2024

• Dates: 15th February & 1st-3rd of March
• Attendance: 14,394 (Air Show Weekend: 12,994; Schools & Careers Open Day: 1,400)
• Number Of Aircraft: 65
• Strategic Sponsor: New South Wales (NSW) Government/Destination NSW

Welcome to Shellharbour Airport.

Airshows Downunder Shellharbour is an event from the golden age of airshows, reliving the excitement & delight of flying in a carnival atmosphere that the whole family will love but more than that, it is an event that brings the aviation community, defence forces, industry and Australian public together.

It will showcase the best of modern Defence Force aircraft, civil aerobatics performers, restored historic and warbird aircraft & ground displays with the added bonus of free carnival rides for children. The show celebrates the aviation industry & highlights exciting and rewarding careers in an industry that plays an important part in the everyday life of Australia.

Justin Giddings, Aerospace, Maritime & Defence Australia (AMDA) Foundation Chairman

The opening 2 days were schools and careers open days & only open to registered educational institutions, minimum Year 9. The 1st schools and careers day is only online via Zoom & open to those registered for the 1st of March career day before or on February 15th 6pm.

40,000 people over the final air show weekend were expected to attend – 4000 more than in 2022 – but in the end, received a third of that – 13,000 (precise figure is 12,994), with 6,500 on each day – most likely due to the re-branding. 1400 students and educators attended the 2nd schools & careers open day.

This was first established in 2007 as Wings Over Illawarra by a local community committee. That’s how far we’ve come. We are so blessed in this region to have so much natural beauty with our escarpment, our lakes, our rivers & our coastline. There is no better place to hold this airshow than right here in the Illawarra.

Both on the 2nd & the 3rd of March, the Airshows Downunder is a family event & the action will just be absolutely fabulous. Bring your families, bring your friends & enjoy what is about to unfold. This show is expected to bring over 20,000 people to this event * is one of, if not the biggest, event on our calendar in 2024. Thank you so much.

Anna Watson, New South Wales Legislative Assembly Member For Shellharbour

The Captains’ Carnival is back to a generic name while classic vehicles return. The Royal Australian Air Force Band also returned. There were also static displays from the Royal Australian Navy of an Eurocopter EC-135 and a Schiebel Camcopter S-100. For the 1st time ever, tickets are not sold at the gate – it is online only.

AMDA’s experience with the Australian International Airshow & in the aviation industry overall, will no doubt take our airshow to the next level & really put Shellharbour on the map nationally and internationally.

The larger format airshow is set to boost visitation and revenue for local businesses & raise the profile of Shellharbour City as a key travel destination in the visitor economy.

Airshows Downunder Shellharbour really marks the celebration of a new chapter in our airport’s history.

Chris Homer, Shellharbour City Council Mayor

The below flying/speech programs shows what is scheduled as of 2nd March 2024. When the event begins, weather, mechanical issues with the aircraft, pilot availability or military requirements may have amended the flying program in its final displayed form at the Airport.

3rd of March (open to the public)

• 9am – Gates Open
• 10:22am – Opening Ceremony
• 10:42am – Flag Drop by Skydive Australia
• 10:46am – YAK-110 (Jeff Boerboon) (with fireball effect)
• 10:55am – Southern Cross Replica (Fokker FVIIB)
• 11:04am – Extra 300L (Emma MacDonald)
• 11:21am – CAC-16 Wirraway
• 11:28am – Douglas DC3/Douglas C-47 Dakota
• 11:39am – English Electric Canberra
• 11:50am – Wolf Pitts Pro (Paul Bennet) (with Wall Of Fire)
• 12:03pm – Grumman S-2G Tracker
• 12:13pm – Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune
• 12:25pm – Lockheed AP-3C Orion
• 12:35pm – Edge 540 (Glenn Graham)
• 12:46pm – Hawker Sea Fury
• 12:55pm – De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou
• 1:12pm – MXS-R (Matt Hall)
• 1:24pm – Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk (x3)
• 1:44pm – CAC Sabre MK32
• 1:56pm – Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules
• 2:05pm – Cessna A-37B Dragonfly
• 2:15pm – The Sky Aces
• 2:28pm – Lockheed C-121C Super “Connie” Constellation
• 2:39pm – TBM Grumman Avenger
• 2:48pm – Lockheed Hudson
• 2:58pm – Simulated Ground Attack (Focke Wulf FW-190/Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIII/Supermarine Spitfire XVI with scramble & tailchase)
• 3:18pm – North American P-51/CAC CA-18 Mustang
• 3:33pm – Balbo (TBM Grumman Avenger/Lockheed Hudson/Focke Wulf FW-190/Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIII/Supermarine Spitfire XVI/North American P-51/CAC CA-18 Mustang)
• 3:45pm – YAK-110 (Jeff Boerboon)
• 3:57pm – Heritage Flight (CAC CA-18 Mustang/F-35A Lightning II)
• 4:02pm – F-35A Lightning II (with Wall Of Fire)
• 4:10pm – Air Show Concludes
• 5pm – Gates Close

