Awesome & last ever airshow display of RAAF F/A-18 classic Hornet @ Wings over Illawarra
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2024
- The Royal Australia Air Force is finally retiring the F/A-18 classic/legacy Hornet from active operations after 36 years of service which was fitting to be included in the Wings Over Illawarra Air Show (New South Wales Australia).
As well as the Hornets retiring GPCAPT Jason "Easty" Easthope was also performing his last ever airshow display demonstration (and then moving on to ACG Chief of Staff).
As a highly respected and popular RAAF pilot he certainly didn’t let spectators down with powerful and impressive solo displays over the weekend.
Strap yourself in for the ride!
#Wings over Illawarra
#F/A-18 classic hornet
#Airshow
#Jason Easty Easthope
20 years ago Easty flew the last display of the RNZAF Skyhawk fleet before disbandment, now he's flown the final display of the RAAF classic Hornet.
Those Skyhawks were ours before that too lol
@@montys420- the Skyhawks were a very versatile plane for its also made in big numbers and unlike modern planes cheap.
@@leeengelsman1855 they were definitely upgraded well over the yrs
@@montys420- Only some of them. The rest were bought new in 1970.
@@nzgunnie yeah after posting I did realize you guys did buy your own actually and our ex navy 1s went to you guys
A great send off for one of most reliable and long serving fighters. Good flying display by the pilot, awsome video footage.
Cheers Rob. It certainly was a great send off despite the weather trying to dampen the display!
man that angle of attack and slow speed handling is world class. the f18 be the perfect aircraft to dog fight around mountains where sharp turns and slow speed are more important then raw power
Hi buddy fantastic video just love the F-18 amazing jet. thank you for sharing. cheers Gary from the UK 🇬🇧
I find it so difficult to believe that this amazing aircraft is now obsolete!
I agree ..............how can something like that be now obsolete???? I bet other countries all over the world are still flying them???
@Buddy Not enough of an analogy to make this comparison.
The plane is fine, the engines, radar and several other things have changed. Canada has not wanted to invest in their air force for decades.
@@TonyL-gw4qx Canada is not under any direct threat and falls under north American defence umbrella.
@@TonyL-gw4qx It seems that what ever new plane you purchase there will always be many upgrades defence duty requirements have change ultimate speed and agility has not been a big factor for a long time and even stealth is coming into question, range and multiple target acquisition range and intelligent networking seem more more important now, With plane being a conveyance for weapon's, Even the need for pilots.
Extraordinarily well done! Great footage - you followed the aircraft brilliantly - and the sound, without the annoying commentary was just right. Thank you and, once again, well done on a great job. You did her final airshow flight proud.
Thanks BJ . Sad but still a great last airshow display despite the low level clouds.
RAAF: *has Legacy F-18’s*
Canada: ILL TAKE YOUR ENTIRE STOCK
Super display, many thanks for posting!
And thank you for watching! Cheers Rod
Very nice. Great plane that served Oz well for 36 years. RIP RAAF F/A-18s.
RIP F-18s indeed. It won't be the same without them. We'll see the F-35s though! And next year there may be a handling display in Sydney Harbour for Australia Day.
And then Canada scraped off the roos and stuck maple leafs on it.....
Have we retired the f18s??!! What will be the replacement ?
@@russellhobbs1120 F-35. F/A-18s to be sold off to Canada.
Great show to end what is a fantastic aircraft for flying displays - just as a side note - Easty is a Kiwi - was a RNZAF A-4K pilot and when they went out of business he transferred across to the RAAF
He also did the farewell handling display for the A4 when they were withdrawn from service.
@@mexiwi5124 Kudos to the Kiwi !
I'm sure he was part of the team of A4's that did a Nowra airshow earlier this century, which turned out to be the last time they flew here. That same show had the (I think) first flight of what became the HARS Super Connie. Great day and hardly anyone there. Quite staggering. Loved his demo here though, well handled.
