Greyed Out At Nowra
HMAS Albatross January 25, 2004
You can set the date, organise the displays, gather your volunteers, advertise in the media but there's one thing you can't do for an Airshow and that's control the weather. That lesson was reinforced to the organisers of The Australian Museum of Flight Airshow on January 25th. It wasn't that it was bucketing down, in fact it was more like a drizzle. No, it was the lowness of the cloud base and how visibility was effected by it that forced the decision to cancel the flying displays. I believe that decision proved to be correct as the weather deteriorated as the day went on.

Before that decision was made the Navy lined up one example of each of its operational types including the new SH-2G Super Sea Sprite in 805 Sqn. markings, in fact this would have been the public's first chance to see it put through its paces in the air at its home base. Accompanying the 'Super' were a Sea King, Sea Hawk and a Squirrel. The Squirrel and Sea King have reverted back to full colour National roundel with black titles, while the Sea Hawk displayed a black version. The SH-2G was wearing toned down very low contrast markings.

Soloman Sal
Westland Sea King N16-238, Shark 20 gets sealed up to keep the rain out.
Navy Aircraft on display
Kaman Super Sea Sprite SH-2G(A) N29-150156 842 - 805 Sqn.
Westland Sea King Mk.50A N16-238 20 - 817 Sqn.
Sikorsky Sea Hawk N24-002 71 - 816 SQn.
Aerospatiale Squirrel N22-015 862 - 723 Sqn.
Westland Scout N8-102 842 - Navy Historic Flight, this is not the original N8-102 but a rebuild using parts sourced from the UK.

The RANs air assets have been kept very busy for many years now and recent operational deployment by the Sea King was evidenced by the name 'Solomon Sal' displayed on the side of the fuselage. 'Shark 20' was attached to HMAS Manoora for Operation Anode, the Australian contribution to the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI ).

The only other spot taken up on the display line was filled by the Westland Scout, parked some distance away from its modern day cousins it was obvious that more types were allocated spots but were not wheeled out in the rain. Such a pity for everyone involved that the weather stopped another show at Nowra. A waste of time for those who made the trip and paid their $10 admission before the cancellation? - no way, the admission fee provided free entry to the Museum.
805 Sqn Super Sea Sprite Markings

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