Super Saturday at the The Old Station Fly-in and Heritage Show 2014 at Raglan

What an absolute fantastic day!

The Old Station Fly-in and Heritage Show at Raglan was in full swing on Saturday 24 May, with over 100 interesting aircraft and helicopters flying-in, a spectacular air display - including Australia's own Top Gun pilot Matt Hall, fresh off a podium finish in the Malaysian leg of the Red Bull Air Race 2014 World Championship.  There was also an impressive new and old truck and machinery show - and tractor pulling!

A wide variety of aircraft flew in to the Old Station farm from all over Australia!  The day was hosted by the Creed Family and the Old Station Flying Club.  There was support from numerous sponsors and helpers from other local flying groups including the Callide Dawson Flying Group (CDFG) which not only had members' aircraft on display, but also supplied the ground marshallers tasked to park all the visiting aircraft.

For most of the day, three spectacular Warbirds operated regular aerobatic joyflights out of Old Station with the most popular aircraft undoubtedly the Warbird Adventure Flights-operated North American T-28D Trojan VH-TRO and Aerostar YAK-52 VH-YRO.

These were also joined in the air by 1951-built Cessna O-1G Bird Dog VH-XVB.  This aircraft actually saw active military service with the US Army and then the United States Air Force (USAF) in Vietnam.  It was then flown by the South Vietnamese Air Force, before being recovered.

Matt Hall Racing Extra EA-300L VH-IOG also operated several aerobatic joyflights during the day including one lucky passenger who had Matt Hall fly him around during "The Ultimate Experience" in aerobatic joyflights!

Slightly more sedate was Stock-Air Helicopters Robinson R44 II VH-VVW which also operated joyflights over Old Station.

Some of the more 'interesting' aircraft that were on the ground included Aero Vodochody L-39C Albatross VH-NLD.

Grumman G-73 Mallard VH-CQA was certainly the biggest aircraft that flew in - it was noted wearing 'Evans Head Airpark' titles.

McDermott Aviation Group / Machjet International are always great supporters of the Old Station Fly-in and this time sent Aerospatiale AS.355F1 VH-HRU, Bell 214B-1 'Big-lifter' N49732 and Eurocopter AS.365N2 Dauphin VH-ECQ, along with Beech B200 King Air VH-MWZ.

There were also several other Yak-52 warbirds to call in as well!

Finally, in the clean and crisp afternoon light, the skies about Old Station came alive with a great air display kicking off with Matt Hall in his Extra EA-300L VH-IOG.

Richard MacDonald in his Rockhampton-based R-Mach Aviation Ayres S2R Turbo Thursh VH-NFF then put in a great spraying and bombing display.

Yak-52 VH-YRO then took to the skies.

This was followed by North American SNJ-4 Texan VH-NAG putting on three lovely passes.

As the display was starting to conclude, Mikoyan MIG-15UTI VH-DIE was wheeled out by the Creeds and its Klimov VKI LIS-2 Turbojet engine was fired up.  Sadly the airframe is out-of-hours so couldn't take to the skies.

Finally, Trojan VH-TRO out on a spirited display to conclude the air display, and for me, conclude a great day!

The action continues at Old Station at Raglan on Sunday 25 May, with another air display commencing at 10am.  Following this, it is expected the most aircraft with depart and make their respective ways home.

It should be pointed out that all proceeds from the weekend - from admissions, food and drink sales, and part of the joyflights - will aid the Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service (CHRS).  CHRS (Australian Helicopters) Bell 412EP VH-EPR also arrived at Old Station!

Superb!