Nhill Air Show a flying success
Imagine an internationally renowned aerobatics pilot flying their high-performance aircraft 10ft from the ground, the plane’s tail almost feathering the runway as smoke billows out from behind.
For people in the Wimmera at the weekend it was just one of many ‘jaw-dropping’ tricks, sights and entertainment seen at the 2019 Nhill Air Show.
The Nhill aerodrome event, in its second year after an inaugural show in 2015, welcomed thousands at the weekend in celebration of a centenary of aviation in the town.
Show convenor Rob Lynch said the event harboured a fantastic result, particularly under management of world-renowned pilot and entertainer Paul Bennet.
Mr Bennet, part of Sky Aces Formation Aerobatics Team, has clocked up more than 5000 display-related flying hours in front of millions of fans world-wide and his air shows have a reputation for exceeding expectations.
Mr Lynch said Mr Bennet’s Saturday performance, which was among the show’s historic military-vehicle displays, joy flights and children’s activities, was similarly nothing short of spectacular.
“Paul himself is absolutely spectacular, and he absolutely impressed people and had them gasping,” he said.
“The show itself was fantastic. I think there was certainly a crowd of at least 3000 people, but we have no final figures yet.
“We had no negative feedback at all, even with the delay at the start because of the rain, nobody complained. The pilots who were there that day were adamant the day was going to turn out right and it did. It was a perfect day for flying.”
Mr Lynch said Nhill’s well-known reputation within the piloting community, as well as the many family connections to the small town, were a likely reason for much of the event’s appeal and success.
He said visitors included people from Orange in New South Wales to England on the other side of the globe.
But despite popular demand for the air show, Mr Lynch said the event would unlikely become an annual feature.
“If only you knew how tired people are by the end of it all,” he joked.
“There are whispers that there could be another in four years’ time, but nothing is set.
“We definitely wouldn’t make it every 12 months, it’s just too big to have it so often.”