Jet thrill adds to Burnie 10

IT has been won by Olympic athletes such as Stewart McSweyn and now the return of Tasmania’s premier road race will be heralded by the RAF’s F-35A Lightning II fighter jet.

The University of Tasmania Burnie 10, will be held on Sunday after a one-year Covid-19enforced break.

Race director Richard Welsh said the sky was the limit this year.

“After an absence in 2020, the Burnie 10 will literally blast back into contention this Sunday,” Mr Welsh said.

“Rarely, if ever seen over Tasmania, the F-35A Lightning II is the ADF’s first fifthgeneration air combat aircraft. It is capable of supersonic flight, stealth, extraordinary acceleration, agility and 9G manoeuvrability. It is a highly advanced multi-role fighter jet at the forefront of air combat technology.”

The F-35A will fly over Burnie’s West Beach and CBD at 11.10am on Sunday - just before the race starting gun fires.

Mr Welsh thanked Braddon MP Gavin Pearce for working with the Department of Defence to organise the flyover.