Canberra Airport Open Day: two thumbs up

By Michael de Percy

29 March: Who ever thought an airport would have an open day? And who would have thought that the Canberra Airport Open Day could be so much fun?

I really didn’t know what to expect, but after seeing the word ‘free’ on a sign for the Canberra Airport Open Day, I had to go and look for myself. Turns out it’s been happening for years, too!

We drove through Lego Land (Brindabella Business Park) to the ample parking space for the event. From the first storey view of the car park, stretching out before us were the RAAF hot air balloon and about sixteen aircraft from different eras.

The highlight for me was the aerobatic display by the A-37 Dragonfly, a Vietnam-era light attack aircraft. I always wanted to be a fighter pilot, and even though as an Artillery officer I got to call in F/A-18s on bombing runs while airborne in a Pilatus PC-9, you just can’t beat a good aerobatic display from a fighter aircraft!

Other highlights were a number of aircraft brought along by the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society. The line-ups to see these aircraft were too long and it was hot. Regrettably, the ‘free’ bit ended once I got within reading distance of the sign on DC-3 ‘Dakota’ (affectionately known by Australian bush pilots as the ‘Gooney Bird’).

The sign read: “Gold coin donation”. I was disappointed as I only had 25 cents in my pocket.

But outside was still worth a look. As well as the DC-3, the Catalina Flying Boat (used off Cairns during World War Two), the Neptune maritime patrol aircraft used by the RAAF from 1962-1977, and the Lockheed Super Constellation known as ‘Connie’. Each of these cost around $5 per adult to climb inside the aircraft but I was unconvincing with my 25 cents. The cost was a bit high but this organisation does a great job – I had never seen any of these aircraft in-the-flesh before.

The other aircraft were mostly contemporary passenger liners, a few Russian fighters, an old RAAF CT-4 trainer, a Tiger Moth and so on. The airport fire truck was also splendid in its Thunderbird-esque glory, but I suppose you have to be a fan of big toys to enjoy that sort of thing. I loved it!

But for a family with young kids, this event was worth the effort to get out on a glorious Canberra afternoon. The kids’ carnival feel was completed by a number of jumping castles, a petting zoo, the RAAF hot air balloon ride, the face painting and all the other things that made me wonder why other formerly government-operated parts of Australian society don’t do the same thing.

Although I will still complain the next time I have to pay for parking at the airport, I can remember the day the airport gave just that little something back to the community.