Sad that the New Zealand government is refusing to equip their air force to defend the country. It is not like the Chinese or some other future foe are going to cough politely and wait for the Kiwis to go buy some aircraft before they invade. They are tyrying to do defense on the cheap in the belief they can let other countries spend the money and then come rescue New Zealand. They probably would except that the kiwi prime minister has said that Australian and American nuclear powered submarines are not welcome in New Zealand waters. Time for NZ to buy some fighter aircraft and retain their fighter pilot expertise instead of seeing them depart for other countries.
@@artistjoh I do wonder which side this country is on these days. In fact it's become bl### obvious.
A wonderful piece of flying with continual significant G force. And lovely, clear footage as well.
It was a fantastic display. So cool to be there to Farewell the hornet and for easty’s final public F18 display. 2 legends.
'Two legends' ....perfect description Kevo! A memory for all those that witnessed the event.
I realised Easty is the equivalent rank to a US colonel
The Aircraft & Pilot, are Outstandingly Impressive!!, Well Done 👍
Thanks! Completely missed my chance to see the classics one last time. The way they can tear the air, doing basically hand brake turns... yeah baby. I did get to see the last ever F111 dump and burn, driving out to Ipswich show in 2010ish. They finished with a circling, climbing one ...
It's a pity you missed out with the classics but I'm sure the memories of the last ever F-111 dump and burn will forever be remembered!
Pulled a few G's thru those turns 😎. Nice demo 👍
How can these beautiful planes be let go?
Pulling some serious Gs! Thanks for sharing Nigel.
Hi Paul ! Love the ‘middle’ name 😄 Totally agree with the massive and continuous G forces over multiple tight turns.
That's some impressive maneuvering!
Was so glad to see the whole show on Sunday!
Good to hear you got there and on a better weather day than Saturday!
@@NigelWoolleyaviation yes, we only got a couple small drops and that was all!
Nice.. Thanks from across the ditch 👍🇳🇿
Fun fact he actually almost stalled out, you can see the aircraft bouncing up and down, one of the people at the aafc told me that
Pushing to the limits !
Phenomenal display. Loved it.
Totaly agree with you! The continued G forces must be crazy challenging for the pilot.
That tight turning ability is unbelievable!!
It certainly has agility...... and trying to copy the F-22 Raptor thrust vectoring turns !
Nigel l wish l could go back to my day's and light my 2 j79 engines up in my F-4 just one more time....Thanks my friend super fun video...Hope you are still doing well....!
Hello Steve. I'm all good and even better at finally getting to an airshow! Wow for firing up the F-4 but certainly a life time memory for you.
Nice footage!
Seems like there's still plenty of life left in the old girl, but airframe hours don't lie...
Farewell to the RAAF Classic Hornets, they will be missed.
I thought they were sold to another country
@@petesmith9472 Yes a fair proportion are already sold to Canada at present, some others pending a sale and some sent to aircraft museums in Australia.
So build another airframe it can't be that difficult and it would provide high tech jobs along with creativity, perhaps and by branching out export market for non OEM high quality parts and self sufficiency we are a long way from the supplier after all should war break out.
It's a museum piece 10 yrs ago.wont last 5 min in a shooting match..
@@leeengelsman1855 u need 20 billion to developer a new air frame and avionics .and it's still non stealth..u have to build from ground up iam afraid to say..Chinese stole the plans 20yrs ago..antique..
The pilot pulled some high Gggggsss
He looked at ease flying the Hornet
Sad when we loose such talented air force pilots ..It would be interesting to know his age grey hair and all and the official compulsory retirement age for Australian
RAAF pilots ...Well Done Sir ...492 Ghost Squadron..Edn....⚡🦘😎
Such a beautiful aircraft.
Real dog fight the ultimate validation of pilot's skills and how deadly the fighter jet is.
It was an epic show! Lucky the weather wasn't worse!
