The first ever air display at Avalon was held in 1957 for the employees at the aircraft factory. As they only ever saw individual parts of aircraft head of the Port Melbourne Government Aircraft Factories Geoff J. Churcher decided to mount a flying display so they could see the final result of their work.
The first major air show in Australia was held in 1988 in Sydney as a part of the Australian Bicentenary celebrations. The next show took place in 1991 to celebrate the Royal Australian Air Force anniversary. Both shows were a success so it was decided to inaugurate the regular Australian International air show held in Avalon. The first show took place in 1992, it featured 226 exhibitors from 12 countries and attracted about 175,000 attendees. From 1995 onward, the even has been held every two years.
The Avalon air show as it is known today consists of two events. The Australian International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition is an industry-only event. It’s a major aviation, aerospace and defense showcase for Australia and the Asia Pacific Region. Along with the exhibition itself, its program includes conferences, networking events, the Aerospace Australia Limited Innovation Awards ceremony, and more.
The second event, the air show proper, is open to the general public. It lasts for three days. The show regularly features planes from the Royal Australian Air Force, the United States Air Force, and the United States Navy. On the ground, there is an exhibition of classic, historic and modern aircraft.
