2026

The event website was updated on 26th June 2025 with the event dates originally being the 13th-15th March.

The Sub-License

On 22nd July 2025, the AMDA Foundation announced, in a surprise move, that it will sub-license the public weekend & is in active positive discussions with prospective new organisers for it of this & future editions. This is so the AMDA Foundation can develop a series of new funding, education & industry advancement initiatives for Australia’s general aviation industry. AMDA Foundation will still organise the schools & careers open day.

The AMDA Foundation, being based in Victoria and organiser of the Australian International Airshow in Avalon, acknowledged the increased challenges of managing a major public event in an interstate location & their Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Justin Giddings, said the AMDA Foundation is committed to support Airshows Downunder – Shellharbour through its established programs to ensure the event’s future.

AMDA’s priority has always been to support & promote the Australian aviation & aerospace industry. We believe the most effective way to do this now is by investing in the sector’s future, through targeted grants and education initiatives that foster long-term industry growth

Staging a major airshow requires significant operational planning & resourcing. We believe a new operator, with an existing presence in the region, will provide a better product.

While AMDA is confident a new airshow operator will be found, we will continue organising the careers and skills program, which attracted attendance of 7,000 students at Avalon earlier this year.

We want to reassure the aviation community & the greater Illawarra region that the airshow has a strong future.

Justin Giddings, AMDA Foundation CEO

A little bit disappointed & a little shocked. My only hope is that the active discussions with prospective new organisers to ensure the event’s continuation is solid & it will move forward.

To honour the Wings Over Illawarra event that Mark Bright put on for something like 15 years, which obviously everyone loved & I just hope that in some way, shape or form, the event continues on and someone comes in and takes on the event on behalf of the Illawarra.

It’s AMDA’s gig, so to speak. It’s a community-owned airport, with, to my knowledge, a leasing arrangement for a service provider like AMDA to come in & do the show.

What we can & will do is actively support, encourage and enable any discussion that AMDA has with potential organisations to come in and take on the role so that we can continue to deliver this whole aeronautical event. Wings Over Illawarra. It’s like Convoy. It’s one of those anchor events for the region & it’s well loved. I only hope that it continues on so let’s live in hope.

Chris Homer, City Of Shellharbour Mayor

Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) President, Bob De La Hunty, was surprised by the move but understood there were significant challenges for the operators managing the event from interstate:

We’re not too concerned because it might mean rather than every 2nd year, it might go back to having it every year. We will support whoever is going to be running it in the future.

It’s been a wonderful tourist attraction & has put Shellharbour on the map in many respects. People visiting our museum often say “When’s the next airshow on? When’s the next airshow on?”. I think it is pretty important for the event to be held.

AMDA aren’t totally disappearing from the scene. They’re still going to be involved in the schools event which is on the Friday, where there’s estimated to be 3000 schoolchildren coming.

The potential airshow operator is well known to all of us but it’s still not been clarified because there’s lots of discussions still to be had.

Without trying to guess too much, I think we can be pretty confident that it will be run very well, it will be very spectacular & be enhanced by the local participation.

Bob De La Hunty, Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) President

Paul Bennet Airshows was approached before August about taking over as that portion’s operator.

An official event app was planned for the 1st time ever but it didn’t eventuate.

Wings Over Shellharbour

On the 2nd of December, it was announced the event would now be called Wings Over Shellharbour with Paul Bennet Airshows organising the public weekend. The whole event was announced to be held annually once again with the 2026 edition postponed by 2 months to the 15-17th of May.

AMDA Foundation Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Justin Giddings, said the decision to bring in a new operator was “incredibly hard” but said handing the reins of the public weekend over to Paul Bennet Airshows was “natural”:

As a new CEO, this was the thing that I got off the ground. It’s a big decision but ultimately Avalon Airshow is really big & it took a lot of our focus & having someone who is based here (Shellharbour) …it made perfect sense. We have already hit the ground running with some of our careers & skills program.

AMDA has always been committed to advancing Australia’s aviation & aerospace industries. We’re excited to support
Wings Over Shellharbour through our Careers By AMDA initiative, helping inspire the next generation of aviation professionals. I think it’s a really good outcome for the region.

Justin Giddings, AMDA Foundation CEO

Despite what Justin Giddings said, Paul Bennett Airshows isn’t based in Shellharbour but in Maitland, 217 kilometres to the north.

Jett & Paul Bennett walk away from their Wolf Pitts Pro at Shellharbour Airport
Photograph: Illawarra Mercury/Adam McLean

Regarding the decision to return annually, Paul Bennet said:

I think because I’m mad. Our goal is to grow the industry in general & if you look at the V8 Supercars (touring car racing series), they don’t run every 2nd year, they run every year. I’ve always had a bit of a goal that I want to do a similar thing to what the V8 model is in a way but with airshows.

We’re absolutely thrilled to be continuing this incredible airshow. There’s nothing quite like seeing the joy & excitement it brings to the crowds.

It’s a big deal event. There’s a lot of people involved. It’s not just an instant thing.

Paul Bennet, ‘Paul Bennet Airshows’ Founder

Shellharbour City Council Mayor, Chris Homer, said from what he had seen of Paul Bennet Airshows’ work, Wings Over Shellharbour would be “fabulous & fantastic”:

It seems to be a collaborative effort to get Paul Bennet off the ground once again, who is an expert not only in aviation but in putting on these events. I’m extremely pleased that in 2026 this is going to be a huge success. It was a great name before & as we can see, you have to have an evolution of things … seeing Shellharbour right there in the name, front & centre at our asset for such an exciting event. I’m ecstatic. It’s great.