Thanks for sharing! Great camera work👍🏼
And thanks for watching too 🙃
Can't believe we have retired this awesome piece of machinery. definitely one of the sexiest aircraft to ever grace the skies ...👀
@Buddy Have you seen the prices for VH commodores recently, Just jerking your chain.
We were there both days. Easty wowed the crowd with all 4 displays
Spot on Mac !
We still running our E/A 18g Growlers for a while though or are we returning the full catalog once we get our F-35's? There's nothing quite like the iconic silhouette of an F-18 though.
I couldn't agree more with your description of the F18's ! Thankfully the Super Hornets remain an important part of Australia's defence with both the F/A-18F & EA-18G versions. Cheers 🙂
Just sensational great flying skills.
I totally agree Barrie!
Fantastic..! I met the minimum qualifications to apply for Air Force Aircrew Training in the 1990's . Made it through all the Tests but wasn't selected. And the RAAF was absolutely correct..!
There were applicants that had better "scores" than me that day. Watching that flying display made me both jealous and thankful. Great video of an iconic Military Fighter Jet. !
Outstanding Australia is upgrading, can we {New Zealand} get the F18 or at least those little red n white bi-planes?
We need something, God Defend New Zealand, our government won't!
NZs got a couple of spit fires and mustangs, sorted....
The Confederate AF in Papakura is the closest thing we have to a fighter wing these days.
Great filming and editing as usual,Nigel,brilliant
Thanks John! Good to hear from you and hope all is well for you, family and friends in these continuously changing times. Cheers.
@@NigelWoolleyaviation Thanks for your good wishes,Nigel. Certainly over here times are difficult and precarious with COVID high on the agenda.
Let’s hope 2022 will give us some respite.Wishing you and yours a very Happy Christmas and please keep airing those excellent videos !!
Wonderful display!
A final farewell to the Classic Hornet. Great footage Nigel.
Nice job. Guess the cloud was too low for full vertical display
I can't believe their is a man in their flying that thing like that, it's freaky.
Just hope they keep them all in a hangar as backup, unlike the F111's they buried! Might need them again, soon!
The F111 were buried due to a nuclear treaty with the U.S and Russia.
@@QueenslandTrainVideos I've never heard anything about that!
@@angusbull9685 Either have I. They were incredibly expensive to maintain apparently and Aust was the last country using them so they couldn't be sold as spares to anyone else. And smaller countries could not afford to operate them anyway so sadly they were buried. Although have no idea why (stupid politicians) With our tiny air force, I don't see why they were not kept in a hangar somewhere just in case they might be needed, as things are getting hot these days. They are still a very capable aircraft. Bit like the Vulcan was pulled out of retirement for the bombing raid during the Falklands War.
@@montinaladine3264 Our F-111C was closely related to the US Strategic Air Command FB-111 nuclear strike bomber. Althought it never did, the F-111C technically could have carried nuclear armament which (along with its long-range supersonic conventional stike capability) made it a major cause of concern for diplomatic relations in the region during the START (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty) negotiations between the US and Russia beginning in 1991 and later during further discussions which led to the New START treaty in 2010. As a strategic ally of the US, Australia was obligated to dispose of these weapon systems and we complied because it suited our diplomatic/foreign policy goals at that time. This on top of the fact that they were becoming a huge financial burden to maintain, as you mentioned, and no aging airframe can last forever... hence also replacing the Classic Hornets with the Lightning II.
Great video! Can I ask what camera you used, please? Hope I can go next year.
Hi MH. I used a Sony AX53 for this footage.
Great footage. As others have said, can't believe they're retirng these. They still look so awesome, as does the F-15 & F-16, considering they were designed in the 1970's. But then again, maybe that's why they're retiring them. Couldn't we at least sell them to NZ? Fitting given the demonstration pilot was ex-RNZAF Skyhawk pilot.
That sounds like a very good idea.
I remember going to an airshow in Darwin N.T. in 1986 and the RAAF where showing off the capabilities of this new Hornet.
some sharp turns in the display
Absolutely... some serious G's there !
