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The last air show in Zeltweg
was in 2005, Airpower05. After two years absence, the biennial event
Airpower09 was a huge success spread over two days , Friday June 26th and
Saturday June 27th,with 280,000 visitors one
of the biggest events in Austria in 2009 and one of the highlights of the
air show calendar 2009. The flying program began at 09:00 am and lasted up
to 18:00 hours all in an inspiring environment with amazing backgrounds.
Although in the days prior to Airpower09 much rain fell in Austria and
southern Germany, Airpower09 still continued. Airpower09 on Friday and
Saturday morning had no burden of extreme weather conditions, it was even a
hot and sunny, unlike other parts of Austria. Saturday afternoon there was a
change in the weather conditions. We watched the impending dark skies and
opted for the lunch. During lunch, the rain broke loose and the light
reduced fast. Therefore opted for an early retreat from Graz and Ramstein
back to Holland.
Airpower 09 is a huge tourist attraction for the region of Steiermark with
the result that the hotels in the area in early 2009 were all booked up. Our
hotel was situated in the valley next to Zeltweg making the journey to and
from Zeltweg was an attraction in itself.
Evening navigation with the Tom Tom which shows turns on the screen more
visible than in reality and in the morning descending from above the clouds
to Zeltweg. The second day, the average rate of climb and descent was
better, we where only stopped by oncoming cows (with bells).
The opening two days, almost traditionally opened by the so-called
Fahnenflug with nine helicopters. (AB-212, AI III, OH-58, AB-206 and Cobra)
After that Airpower09 began at Fliegerhorst Hinterstoisser at Zeltweg. . |
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Besides that there were
several demonstrations in the flying program there were also several
international display teams such as the Breitling Team, Patrouille de
Suisse, Team Orlik in Poland, the Turkish Stars and newcomers in the
demonstration circuit Krila Oluje (Wings of Storm) and the Flying Bulls
Aerobatics Team was the airshow is divided into a number of themes. |
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Something very different than the speed of
the jet and prop planes was a demonstration team with gliders from the
Slovak Blanik team with two Let L-13 Blaniks.
Within the theme of aviation history there were a demonstrations of a
Bleriot XI (1908), Boeing Pt17 Stearman (1934), Caudron C-460 Rafale
(1934) and a Douglas DC-2 (1935).
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In Let's Get Big theme there were the larger
the bigger aircraft and a helicopter demonstrations. From the German
Sikorsky CH-53G to a Consolidated PBY-5A and hit a flying Dornier Do-24
ATT.
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The theme Warbirds was shown by a
Messerschmitt Bf-109 (1935), Lockheed P-38L Lightning (1939), Chance
Vought F4U-4 Corsair (1940), North American B-25J Mitchell (1940) and a
Yakowlew Yak-3U (1941).
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The afternoon program was started by the
Osterreichische Bundesheer which shows her duties in the protection and
assistance to the population. One of the special demonstrations was the
removal of fallen trees by a helicopter, dropping the water on a fire
from a Pilatus PC-6 Turbo Porter, Alouette 3 and Augusta AB212. |
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In addition to these demonstrations was an
interception of an intruder in the Austrian airspace demonstrated by a
C130 Hercules, which was intercepted by two scrambled Eurofighters.
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The Airpower09 was the latest public
demonstration of the Austrian Air Force Kleblatt helicopter
demonstration team with the AB206A Jet Rangers. The AB206A would soon
after Airpower09 be taken out of service after 40 years of service. |
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Particular was also a demonstration of the
Austrian Air Force demo team Karo-As 5 Saab Sk60 because this team is
not actively participating in the annual air show calendar.
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When your having a party it's good to invite
your neighbours |
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In short Airpower09 was a success, would be a pity if over two years the
follow-up to the Airpower tradition would end. Compliments for the
organization just like previous years it was outstanding. |
