QLD:Flyover in Brisbane ends F-111 era

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2010
QLD:Flyover in Brisbane ends F-111 era

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By Darren Cartwright

BRISBANE, Dec 3 AAP - Like a bride-to-be on her big day, the RAAF's F-111s made their
entrance late and memorable for their final Brisbane sortie.

Under grey skies and intermittent light showers, thousands of people filled the best
vantage points around Brisbane to bid farewell to the dinosaurs of the airforce.

Having taken off from the RAAF base at Amberley, seven F-111s appeared in the skies
over Brisbane's CBD not long after midday, some 20 minutes behind schedule.

The 37-year-old aircraft, which picked up nicknames like flying pig, whispering death,
swinger and switchblade, were making their last public flyover before being retired and
replaced by a fleet of F/A-18F Super Hornets.

The F-111 dump and burn night-time flyovers have long been the highlight of Brisbane's
annual September Riverfire festival.

Friday's flyover, which reached as low as 300 metres to give enthusiasts a chance to
photograph or film the moment, meant a lot more to the people of Brisbane than just waving
goodbye to a retiring aircraft.

"It's the end of an era," said Fiona Kinley who was watching the show.

"Just the noise of them gets people excited.

"It's good to be able to watch them flyover for the last time."

But Brisbane's CBD and surrounding suburbs were not the only ones treated to the spectacle.

The squadron split up, with two planes heading north over Sandgate, Redcliffe, Bribie
Island and the Sunshine Coast.

The remaining five F-111s went south to rumble through the skies over the Gold Coast,
Coolangatta, Byron Bay and Evans Head.

AAP dac/jmm/msk

KEYWORD: F111 WRAP (PIX AVAILABLE) (REISSUING)

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