Far out has it been 36 years? Thanks for sharing this 👍
Doesn't seem that long ago but yes sadly retired. Cheers IL
Luckily enough was working on the tarmac as ramp crew that day
Good for you Julie! 👍
Great Video.
Thanks Alwyn for watching !
Great footage! I’m sad I missed it!
Cheers Paul. I was waiting for your quality footage to appear but I’m guessing you where busy travelling or videoing somewhere else maybe.
@@NigelWoolleyaviation sadly I’m stuck in WA :(
@@PaulStewartAviation oh no. A prisoner of WA 🤔
@@NigelWoolleyaviation my sentence finished on Feb 26 🥳 and then back to NSW
@@PaulStewartAviation wowsers … no laughing
matter 🤨
Great video excellent display the weather reminds me of a typical 🇬🇧 Summer day thanks for sharing 👍🇬🇧
Hi Ian. The weather certainly was a challenge over several days for pilots, photographers and spectators trying to stay warm or dry. Thanks for watching and hopefully some nice blue skies for you (although I heard of some very crisp/cold mornings in UK recently!)
@@NigelWoolleyaviation weather up and down here and a new variant of covid rearing it's ugly head testing times for all of us.
@@ianstewartaviation2634 Yes as you say covid sadly continues Grrrrr! Stay safe & healthy.
@@NigelWoolleyaviation and you 👍
When I lived in Brisbane not far from the river they used to track right over my house on their way back out to Amberley. Amazing sights skimming the tree tops.
Lucky you PP! 🙂
I was there that day. What happened to the four f18 hornet display that was supposed to be at the end?
They were stuck in Tindal airbase due to Covid. They did eventually fly to Williamtown for their last flight.
Good Job Easty
A marvellous aerial display footage for the final flight of the Boeing F/A-18A Classic Hornet from start up to shut down 😎😊
Hi DT and thanks. A great display for sure.
@@NigelWoolleyaviation I absolutely agree and it is a great sight for the last time as they step down fir these Classic Hornets and you are welcome 😁😢
Except Boeing didn't build it McDonnell Douglas did
@@Mechone11 hmm that is true :)
Where can I get a camera as stable as this ? On a budget…
I use a Sony AX53 which helps stability but strongly suggest some stable arms and panning to go with that. Search online for the Sony vid camera for details and costs if interested.
I did meet Easty at Ohakea air base in New Zealand in 90's.
I’ve just heard and saddened that the RAAF have retired their F/A-18’s. Can I ask what’s replacing them and are they going to another countries Air Force or being parted out?
Hi Julian. The F/A-18 Classic Hornets are replaced by F-35A Lightning II’s. Four new F35As arrived recently to add to the 30 and more aircraft to eventually get to 70 or so F35s. Also the RAAF still have Super Hornets with plenty of years of flying ahead.
Awesome F18 display video. Where's this held?
Held at Shellharbour airport, Albion Park, NSW (or often named as Illawarra Airport or Wollongong airport.
@@NigelWoolleyaviation ohh I missed it. They didn't advertised online?
@@Aviatorspot I don't think they advertised much, in part because the show itself is a year and a half delayed - you could call it cancelled being an annual show - but all 2020 tickets were transferred to the 2021 event.
Thanks for sharing as I could not make the show.
Terrific filming Nigel. Sad to see them go. Would love to see one was retired to a NZ museum - after all, Richie McCaw (All Black captain) had a flight in one!
Great reasoning there Steve! Add in the pilot Jason Easthope as a former RNZAF pilot there'is more support for a static Hornet in NZ (just don't hold your breath)🙃
Beautiful flying! Probably makes the Canadians drool since they get these hand-me-downs.
Canada is spending 1.3 billion in upgrades to them new radar and weapons
UFO AT 1:19
Unbelievable from NZ.
Military Parades with sonic Booms EVERY fricken year. Coz we paid for it. Australian Tax payers in each state should have the right to see a huge display every year coz we paying a fair bit in % of GDP for this equipment.
wym last display, this is 2022 cf-18 demo!
