Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Some Great Photos of the Spectacular Centenary Flypast at Canberra Celebrating 100 years of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)

On Wednesday 31 March, the skies above the nation's capital came alive as the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) spectacularly celebrated its 100th anniversary with a mass flypast over Canberra.

Defence image...


More than 60 past and present aircraft of the RAAF flew in waves over Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra.  They were also joined by helicopters of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Australian Army.








The latest Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters and Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet strike fighters loudly announced themselves before flying over Government House and Lake Burley Griffin.










RAAF transport aircraft including the massive Boeing C-17A Globemaster III rumbled overhead.





Along with the Airbus KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft.




The high-tech Boeing P-8A Poseidon and Boeing E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft also flew over.



The RAAF's World War II-era aircraft weren’t forgotten, with the iconic Spitfire and Kittyhawk fighters, a Catalina flying boat and a DC-3 Dakota transport also taking part in the flypast.




A 14-minute display by the RAAF's formation aerobatics team, the Roulettes, provided a spectacular finale to the aerial display.








Before the flypast, Governor-General General (retd) David Hurley presented Air Force with a new Queen’s Colour during a parade at Government House.

It replaced an older colour presented by the Queen in 1986.

The centenary commemorations began with a flag-raising ceremony by ADFA cadets at Commonwealth Place in Canberra, followed by another at Defence headquarters in Russell.

The birthday concluded with the Last Post ceremony at the Australian War Memorial.

Sincere thanks to local aviation photographers Paul S for allowing us to share these spectacular images!

Photos taken by Paul Sadler  ©

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