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Aviation History
1997
1997 - 0315.PDF
SHOW PREVIEW Avalon Airport, near Melbourne, is host to what promises to be a significant Australian air show on 18-23 February. Dynamic Avalon PAUL PHELAN/CAIRNS ASERIES OF NOTABLE current Aus tralasian civil- and military-aviation com petitions virtually guarantees that the Australian International Airshows Down- Under at Avalon Airport, near Melbourne, will be a dynamic event in industry terms. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has recently named Kaman as its preferred bidder for medium shipboard helicopters, with a likely flow-on to further aircraft for the Royal Australian Navy, and the apparent probability that New Zealand will follow the same course. The ADF has also released its invitation to reg ister interest in a project to replace the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) de Havilland Caribou transports, and which will be part of a complete overhaul of battlefield mobility and surveillance capability. This will also stretch to the replacement of the Army's ageing Bell 206 Kiowa helicopters and may include new light utility transports, and possibly unmanned air vehicles. At least some manufacturers are pro moting a Caribou replacement which would also meet otner ADF and New Zealand needs now filled by ageing aircraft. KEY PROJECT Another key project is the acquisition of air borne early-warning-and-control (AEW&C) capability, following a major re-assessment of overall requirements within the ADF for com mand, control, communications and surveil- Lockheed Martin, Saab and British Aerospace will be present among others, bidding for a range of Australian Defence Force projects and civil fleet competitions lance in the air, sea and land-surface environ ments. Three shortlisted bidders for the RAAF's project have been named. Lockheed Martin and Boeing are expected to announce teaming partners and to define their bids at the show. (E-Systems has already announced its intentions, proposing a fleet of four Airbus A310s wi tli Israeli Phalcon phased-array radar). Lockheed Martin, now committed to supply C-130Js for the RAAF's strategic air-transport capability, will be proposing a C-130J AEW&C variant, while Boeing will nominate a 737-700 airframe. The competition for this project will be watched keenly by potential Asian AEW&C customers which will be well represented, but mainly as attendees rather than as exhibitors. Airshows director Ian Honnery says: "At this point we know we have formal military, trade and industry and governmental representations from every country in Asia. There will be three delegations from China alone, one headed at minister level, as well as contingents and trade delegations coming from even7 other Asian country. We're expecting military representa tion from right around the region; there are two senior Government ministers I can't announce, but who have indicated they are strongly con sidering coming." As in the previous two shows, the USA has the largest foreign presence, with the US pavil ion some two-thirds larger than that of the 1995 event. The major participants include Allied- Signal, Boeing, General Electric, Hughes, Kaman, Lockheed Martin, McDonnell Douglas, Mooney, Northrop Grumman, Piper, Raytheon Teledyne, Textron Lycoming, Texas Instruments, United Technologies (including Sikorsky), the US Department of Commerce and many more. A notable feature of the US • SHOW DAYS Industry days, restricted to industry attendees, are Tuesday 18 February to Friday 21 February. Flying displays 14.00-16.00. Public days are Friday night (gates open at 17.00), Saturday 22 February and Sunday 23 February. Flying display Friday night 19.00-22.00; Sat and Sun 10.00-16.00 TRANSPORT Avalon Airport is 30min by car from Melbourne's West Gate Bridge or 20min from Geelong, the route in both cases marked by freeway signs. Parking at Avalon is available for up to 50,000 cars. Train services to Lara station on public days connect with a shuttle bus to the show. Non-stop coaches to the show also leave from Flinders Street Station in Melbourne. Shuttle helicopters will operate from Melbourne city heliport. How to get to Avalon j^^r ^ltCook Port Phillip Bay WffjT; FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 12 - 18 February 1997 37
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