To celebrate Australia's Centenary of Federation, AirShows DownUnder staged a barnstorming series of air shows and displays that lasted for two weeks and spanned some 2,400 kilometres around western Queensland. The tour visited Charleville, Tambo, Blackall, Barcaldine, Longreach, Winton, McKinlay, Cloncurry, Julia Creek, Richmond, Hughenden, Charters Towers, Moranbah, Clermont, Capella, Emerald, Springsure, Injune and Roma.

This exciting celebration of flight sponsored by the Federal Government as part of the Centenary of Federation, Queensland Government, Coles Myer, Ansett Australia, The Courier Mail, Castlemaine Perkins, Air BP and Newsagent took place in the heartland of Australian aviation and was a unique experience for both pilots and enthusiasts alike.

Starting in Charleville on Wednesday 11 July, 61 aircraft assembled to begin this amazing tour, retracing the footsteps of the Royal Flying Doctor Service and paying tribute to the pioneers who forged our aviation heritage. The first of six air shows was at Charleville and attracted a large crowd from the surrounding country area, all descending on Charleville airport to witness flying displays by historic, aerobatic, sport and commercial aircraft.

The baby of the fleet was a Pitt Special flown by 12 times Australian aerobatic champion Chris Sperou, who defied all the laws of common sense (and gravity) with his routine of barrel rolls around an accompanying Beech Debonair and finally flying inverted at just 25 feet to cut a ribbon strategically placed between two poles at one end of the runway. More aerobatics were performed by Tom Moon in a German built Extra and Pip Bormann in his Edge.

Other participants included a 1936 Beech Staggerwing, Auster, Stampe, Chipmunk, Tiger Moth, several Cessnas, Aztecs and ultralights. Also present were two Australian designed and built de Havilland Drover trimotors, VH-DHM, owned by Hawker de Havilland and the other VH-ADN by Charlie Camelleri of Bathurst.

A flying replica of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith's Fokker F.VII/3m, the famous 'Southern Cross' was the third tri-engined aircraft in the fleet. Two DC-3s, one in Ansett livery and the other TAA, proved very popular with the crowds and provided a wonderful demonstration of air travel from the past. The DC-3s often flew accompanied by a Harvard on each wing. There were four Harvards on the tour, the Southern Knights formation aerobatics team from Victoria, and their routine can only be described as spectacular.

An RAAF Caribou STOL tactical transport from 38 Sqn at Townsville joined the armada and impressed all with its versatility, especially its short takeoff and landings. Everyone loved the 'wheelbarrow' landing using the nosewheel only before reversing thrust and taxying backwards along the runway.

The sentimental favourite of the tour was the HARS Lockheed Super Constellation or 'Connie' as she is universally known. She was the largest aircraft in the fleet and the centrepiece of the tour. Spectators loved the air show routine performed by Capt Bob De La Hunty and thousands of school children were overjoyed to be able to climb aboard and sit in the seats of such a large aircraft. For some, it was the first large airliner they had seen, remarkable in the 21st century.

It is interesting to note that throughout the entire tour the crowds were predominately school children. They were given a half day off school and transported to the airfields by school bus. Approximately 8,000 to 10,000 children revelled in the excitement of the air shows throughout western Queensland.

Five balloonists took to the air and proved a very colourful and graceful sight, breaking through the early morning mist over the country towns en route. The balloons also performed night glows at various evening venues attracting a lot of attention when lit against the night skies.

There was also plenty of colour from the five parachutists who jumped from a GA Airvan three times each day. They displayed enormous Australian flags and sponsorship banners. These professionals never once missed landing on the target.

Roma was the final destination on the tour and the last air show. Here the airborne armada reluctantly made preparations for the homeward journey. The tour was a great success and the hospitality of the people in the outback will never be forgotten. A once-in-a-life-time experience and HARS was proud to be a major participant.

Federation AirShows In The Outback - photograph gallery