Matt Hall has been tapped to fly at Pacific Airshows at Huntington Beach, California, next weekend alongside the US Air Force and some of the USA's biggest air show performers.
Hall is an ambassador for the Pacific Airshow Gold Coast (PAGC) scheduled for August next year, and he believes his experience with the US version will prove invaluable.
“I cannot wait to get to Huntington Beach to experience Pacific Airshow action," he said. "It will put into context how epic it will be here on the Gold Coast next year when the organisers reproduce the event for the first time at Surfers Paradise.
“To say I'm excited is an understatement. The sheer scale of the Pacific Airshow is mind blowing. I’m definitely in good company and hoping to put on something special for everyone.".
Hall will borrow an MX2 from US aerobatics legend Rob Holland and join a legion of performers including the USAF Thunderbirds, KC-135 and B-52, US Army Golden Knights, US Navy Leap Frogs and F-35C, Red Bull Air Force, former rival and Red Bull Air Race legend Mike Goulian, and scores more.
For Hall, who served on exchange with the US Air Force during the Second Gulf War, it marks a return for him to a place he was very content.
“America is like my second home," he said. "I have life-long friends in the US and so many memories having served in a three-year exchange program with the US Air Force and participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"It's an honour to make my debut in Huntington Beach as the first Aussie to perform in the show."
Pacific Airshow Huntington Beach is on next weekend 30 September-2 October, and PAGC is scheduled for Surfers Paradise 18-20 August 2023.