Excitement will stretch from the tarmac to the sky as Wings Over Shellharbour officially launches. Photos: Wings Over Shellharbour.
Daring displays of aviation excellence are set to make a spectacle of the skies as Wings Over Shellharbour flies into the region, reinventing an iconic and beloved Illawarra sky show.
Whether they’re flying and flipping through the air or landing on a moving ute, the aerobatic aircraft performances and events are expected to take Wings Over Shellharbour to new heights.
The event is the first to be run under the new management of Paul Bennett Airshows, after the AMDA Foundation announced it would no longer be able to run the sky show after hosting just one event.
“We want to do some different things, things that haven’t been seen at Shellharbour before,” Paul said when he was announced as the new host.
“For example, landing the Piper Cub on the roof of a moving truck, and we’d like to do the backflipping motorbike over the Wolf Pitts Pro, which we’ve done at several other shows but hasn’t been seen in this region.”
And now that the line-up and schedule have been revealed, it’s clear that Paul has stayed true to his vision and is cutting no corners.
In the sky, dozens of rare and wonderful aircraft, piloted by experienced pilots, will perform routines individually and in collaboration with other planes, with some creating billowing smoke shows and others navigating through intense pyrotechnics.
Crowds will get up close and personal with historic aircraft while also seeing incredible stunts.
It will also be a chance to catch a piece of history in action with vintage and military aircraft, including the only Lockheed Super Constellation (or ‘Connie’) flying anywhere in the world.
There’ll also be plenty of excitement while keeping two feet on the ground with the space coming to life with classic cars, military vehicles, flight simulators, live entertainment, market stalls and aviation exhibits – with the HARS museum open to let the community get up close and personal with the aircraft and learn more about their impact.
But with so much happening on-site, most attendees will not be able to park at the airport.
With the exception of buses, coaches, Platinum Pavilion ticket holders and accredited disabled permit holders, visitors travelling by car will have to park offsite at a designated ‘park and ride’ area on the corner of Croome Road and Tongarra Road.
The offsite carpark will be $5 per vehicle, which will go towards local community groups, and will include a free shuttle bus service to and from the main airshow gates from 8:30 am until 6 pm.
Extra train services have also been scheduled, with Albion Park station just 100 metres from the event.
An immersive careers day will be held on Friday, 15 May, to inspire students, engage educators, and excite families about the many career opportunities in aviation, defence, and STEM, with the main public event at Shellharbour Airport running from 9 am to 5 pm on both Saturday, 16 May, and Sunday, 17 May.
There are tiers of tickets available online, from General Admission at $70 for an adult ticket and $40 for a child (5 years and under get in free) for a one-day pass, to multiday and Gold and Platinum passes.
To buy tickets (and they’re cheaper online), or find out more about the event, visit Wings Over Shellharbour.
