft in Attendance
Over the weekend of 26th and 27th of May 2018 the Red Thunder Airshow 2018 was staged at Watts Bridge Memorial Airfield. In this article I showcase the aircraft that attended or performed the event that I have not covered in a separate specific article.