2nd March (open to the public)

• 9am – Gates Open
• 10:22am – Opening Ceremony
• 10:42am – Flag Drop by Skydive Australia
• 10:46am – YAK-110 (Jeff Boerboon) (with fireball effect)
• 10:53am – Southern Cross Replica (Fokker FVIIB)
• 11:02am – Extra 300L (Emma MacDonald)
• 11:19am – CAC-16 Wirraway
• 11:26am – Douglas DC3/Douglas C-47 Dakota
• 11:37am – English Electric Canberra
• 11:48am – Wolf Pitts Pro (Paul Bennet) (with Wall Of Fire)
• 12:01pm – Grumman S-2G Tracker
• 12:11pm – Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune
• 12:23pm – Lockheed AP-3C Orion
• 12:33pm – Edge 540 (Glenn Graham)
• 12:48pm – Hawker Sea Fury
• 12:53pm – De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou
• 1:05pm – MXS-R (Matt Hall)
• 1:17pm – Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk (x3)
• 1:33pm – CAC Sabre MK32
• 1:45pm – Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules
• 1:54pm – Cessna A-37B Dragonfly
• 2:03pm – The Sky Aces
• 2:17pm – Lockheed C-121C Super “Connie” Constellation
• 2:28pm – TBM Grumman Avenger
• 2:37pm – Lockheed Hudson
• 2:48pm – Simulated Ground Attack (Focke Wulf FW-190/Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIII/Supermarine Spitfire XVI with scramble & tailchase)
• 3:07pm – North American P-51/CAC CA-18 Mustang
• 3:21pm – Balbo (TBM Grumman Avenger/Lockheed Hudson/Focke Wulf FW-190/Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIII/Supermarine Spitfire XVI/North American P-51/CAC CA-18 Mustang)
• 3:33pm – YAK-110 (Jeff Boerboon)
• 3:47pm – Heritage Flight (CAC CA-18 Mustang/F-35A Lightning II)
• 3:52pm – F-35A Lightning II (with Wall Of Fire) – Royal Australian Air Force pilot, Bunga’s, final career display flight
• 4pm – Air Show Concludes
• 5pm – Gates Close

1st Of March (registered students – minimum Year 9 – teachers & career advisors including parents)

Speeches are made in the new Speakers Pavilion.

• 10am – Gates Open
• 10:15am – Welcome Address
• 10:30am – Women In Aviation by Matt Hall Racing
• 11am – Aerospace Engineering by Sydney Women in Aerospace Engineering, University Of Sydney
• 11:15am-11:45am – Qantas Careers by Qantas Group
• 11:21am-11:39am – Lockheed C-121C Super “Connie” Constellation/TBM Grumman Avenger/North American P-51/CAC CA-18 Mustang/P-40 Kittyhawks (x3)
• 11:45am – Australian Defence Force Careers by Australian Defence Force
• 12pm – Aviation/Aerospace Study Paths by University Of New South Wales
• 12:15pm – Job Readiness by Workpath Learning
• 12:45pm – Take To The Sky by Paul Bennet Airshows
• 1pm – Airport Careers by Shellharbour Airport
• 1:15pm – Qantas Careers by Qantas Group
• 1:30pm – Australian Defence Force Careers by Australian Defence Force
• 1:45pm – Closing Address
• 2pm – Gates Close

15th Of February (registered 1st of March attendees with Internet access – held online via Zoom)

• 6pm-8pm – Aerospace Student Industry Information Session by Royal Aeronautical Society: Australian Division

It detailed ” upcoming graduate & internship opportunities”. Guests included:

• Boeing Defence Australia – Elaine Wallace
• Qantas Group – James Armstrong
• Australian Defence Force Recruiting – Shontelle Verri
• Plan Safe – Mal Gallagher
• Nova Systems – Fiona Carter
• Royal Aeronautical Society: Australian Division – Matthew Coutts