First public airshow display for the RAN's new Seahawk Romeos - Wings Over the Illawarra 2017.

Display practice for Wings Over the Illawarra 2017.

Sam heads us back for another load after dropping parachutes at Flagstaff Point. Immediately above the corner of the glare shield is Port Kembla, while Wollongong/Albion Park aerodrome is on the far side of Lake Illawarra, at top right in this image. Thanks for the fantastic experience chaps!

Since I last photographed it this Auster, one of the oldest surviving Auster 5s, has been repainted in the colours it wore while attached to two Canadian Spitfire squadrons in Normandy in 1944. It was built as a Taylorcraft Auster 5 for the RAF, being taken on charge in 1943 as NJ667. In September 1944 it was re-allocated to 662 AOP Squadron which, by that time, was in Belgium. It was civilianised in 1947 as G-AJJR but later exported to Australia and registered VH-ABA(2) on 1 August 1951.

This remarkable colour scheme really stood out at the Wings Over the Illawarra Airshow. Built in 1948, it was formerly N4359V and imported into Australia in May 1960.

This remarkable colour scheme really stood out at the Wings Over the Illawarra Airshow. Built in 1948, it was formerly N4359V and imported into Australia in May 1960.

Waiting for takeoff at Wings Over the Illawarra 2017.

This SE5 replica was built in the USA and initially registered N640AB in 1996 (the builder was Albert Braun). In 2009 it was exported to the Netherlands where it became PH-IWO on 2 September. In 2015 it was again exported, to Australia, where it became VH-EWJ(5) on 12 October 2016. It's seen here displaying at the Wings Over the Illawarra Airshow.