Here's one of the recent announcements about the flying displays at Avalon:
AVALON AIRSHOW
Legendry test pilot Ricardo Traven will make a welcome return to Avalon for the Australian International Airshow 2007.
Traven, a Boeing Chief Test Pilot and the Super Hornet Air Show Demonstration Pilot, will put the F/A-18F Super Hornet through its highly impressive paces on each of the three “Trade Days” and three “Public Days” of the event.
Traven and the F/A-18F are among the star attractions scheduled to appear at Airshow 2007.
He last flew at Avalon in 2003.
Fully loaded the Super Hornet can carry an 8 tonne arsenal on 11 separate weapons stations and achieve speeds in excess of Mach 1.6. (Approx. 2,000 kph.).
Traven will demonstrate the full capabilities of the Super Hornet during a spectacular flying demonstration that will include a number of simulated combat manoeuvres, half-Cuban 8s, loops and high speed passes.
The man at the controls of the Super Hornet is widely regarded as being among the elite of his calling.
After an illustrious career in the Canadian Forces as a military test and fighter pilot, and instructing at the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School, Ricardo Traven joined The Boeing Company in 1997.
Since then he has been instrumental in the development of the Super Hornet program and has also flown as project pilot on NASA’s F/A-18 Alpha Research Vehicle.
Traven’s work with Boeing has seen him demonstrate the Super Hornet at air shows worldwide between testing various configurations of the Hornet, Super Hornet and the new EA-18G Growler.
He is among the most awarded members of his profession.
He was named U.S. Navy Test Pilot of the Year in 1995, and is a three-time recipient of the Ray E. Tenhoff Award from the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.
He has also won numerous awards for best overall flight demonstration of the Super Hornet.
During his career Ricardo Traven has flown more than 3,500 hours in more than 30 models of aircraft. He has logged more than 2,600 hours in all models of the Hornet, including 600 hours in the Super Hornet.
The Australian International Airshow 2007 will be staged at Avalon Airport Geelong between the 20th and 25th of March. Gates open to the public at 2pm on Friday 23rd March and at 8am on weekend days.
Host City Geelong is bracing for large tourist influx during the event as many thousands of Airshow attendees also take advantage of the many and varied tourist treasurers the Geelong Otway Region has to offer.
Media Release
