Wings over Illawarra (WOI) organiser Bright Events has released a tentative flying program for the 2022 air show, revealing a mix of defence, historic and civil displays.
The program shows 28 display blocks opening with the RAAF Roulettes at 1100 and closing with an RAAF F-35 Lightning II at 1543.
WOI is scheduled for Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 November at Shellharbour Airport in Albion Park Rail, NSW. The flying program is the same for both days.
In between, the crowd will be treated to flying sequences from some of Australia's most historic and iconic aircraft from the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS), 100 Sqn RAAF and the Temora Aviation Museum (TAM), and private owners.
Those aircraft will be complemented by Australia's premier aerobatic display pilots such as Matt Hall, Paul Bennet and the SkyAces.
Some aircraft on the program are:
- Lockheed Super Constellation
- Douglas DC-3
- DHC-4 Caribou
- Grumman S-2 Tracker
- CAC CA-18 Mustang
- Lockheed Hudson
- Supermarine Spitfire MK VIII
- CAC Boomerang
- Vought F4U Corsair
- Grumman Avenger
- MSX-R
- Wolf Pitts Pro
- SkyAces Formation Aerobatics
Missing from the program, perhaps for the first time, are RAAF Hornets and transport aircraft such as the C-17, or rotary assets like the RAN Seahawks.
Despite that, organiser Mark Bright understands the crucial role the Australian Defence Force (ADF) plays in WOI every year.
"The considerable support we get from the ADF is huge boost to the show, we are very fortunate to have built a good rapport with the ADF over the years, being able to showcase ADF assets each year certainly helps Wings Over Illawarra stand out from other similar events." he told Australian Flying.
"Similarly with Shellharbour being the home of the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society and with the continued support from HARS, we are fortunate to be able to offer attendees the opportunity to get up close to the largest collection of static and flying historical aircraft in the country."
Although the ADF, HARS and TAM have formed the spine of WOI for several years, Bright is looking to general and recreational aviation as aspects of the event he would like to develop, adding a GA precinct to the static display area.
"With the addition of the GA precinct we want to give the public a better understanding of general and recreational aviation, while giving the industry the opportunity to showcase itself, network, conduct business and potentially recruit new members," he said.
A planned under-wing camping area at WOI has had to be canceled again due to the excessive rainfall that has plagued the east coast of Australia in the past months.
Poor weather is something that regularly dogged WOI during the years it was held in May, which Bright hopes to avoid after the event was moved to November.
"With the move to November and the spring time temperatures and increased daylight hours, we hope the industry will see that WOI offers the industry a great way to get together and enjoy a premium airshow," he said, "and what better way to see the year out?"
More information including the flying program are on the WOI website.