Look forward to the CF-18 display next year with a freshly painted maple leaf!
Eastly flew the wings over the A-k when the rnzaf retired them, he did the same for the aussies with the legacy hornet
Legacy boy will be missed. ❤🤍
For sure 😩
Glad they are still flying over my house near Amberley afb in Brisbane, for how much longer I’m not sure .🤷♂️
The Super Hornets at Amberly were only purchased in 2010 so they have plenty more years of operation (and flying over your house) !
Anyone know if this means they'll be flying an F-35 over the Grand Prix now? :D
Good question. It will probably be the F-35A or the Roulettes. I’m guessing it will be the latter. Happy to hear from those in the know.
Mick the Legend!
Miss the mirage
Yep....and the F-111's too 😔
Aw I couldn’t see myself :(
How thoughtless that I didn't include you! 🙃
@@NigelWoolleyaviation no its okay :)
You know the person in that electric wheelchair? With those red pyjamas? That was me, (yes I’m a kid but i am allowed to use youtube)
Maybe you were on the other side
@@ilikeplanes7089 I'll check all my video clips to see if you feature.
I would go to this air show if it was on regularly...but of course because it'd be too expensive to fly jets so often, this won't happen. But at least this show is run twice a year once a weekend.
A21-8 was flown on Saturday. I see that A21-44 was flown on Sunday by Darren. Just wondering when A21-44 flew down to the show as I didn’t see it on the Saturday?
From what I saw A21-44 was flown by Easty to Illawarra airport on Sunday morning before the show started . He apparently wasn't happy with A21-8 so flew it back to Williamtown departing around 7.30am ish and with a quick turn around swapped over to A21-44 ready for the morning display at the airshow.
@@NigelWoolleyaviation I heard them early that morning before the show. I was wondering what they were doing.
@@NigelWoolleyaviation Rumour has it he broke 8 on Saturday so had to get up the coast to pick up 44 and get back quick smart on Sunday morning... :)
I missed the arrival display but caught the last hurrah from the gold pass grandstand in the afternoon.
Awesome display, nicely captured. Well done mate.
@@sixstringedthing I can confirm that rumour. I overheard him mentioning it to Paul Bennet and that he was going to pick up a new aircraft. I can not confirm it but I believe he may have overstressed the airframe during the Saturday demo.
Yeah I wondered why the hornet took off early Sunday morning as we were lined up at the gate. A21-8 was also flown at temora the weekend before.
I'm always impressed that they lose so little altitude in 90º turns!
Good spot there Ross 👍
If Australia is junking them, we (NZ) will take them ;o)
Put your request in Brian! Good luck 😄
Yung design nya parang f16
Next stop Canada?
What cam ?
Farewell!
Good for 9g?
Just about ripped into a Pugovev
POV you were there I could see me
aweskin
Did the pilot have to self isolate in an Aussie concentration camp after he landed?
He’s from Australia
Farewell…
To think I didn't get selected to fly when I applied to join the raaf in 1989 . That could of been me...🤔🙄🤔🙄🙄🙄
My loss the raafs gain
What are they going to do with them? Mothball and put them in storage just in case? Don’t chop them up or bury them!
I’m no expert, but I would’ve thought a single engine aircraft in use by the military would not have been a great idea in a world where redundancy is almost a religion. Just my thoughts but I reckon having a two-engine aircraft would be better in terms of the aircraft having a better chance of surviving in conflict than a single engine.
I refer the honorable gentleman to the first three words...
Should stopped after the first phrase.
Pls don't bend any of our NEW planes. Thx! 🇨🇦
Be nice if they did a fly by in every city,SINCE WE ALL PAID FOR IT.
Chosen few syndrome as usual.
Such a waste of money replacing this very capable dependable aircraft.
