Photos

Bon Voyage, F-111

Tonight Brisbane holds the annual QBE Riverfire fireworks spectacular. This event celebrates the vibrancy of our city and the waterway which passes through it. 40,000kg of fireworks are set off the top of several bridges, skyscraper roofs and river barges in front of crowds of over 600,000 people. If you are in Brisbane today, then the spectacular show tonight is not one to miss.

The F-111 jet is an iconic and much loved aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force. Australia is the only nation in the world that still operates this jet (which some models date back to the 1960’s), and the fleet will be retired next year and replaced by Super Hornet F18 jets. At many Australian sporting events and festivals, these incredible planes will fly over and ignite their fuel in a special trick called the ‘dump and burn’. No other planes can perform it. Tonight, over Brisbane, this incredible sight will light up the sky for about 30 seconds when performed by two planes simultaneously, twice. They are said to be visible from the Gold and Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba, each over 100km away. The noise and radiant heat produced is incredible and send shivers down the spine. A standing ovation is in order for this unique plane which has served the country for so long, pleasing the crowds one last time.

This particular photo was taken at the 2008 Amberley Air Show. Apologies about the over exposed flame, it’s very difficult to balance the light and dark in a shot like this, when the plane is passing at very fast speeds. I’ll get back to critiquing shortly.