Air Force power to wow crowds in anniversary airshow
RAAF Base Richmond, in Sydney's northwest, will host an airshow to celebrate 100 years since it became the second permanent such base in Australia.
Highlights on September 27 and 28 include displays from the fleet of C-130J Hercules cargo aircraft as well as the top-line F-35A Lightning II fighter jet.
A rare glimpse on Wednesday included an F-35 cruising over northwestern Sydney as the media watched from the hold of a C-130.
The F-35 is Australia's most advanced air combat asset and will show off its airborne capabilities in the centenary spectacular.
Capable of withstanding 9Gs, the maximum speed of the jet is nearly 2000 km/h, or about 1.6 times the speed of sound.
It carries some of the RAAF's most sophisticated weaponry including laser-guided bombs and "Sidewinder" air-to-air missiles.
The Lockheed Martin jet was accepted into Australian service in 2018 and the first squadron was based at RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle.
The C-130J is used extensively for deploying personnel and aid, and assisting with medical evacuations.
The air-lifter, in use since 1999, can accommodate up to 88 paratroopers for aerial deployment.
More traditional airshow fare will also be on offer for spectators, with the RAAF Roulettes Aerobatic Team set to show off their daring stunts.
Only RAAF Base Point Cook, established in 1921 in Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay, is older than RAAF Richmond.
Tickets for the RAAF Richmond Airshow 2025 are on sale from August 13.
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Perth Now
3 days ago
- Perth Now
Air Force power to wow crowds in anniversary airshow
Dozens of Air Force planes in full flight are set to wow crowds at a special centenary celebration. RAAF Base Richmond, in Sydney's northwest, will host an airshow to celebrate 100 years since it became the second permanent such base in Australia. Highlights on September 27 and 28 include displays from the fleet of C-130J Hercules cargo aircraft as well as the top-line F-35A Lightning II fighter jet. A rare glimpse on Wednesday included an F-35 cruising over northwestern Sydney as the media watched from the hold of a C-130. The F-35 is Australia's most advanced air combat asset and will show off its airborne capabilities in the centenary spectacular. Capable of withstanding 9Gs, the maximum speed of the jet is nearly 2000 km/h, or about 1.6 times the speed of sound. It carries some of the RAAF's most sophisticated weaponry including laser-guided bombs and "Sidewinder" air-to-air missiles. The Lockheed Martin jet was accepted into Australian service in 2018 and the first squadron was based at RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle. The C-130J is used extensively for deploying personnel and aid, and assisting with medical evacuations. The air-lifter, in use since 1999, can accommodate up to 88 paratroopers for aerial deployment. More traditional airshow fare will also be on offer for spectators, with the RAAF Roulettes Aerobatic Team set to show off their daring stunts. Only RAAF Base Point Cook, established in 1921 in Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay, is older than RAAF Richmond. Tickets for the RAAF Richmond Airshow 2025 are on sale from August 13.
SBS Australia
25-07-2025
- SBS Australia
Fresh warning for Australian travellers amid 'deep concern' over Thailand-Cambodia clash
Australia is "deeply concerned" by escalating tensions across the Thai-Cambodian border, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said, as she urged travellers to reconsider visiting certain areas. A Thai F-16 fighter jet has bombed targets in Cambodia, after artillery fire from both sides killed at least 11 civilians. "Australia is deeply concerned by escalating tensions across the Thai-Cambodian border, including reports of injuries and loss of life," Wong said on X on Friday. "We urge both sides to de-escalate and resolve border issues peacefully." Travel advice for Thailand and Cambodia As of Friday, Smartraveller advised Australians to reconsider their need to travel to the Thai border areas of Buriram, Si Saket, Surin and Ubon Ratchathani provinces near the Cambodian border due to armed conflict in the area. This includes "reports of military strikes, violence and landmines", the advice says. "Follow the advice of local authorities, monitor local media for updates and pay close attention to your personal security. Border crossing points along the Thai-Cambodian border continue to be closed at short notice." Smartraveller continues to advise travellers to exercise a high degree of caution when travelling to Thailand overall. In Cambodia, Australians are urged to reconsider travelling to the border areas of the northern and north-western provinces of Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey, while exercising normal safety precautions overall. Border clashes: What we know so far Both countries accused each other of starting the clash early on Thursday, which quickly escalated from small arms fire to heavy shelling in at least six locations along the border. Thailand positioned six F-16 fighter jets in an uncommon combat deployment, one of which was mobilised to strike a Cambodian military target — among measures Cambodia's foreign ministry called "reckless and brutal military aggression". Thailand's military said the use of air power was to strike with precision. Thailand said there had been 12 fatalities in three Thai provinces, 11 of them civilians, including an eight-year-old boy. Authorities said 31 people were injured on Thursday. The number of Cambodian casualties was unclear. Thai people who fled clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers taking shelter in Surin province in north-eastern Thailand. Source: AAP / AP/Sunny Chittawil "We condemn this — using heavy weapons without a clear target, outside of conflict zones ... the use of force and did not adhere to international law," Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters. "We remain committed to peaceful means and there should be discussions, but what happened was a provocation and we had to defend ourselves." In a letter to Pakistan, which currently holds the presidency of the United Nations Security Council, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet urged the body to convene a meeting to stop what he called "unprovoked and premeditated military aggression" by Thailand in violation of international law. The two countries have been braced for conflict since the killing of a Cambodian soldier late in May during a brief skirmish, with troops reinforced on both sides of the border. The recent escalation — the worst fighting between the countries in 13 years — came after Thailand recalled its ambassador to Phnom Penh and expelled Cambodia's envoy. This was in response to a second Thai soldier losing a limb to a landmine that Bangkok alleged had been laid recently by rival troops in the disputed area — an accusation Cambodia called baseless. A decades-long border dispute Thailand and Cambodia have for decades disputed the jurisdiction of several undemarcated points along their 817km land border. Ownership of the ancient Hindu temples Ta Moan Thom and the Preah Vihear have been central to the disputes. The clashes came after Thailand recalled its ambassador to Cambodia late on Wednesday and said it would expel Cambodia's envoy in Bangkok. Source: AAP / EPA/Kith Serey Preah Vihear was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1962 but tensions escalated in 2008 after Cambodia attempted to list it as a UNESCO World Heritage site. That led to skirmishes over several years and at least a dozen deaths. In June, Cambodia said it had asked the ICJ to resolve its disputes with Thailand. However, Thailand says it has never recognised the court's jurisdiction and prefers a bilateral approach. How other countries have responded In the region, the Philippines and Vietnam have called for restraint and China expressed willingness to help promote de-escalation. The United States, a long-time treaty ally of Thailand, called for an immediate end to hostilities. "We are ... gravely concerned by the escalating violence along the Thailand-Cambodia border, and deeply saddened by reports of harm to civilians," the US state department's deputy spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, told a regular news briefing. "The United States urges an immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and a peaceful resolution of the conflict." With additional reporting by the Reuters news agency.
West Australian
25-07-2025
- West Australian
Urgent warning: Smartraveller alert for Aussie tourists as tensions boil over between Cambodia and Thailand
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