AMDA Foundation boss Justin Giddings has predicted that the Australian International Airshow and Aerospace and Defence Exposition next year will be the biggest one ever held.
Giddings made the comments to a media gathering in Melbourne on Monday as he officially launched Avalon 2023.
"After a four-year absence, we're very excited indeed. It promises to be the biggest air show ever," Giddings said before announcing that children under the age of 15 would be admitted free and car parking would also be free.
"It's all about encouraging more kids to come and get involved in the industry, to maybe study engineering paths, maybe become a pilot," he said. "That's the whole issue of AMDA Foundation."
Part of a revamp to make the air show more attractive are plans for live music and roaming entertainers.
Giddings also hinted that the flying and ground displays would feature aircraft never seen at Avalon before, but couldn't be drawn on specifically what they were.
RAAF Group Captain David Glasson, Director of ADF Air Displays for The Australian International Airshow, said the defence force saw Avalon 2023 as an opportunity to engage with both the defence industry and the general public.
"The theme for this air show is The Future is Now – from the Sky to the Stars," he said, "and this is very apt, because this air show provides us the defence force with the opportunity to display defence's capability and future concepts in a collaborative and innovative manner with government, our international military partners and allies, defence industry and, importantly, the Australian public.
"This is an opportunity to showcase not only our very capable equipment and aircraft, but [also] importantly our incredible people."
Glasson outlined some of the aircraf the RAAF had scheduled for the ADF display, including:
- Hawk 127
- F/A-18F Super Hornet
- F/A-18G Growler
- F-35A Joint Strike Fighter
- E-7A Wedgetail
- P-8 Posiedon
- C-27J Spartan
- C-130J Hercules
- C-17A Globemaster
- MRH90 Taipan,
- MH60R Seahawk Romeo
- 100 squadron heritage aircraft
"Of course the exact platforms attending ... will be subject to deconfliction with training schedules and other potential operational commitments," Glasson said. "We will be updating that in the very near future."
The last Australian International Airshow and Aerospace and Defence Exposition was held in 2019, with 2021 being canceled due to COVID restrictions and depriving the RAAF of celebrating their centenary during the air show.
The four-year absence also had a large impact on the host city Geelong, which felt the loss of income the show generates.
"Geelong hasn't felt the same in the past few years without this event," Mayor of Geelong Peter Murrihy said. "To be back again after the challenges we've all faced throughout the pandemic is so wonderful, and it's exciting that Avalon will once again be welcoming thousands of visitors next year.
"What we have today is now the largest air show in the Southern Hemisphere. When you consider that for just a moment, I think that's something all Victorians, but particularly those of us from Geelong can be really proud of.
"The show brings enormous economic activity to the region. The most recent Australian International Airshow and Aerospace Exposition in 2019 set new records with 698 participating companies and 161 official industry and government delegations.
"There was an attendance of 39,000 people across the three trade days and across the entire event we had 171,000 attendees. The estimated economic benefit to Geelong in 2019 was $28.9 million.
"Given it will be [four] years since we last held the event, I am hopeful that figure will be exceeded [next] year."
Avalon 2023 runs from 28 February to 5 March, with the public airshow running across 3-5 March.