INTERNATIONAL VISITORS BRING A DIFFERENT VIEW

As the largest airshow of its type in the Southern Hemisphere, the Australian International Airshow (AIRSHOW) has traditionally attracted visitors from around the world.

Often the visiting aircraft are here supporting diplomatic or government to government interaction, or providing visible support that the relationship between Australia and various allied nations is strong and secure.

Sometimes they can be an aircraft type that the Australian Defence Force is considering acquiring, giving Australian officials an opportunity to get to grips with the aircraft and its capabilities.

And sometimes they are simply the transport for the delegations, diplomats and exhibition materiel arriving to take the opportunity to promote their nation’s abilities and industry to the international audience that AIRSHOW attracts.

AIRSHOW 2023 has attracted a veritable squadron of international visitors, including many aircraft not often seen in Australia.

From Papua New Guinea’s Pac 750XL turboprop (with a range of around 2000km) to the might of the US Air Force Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy (the largest aircraft attending AIRSHOW 2023, with a range of nearly 13,000km and a payload of around 127 tonnes), every aircraft has a role to play in the defence force of its host nation.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is the largest regional operator of the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, flying 60 of the advanced C/D version. They are armed with US advanced air to air missiles, laser guided munitions and conformal fuel tanks to provide extra range. The RSAF F-16 will be an unusual visitor to the AIRSHOW 2023 static display.

The Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy is a re-engined, updated version of the aircraft type that originally entered service with the US Air Force in 1970. The modernisation plan included switching to commercial General Electric CF6 engines, and upgrading avionics, navigation, communications and autopilot. The upgraded aircraft saw a 22 per cent increase in thrust, a 30 per cent shorter takeoff roll and a 58 per cent faster climb rate. At the same time it made the aircraft quieter, easier to maintain and cheaper to operate.

Australia has agreed to acquire 29 new Boeing Apache AH-64E attack helicopters for the Australian Army, so it makes sense that Australians will be able to see one of the breed as a static display at AIRSHOW 2023. As arguably the most potent attack helicopter in the world, the Apache provides security to ground forces, fixed based operations and aerial escorts; conducts reconnaissance to provide situational awareness for ground forces and higher headquarters; and decisively engages single or multiple enemy combatants to allow freedom of manoeuvre or protection.

Operated by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), the Kawasaki C-2 is a domestically developed and manufactured Japanese transport aircraft, which has been in service since 2017. Packed with the most advanced technologies, the C-2 flies faster and achieves greater range than the earlier C-1 and other transport planes owned by the JASDF. With a cargo hold larger than those of the others, it can accommodate heavier loads, thereby fulfilling a wide range of missions, such as international cooperative operations. This will be the second time the Kawasaki C-2 has attended AIRSHOW.

Papua New Guinea regained a fixed wing aviation component for its defence force in 2022, with a stored a Pac 750XL aircraft returning to service with its Air Transport Wing. The PAC 750 is a singleengine turboprop aircraft designed and built in New Zealand. Capable of landing and taking off on short runways, the aircraft is ideal for Papua New Guinea’s mountainous terrain. The PNG PAC 750XL will be on static display at AIRSHOW 2023.