Chris Homer, Shellharbour City Mayor

Tickets are at early bird 2022 prices until the 31st of January.

While catching the train is the best way to get to the event with a railway station less than 100 metres from the event gates, if you do end up driving, parking will cost AUD$5 – that’s half price on last edition! All parking charge proceeds will go to local community groups & all parking is off-site except for Platinum Pavilion ticket holders, buses, coaches & accredited disabled permit holders.

Take-Off!

Paul Bennet Airshows has already confirmed though that “plenty of blockbuster stunts & displays never before seen at Shellharbour” for the upcoming edition including Wings Over Shellharbour debuts for the De Havilland Vampire Jet, Cessna O-2 Skymaster & the world’s only flying F4U-1D Corsair.

Aerial Line-Up (As of 2nd December 2025)

  • F4U-1D Corsair ***NEW***
  • de Havilland DH100 Vampire ***NEW***
  • Cessna O-2 Skymaster ***NEW***
  • The Sky Aces
  • Wolf Pitts Pro (flown by Paul Bennet)
  • Zivko Edge 540 (flown by Glenn Graham)
  • Hawker Sea Fury
  • CAC Wirraway
  • North American Aviation T-28 Trojan
  • Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk
  • Grumman TBM Avenger
  • Yakovlev Yak-52

The event is also planned to have a Boeing 707-138B (N707JT) on static display. This type of plane is the 1st jet airliner developed & produced by American multinational, Boeing. It has a narrow body & has long-range. This particular plane to be put on static display though was the last of 13 operated by Australian flag carrier airline, Qantas, before being formerly owned by American actor, John Travolta. The event already has a Boeing 707 fuselage & cockpit on static display since 2016, though it is a 438C variant.

The Australian Defence Force drone racing will return. Industry partners will be available for career opportunity discussions. A Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) educational area & food trucks will also feature.

On all event days, for people with sensory sensitivities, a new Sensory Room will be open featuring controlled lighting, sensory equipment & toys. The event site will also be designed to include accessible pathways & ramps.

14th-15th of March (open to the public)

  • 9am – Gates Open
  • 10:10am – Opening Ceremony
  • 10:30am – Air Show Begins
  • 1pm – Break Begins
  • 1:45pm – Air Show Resumes
  • 4pm – Air Show Concludes
  • 5pm – Gates Close

The opening day of the event is to be a schools & careers open day, which will invite Year 7 & 8 students to it for the 1st time ever & run 1 hour earlier than in 2024. It is part of a national initiative to build awareness, foster connections & support STEM engagement through it’s career & work path programs. However, it will focus on growing engagement with the Shellharbour community.

Registrations are required. 1 teacher is required to register the school they teach at with an estimated number of students, who must have parental/guardian consent, and accompanying supervisors. Other parents or accompanying adults are required to register themselves & the student (minimum age 12) they parent/will accompany. Tertiary students 18+ can also register themselves. All students & any accompanying adults attending as part of an educational institution will get entry free of charge, though all under 18’s must be accompanied. Other accompanying adults who do not attend as part of an educational institution will need to pay a fee.

There will be pre-event activities. Approximately on the 15th of April 2026, registered teachers will be contacted to confirm final attendance numbers for both students & staff. There will be accessible shuttle buses & golf carts, the latter available from car parks to the gate on request.

If you registered online, you will need to bring your confirmation email in either paper or digital form, the latter via smartphone. If you are 16+ & a student or teacher, you will need to bring photo identification. The event may be photographed or filmed for promotional & educational purposes. Anyone not wanting their image taken can receive a red sticker to identify with the onsite media team.

The schools & careers day will include a Careers & Industry Zone, a dynamic, immersive space designed to spark curiosity & inspire future careers, which will feature a drone and autonomous system use exhibition, interactive displays such as aircraft walkthroughs, hands-on demonstrations and activities including flight simulators & real-world STEM challenges from aviation partners including the Australian Defence Force such as drone races.

The schools & careers open day will also let you meet representatives from exhibiting organisations including aviation companies, aerospace manufacturers, airlines, engineering firms and other related industries; military recruiters, universities, Technical And Further Education (TAFE) & engineers from HARS, whose hanger will feature jet engine displays and a scavenger hunt.

2 panel question and answer sessions from defence and industry small-medium enterprise employers, leaders, pilots, engineers and logistics coordinators, who will talk about study options, recruitment pathways & career journeys. This will be supported by a student handbook called the Shellharbour Skybound Guide which includes key program details, a careers quiz, reflection prompts, pathway exploration tools & post-event planning resources.

There will also be robotics displays, defence vehicles & a 1-hour aviation-in-flight demonstration showcase, their 1st ever formally announced dedicated Schools & Careers Day flying program. It will share an illustration of aviation from past, present & into the future. A food court will also be open with drinks also on sale there. Shaded seating & 1st aid will also be available.

13th Of March (registered students – minimum Year 7 if going as part of school, otherwise age 12 – teachers, career advisors/practitioners & accompanying parents/guardians)

  • 9am – Gates Open
  • 2pm – Gates Close