Warbirds take off on Downs
The group held its AGM here
IF YOU noticed old war planes above Toowoomba skies last weekend, don’t worry, you didn’t temporarily time travel.
The Australian Warbirds Association held its annual general meeting and flying clinic in Toowoomba.
Association CEO Mark Awad said about 20 ex-military aircraft flew into the Garden City for the event.
“A lot of us fly in air shows, so we were getting together to train and practice formation flying,” Mr Awad said.
Mr Awad said the organisation chose to have its AGM in Toowoomba as the city has a long history with the warbird movement.
“It was one of the founding centres for the movement,” he said.
“The late Guido Zuccoli was instrumental in making the warbird movement what it is today.”
Mr Zuccoli was a civil engineer who had a passion for aviation and warbirds.
He won numerous aerobatic awards and trophies in his lifetime, nurturing the cradle of warbird restoration and eventually building up a collection which today remains an enviable assortment of breathtaking aircraft.
He died in 1997 when his newly restored T6 Harvard crashed soon after take-off from Tindal Air Force base in Australia's Northern Territory.
“His family continues that on today with their (warbird restoration) business Aerotec,” Mr Awad said.
“It was a natural fit for us to hold our annual meeting here.”
Mr Awad said it was a good weekend flying above the skies in Toowoomba.
“Everything was fantastic,” he said.