Not true, the waste of money was maintaining the aircraft. Would literally have to replace everything again soon because of maximum flying hours not to mention they've already been upgraded too many times and still rendered inadequate for its needs. Though, I do agree that it could've been worth keeping as a reserve fleet but in the end the experts knew that its more cost effective to just replace them with better aircraft, especially aircraft that will able to fit the needs of working with Loyal Wingman.
@@Bbouy1HD If they're so crook why is the royal Canadian air force buying so many from us.
Just like the F111 a very capable high speed bomber that could have repurposed as part of the networking that theyre so proud of in the F-35.
Surely more numbers is better.
Agree - AND it had twin engines - the F35 can never have that redundancy. Political decision rather than being based on actual requirements of this huge country. Many in Canada were complaining about its purchase as well for the same reason.
Make no mistake, we (Canada) are only buying the RAAF's lowest time Hornets as a stop gap until the government finally decides on which fighter will replace the Cf-18's. Had the RCAF already decided which aircraft will replace the Hornets Canada would not have purchased the old RAAF birds. Its costing the Canadian tax payers far too much to keep the Cf-18's flying but we have no other recourse thanks to government bungling. Apparently we should know very soon if we will be getting the F-35 or the SAAB Gripen. The Air Force wants the F-35. We're told whichever is chosen that the RCAF should have its first airframe by 2025 (doubtful) and the legacy Hornets to be retired by somewhere around 2032 (highly optimistic).
Capable? The 4th generation F/A-18 is obsolete and wouldn't stand a chance against 5th generation fighters. They are being replaced by 5th generation F35 Lightning IIs. We also have the F/A-18F Super Hornet which is far superior to the Hornet and is generation 4.5. We also have a specialised version of the Super Hornet, the EA-18G Growler, which is the most advanced electronic warfare plane ever built.
Hey I have a great idea... Let's retire these incredible aircraft just before China comes a'knockin'... Who dreams this shit up in this country?
They wouldn't stand a chance against 5th generation fighters. The 4th generation F/A-18 is obsolete and they are being replaced by 5th generation F35 Lightning IIs. We also have the F/A-18F Super Hornet which is far superior to the Hornet and is generation 4.5. We also have a specialised version of the Super Hornet, the EA-18G Growler, which is the most advanced electronic warfare plane ever built.
Yes, fucking amazing. Anyone on Australia's east coast can order up a RAAF air display for as little as a school fete but living in the third of Australia bordered by the west coast, we can't even manage a Tiger Moth flyover. Shame on you RAAF...
Your borders are always shut?
Well mate it's as simple as this. The RAAF has one active base in WA, RAAF base pearce to which they are practically no aircraft there.
The east coast has 5 RAAF bases. All are within 30 mins of at least a city or major city. Do you really thing they're gonna make the 10 hour flight to perth to do one single airshow?
@@morerightrudder9742 1. Pearce Airbase has the following aircraft: PC-21's and Hawk 127's. These can often be glimpsed by peering through the mesh fence on the base perimeter but do not flyover the metropolitan area.
2. The last Defence airshow in Perth occurred in 2012. These occur infrequently and are not forestalled by Covid. Aircraft from other RAAF bases in other states can and do visit for military exercises.
3. Citizens in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, SA and Tasmania take for granted that military aircraft will be routinely made available to overfly any number of spectator events in those states.
4. Western Australians contribute just as much to the continuing growth and maintenance of Australia as all other citizens so we should also be able to enjoy the 'fruits'.
@@jonbowra7466 Yeah mate PC-21s and Hawk 127s are training aircraft. That's what i meant by practically none. Because apart from training, they are irrelevant.
What I am saying is that there is little benefit to using 20 hours total round trip worth of fuel to fly from any one of the east coast bases when they can simply do a short 20-30 min flight to any one of the Easts major cities to which 90% of the Australian population resides.
If you'd like to enjoy the "fruits" then book a cheap $100 ticket to Avalon for the avalon airshow or Sydney for the Illawarra airshow. Easy.
@Buddy I bet you watch sky news aus too