Aerobatic display planned for New Years Eve celebrations

  • 2013-12-13
All eyes will be looking up on New Year’s Eve when Mooloolaba and Caloundra revellers are treated to an aerobatics display over Kings Beach.

A festive spirit surrounds the event, which will feature a Yak 52 Russian aircraft, aptly dubbed Rudolph due to the fact that it sports a big red nose.

Last week Santa traded his sleigh for a seat in the cockpit of the plane which is operated by Warbirds Sunshine Coast for aerobatic adventure flights.

Arthur Jackson, a former Air Force serviceman and part owner of the plane, said the Yak had been a part of New Year’s Eve celebrations two years ago and that he was looking forward to displaying it again this year. He said it was a Russian trainer aircraft used for military pilots.

Since the early 90s, many Yak 52s have been exported to western countries such as Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States. The aircraft first flew in 1976 and the model is still being manufactured. So far, an estimated 1,800 have been produced.

Several features enable its use for aerial aerobatics, including retractable tricycle landing gear which offers a useful level of drag in down manoeuvres as well as a measure of protection in the case of the plane landing `wheels up’.

The Sunshine Coast’s version, with its huge red nose, would make a great image for catalogue and poster printing.

In the meantime, sitting at the controls for the New Year’s Eve flight will be local pilot Tony Chamberlain, who is keen to help residents and visitors bring in 2014 in an exciting way.