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The Airpower airshow in Austria does not happen every year, nor is it a solid bi-annual event. The ‘GO’ depends on many factors, and so aviation enthusiasts from around the world were thrilled to learn that in September of 2024 the gates would go wide open again for the huge FREE event. Airpower is a bit like RIAT, but in the mountains and with a free admission for all. Needless to say the airshow attract an impressive crowd of almost 300.000 visitors! They all come to see an enjoy what the Austrian Air Force has to offer, along with a truly mouthwatering list of foreign participants. For the photographers onboard the Skyvan photoship, it is three days of intense photoflying with opportunities like you don’t get anywhere in the world. Our Aviation PhotoCrew as fortunate and privileged to celebrate our third close corporation with the Austrian Air Force.



The home-team showed us a stellar line up of what is flying In the Alpine country today. Both trainers showed up in a 7-ship formation, 3 of the new DA40NG basic trainers and 4 of the well-known PC-7. Much to the delight of the photographers, one of the 4-ship was the special paint blue PC-7. The timings of arrival do not always match up, and so we were not able to welcome the PC-6 and OH-58’s, something to look forward to for the next edition! While the previous edition of Airpower brought us the final chance to see the Alouette III, this time we got the premiere of the brand new AW169, a very photogenic helicopter with that bright red and white rotors! And of course we also got the all-time classic from the Huey family, the AB212.


		The afterburners came to the Skyvan photoship as well, with a 3-ship of the Zeltweg based Typhoons, all in special colors. We were treated with a spectacular private airshow of 20 minutes, smoke, lots of noise and most of all everyone smiling big time.



When we fly a big project, we always try to plan some photoflying time for the ‘local stars’, aircraft that do not necessarily come to the airshow, but take great fun and pleasure in participating in the air to air action. Those were plenty as well this time with the Zlin, Skytexters, Pilatus P2 and Epsilon. Several aircraft of the large static show came to say hello to the Skyvan photoship before flying into Zeltweg airbase.




Of course you have the super collection of the Flying Bulls, spoiling us this time with two Bo-105, the Cobra and B-25. A first for us was the Dornier 28, the Diamond formation, S-211 and DC-3 were happy returning pilots.





		Helicopters and mountains as a backdrop go really well together, as we got to experience with the Czech Sokol, German Tiger and heavy duty CH-53.



The German Navy brought us the classic P-3C Orion, but every opportunity can be the last now, as they are scheduled to go out of service fairly soon. For the photographers with a big love for loud noise – so all of them – the German Air Force sent a pair of Eurofighters and a two-ship Tornado, both is spectacular colors, brilliant to see them flying a tight two-ship at the slower Skyvan photoship speed.




More colors were in the Austrian skies with the Turkish ‘TigerMeet’ F-16, while the Hellenic Air Force presented their Viper in an operational scheme. A Belgian Air Force F-16 is nowadays a rare treat, only a few years left! Italy sent the RSV Squad with the Spartan, 2 Typhoons and M346. Another Master from the International Flight Training School joined us, and as it happened the German Typhoons were next, so there comes your unique formation set up!










Hornets as well in the stellar photoflying line up, with two from the Finnish Air Force, tack sharp on time and presenting us all of the briefed maneuvers. The Swiss Air Force participated with only one F-18, but the demopilot ‘Frodo’ was eager that he could give us a very dynamic private airshow as well!



		MORE JETS!! No problem with a giant airshow like Airpower, the Czech Air Force gave us a chance to catch the rather rare L-159 ALCA. Aerobatic teams are something pretty special to see showing up behind the Skyvan, as our speed can be often a problem to stay in formation. It is never a problem for the photos, as they can also make a flyby underneath us. The Croatian ‘Wings of Storm’ demonstrated both that skills, big trails of smoke included.



Out biggest wish coming true was to see Patrouille Suisse ( starting with a unique 7-ship flyby ) as also their days are numbered and the agile F-5E jets are the only ones left flying in Europe. What nobody expected, the solojet of the team managed to hang on to us for a truly unforgettable moment, FAN-TAS-TIC! We knew that the time for the flybys was limited, and after the thrill with the solo we got the ultimate ‘encore’ when the full team flew side by side with the Skyvan. Unfortunately it was backlit at the time, but the view alone to see that a team with supersonic jets could just hang on to us… Thunderbirds take note!! Once again the Airpower photoflights were a smashing success. The next edition will be most likely in 2027, while a couple of rather ‘interesting’ airshow acts might be in Europe at that time. Book your seats now!