By James Kightly, Commissioning Editor, and Nigel Hitchman
In Victoria, Australia, another successful Tyabb airshow has been notched up by the Peninsula Aero Club. As always the show managed to touch a remarkably wide diversity of aviation heritage and entertainment, despite challenges from weather and aircraft availability. The core element of the display was provided by Paul Bennet Airshows as contracted by the Aero Club, but the show could not have happened without the 160 strong volunteer team and numerous local individuals and aircraft owners and operators who went above and beyond.
The airfield, near Westernport Bay, is 70 kilometers (45 miles) from Melbourne, the state capital. The airshows at this 1960s airfield have been put on in the southern hemisphere summer since last century, with Vintage Aviation News’ report on the highly successful 2020 event.
The Australian Defence Force participation was relatively low compared to previous years, with a single, almost sneak pass by the 37 Squadron Lockheed C-130 Hercules, and a solo aerobatic demonstration by a Pilatus PC-21 from the Roulettes. The 100 Squadron RAAF participation was unavoidably curtailed from the original plan by serviceability, and consisted of the CAC Winjeel in the Heritage Trainers formation and the unit’s CAC Mustang.
The familiar Heritage Trainers team were, on this occasion, a new combination of four CAC Winjeels and a single PAC CT-4 and a non-Australian interloper, the Vultee BT-13, with breakout aerobatic displays.
First vintage act as a three-ship Southern Knights Harvard display, retaining their usual standard with Harvards in RNZAF and SAAF colors, and a third in a SNJ scheme. Two Harvards flew again to escort Doug Hamilton and Steve Bekker in Doug’s Beech 18 in a fictitious South East Asia RAAF scheme. A two-ship NAA T-28 Trojan display was flown by Paul Bennet in Judy Pay’s VH-NAW with Steve Death in Mike Murphy’s VH-CIA.
The helicopter display consisted of the local celebrity rotorcraft, ‘Larry’ the Bell 47 VH-RTO; ex-Australian Army CAC Kiowa flown by Nick Pay, and show stalwart Jim Wickham in the Robinson R22. Separately the ‘VicPol’ (Victoria Police Air Wing) demonstrated their work in their Leonardo AW139 helicopter.
The exciting modern aerobatics were mostly from the Paul Bennet Airshows stable, with the Wolf Pitts Pro, Extra A300, Edge 540, and included a car versus aircraft race and pyros. Seeming like throwing a saloon car around the sky, in contrast, was Gerard Lappin’s full aerobatic display in the venerable club Cessna 152 Aerobat, VH-UNP, including the classic ‘taking the aircraft behind the trees’ beyond the field and then reappearing.
The weather at the show (and preceding day) hit over 37 degrees centigrade, with significant strong winds, luckily pretty much down the main runway, the only direction available during the show. Thankfully the Tyabb airfield was amply provided with hangars, many open and some with cooling, as well as trees and other shade in the main areas, as well as ample free water provision.
Sadly the Curtiss Robin did not fly, but the Ryan STM in Dutch Netherlands East Indies colors and the Percival Proctor VH-UXS demonstrated the classic light aircraft scene, the Proctor making its first public airshow display since restoration by Latrobe Valley Airframes & Welding Pty Ltd.
Probably the most impressive display given the heat and gusty, windy conditions was the five de Havilland Tiger Moth formation, led by Paul Gliddon, with Nick Caudwell, Heath Wittmer, Kim Yoannidis and Gordon Rich-Phillips managed to present the trainers remarkably well in the conditions, and remain in front of the audience through most of their display slot.
Providing the classic trans-Atlantic contrast was a Stearman duo of bright, American trainers, and able to fly at the show, unlike at the previous, 2020 show.
While there was not a significant jet presence, Jeff Trappett’s CAC Sabre A94-352 was a welcome attendee flying over from Latrobe Valley airport in Gippsland, and a complete contrast was provided by the Avanti S scale jet model from Mark Tatti of the Victorian Jet Aerosport Association.
The American heavy metal, core of the show and lead of the finale Balbo were the Grumman Avenger from Paul Bennet’s organization, and Graham Hosking’s heavyweight Vought Corsair resplendent in its Honduran scheme. The finale ‘Balbo’ was led by the Grumman Avenger, and had the two T-28s, the Corsair and the 100 Squadron Mustang joining at the end.
The organizers are to be commended for restarting the show four years after the last – very successful event – four years ago, and spooling up after the enforced hiatus, and hitting temperatures not seen in this date and place since 1944.
Challenged by a significant number of major acts being unable to attend due, primarily to serviceability, and further challenged by the buffeting gusty winds and hot conditions, the over 9,000 attendees should still have come away afterwards impressed with a non-stop flying display showing a wide diversity of action and styles, and entertainment for even the most high expectations. The team are to be commended for a notable achievement despite numerous obstacles. Our thanks, also, to the organizing team for their exceptional help.
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James Kightly, from Melbourne, Australia, discovered his passion for aviation at the Moorabbin collection in the late 1960s. With over 30 years of writing experience for aviation magazines in the UK, US, Australia, and France, he is a feature writer for Aeroplane Monthly and an advisor for the RAAF History & Heritage Branch.
James has interviewed aviation professionals worldwide and co-runs the Aviation Cultures conferences. He has flown in historic aircraft like the Canadian Warplane Heritage’s Lancaster. At Vintage Aviation News, he ensures accurate and insightful aviation history articles.
Outside aviation, James has worked extensively in the book trade and museums. He supports the Moorabbin Air Museum and the Shuttleworth Collection. James lives in rural Victoria with his wife and dog.
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