VICTORIA, Australia — The “Golden Swordsmen” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 47 and the unit’s P-8 Poseidon will participate in the Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition 2019 at Avalon Airport in Geelong, Victoria, Australia, Feb. 26.
The Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition is one of Australia’s premiere biennial aerospace exhibition, trade and airshows.
“Our participation will strengthen our ties and working relationships with our Australian counterparts as well as our other partners within the Indo-Pacific,” said Senior Chief Aviation Structural Mechanic (Equipment) Ronald Lilley, VP-47 Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition detachment senior enlisted leader. “It is important to all of us that we have this cohesion of services to operate in the diverse environments that we deploy to.”
VP-47 will join the Royal Australian Air Force, Army, and Navy as well as air forces from France, Japan, New Zealand, Malaysia, and Singapore.
“We have had the opportunity to work with our Australian allies on numerous exercises throughout the Pacific, including Sea Dragon, our most recent exercise in Guam and RIMPAC this past summer in Hawaii,” said Lt. Derek Hinkley VP-47 Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition detachment officer in charge. “Working with them at this airshow will allow us to see familiar faces as well as continue our great partnership.”
VP-47’s P-8 Poseidon will be on display throughout both days of the trade show and will conduct a flight demonstration during the general public days. The last event held in 2017 included 664 companies from 25 countries, 158 delegations and more than 33,000 accredited trade attendances, with a total event attendance of 210,664.
“I expect to receive a ton of positive feedback from our counterparts and especially from the general public,” said Lilley. “Most people have probably flown in a Boeing 737 and I'm sure the P-8A will peak their interest. I’m anticipating some pretty awesome displays of airpower.”
The "Golden Swordsmen" are currently deployed to Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan, conducting maritime patrol and reconnaissance and theater outreach operations within the U.S. 7th Fleet (C7F) area of operations in support of Commander, Task Force 72, C7F, and U.S. Pacific Command objectives throughout the Indo-Pacific region.