Today the program presentation of the “Airpower 2024” took place in Hangar 5 of the Hinterstoisser Air Base in Zeltweg. “Airpower 2024” took place. In addition to an “Argonauts” world premiere with 25 aircraft of the Austrian Armed Forces the highlight will be a solo display of an American F-35A from the F-35 Lightning II demo team of the US Air Force (-> current news about the US Armed Forces), flown by display pilot Captain Melanie “Mach” Kluesner.
The Austrian Air Force will also present an interception demonstration with two Eurofighters and a C-130 followed by a performance demonstration, i.e. a so-called “dog-fight” demonstration by two Eurofighters. Other fixed points were already at the press conference last October had already been mentioned: For example, the The Embraer C-390M transport aircraft, which the Austrian Armed Forces chose as the successor to its ageing Hercules transport aircraft Hercules transport aircraft and flight demonstrations of possible successors to the Saab 105OE fleet, which was decommissioned at the end of 2020 will be on display.
In terms of military aircraft, Flying Displays will also feature an A-400M from the German Armed Forcestwo solo displays of Eurofighters or an F-16 and F-18. This was announced by Air Chief Major General Gerfried Promberger, Airpower Project Manager Brigadier Wolfgang Prieler, Styrian Governor Christopher Drexler, Display Director Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Ploder and Flying Bulls fixed-wing pilot Ludwig Reiter (-> Flying Bulls prepare for “Airpower 2024”) today at the press conference. “I am particularly looking forward
to a solo display of one of our S-70 Black Hawks as well as a flight demonstration of our new AW169 Lion.
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Air Chief Generalmajor Gerfried Promberger
“I am particularly looking forward to a solo display of one of our S-70 Black Hawks as well as a flight demonstration of our new AW169 Lion,” said Major General Promberger, who as Air Chief is also responsible for the overall “Airpower” program. Other jet and propeller training aircraft on display will include M-346s from Leonardo (Italy), L-39NGs (Czech Republic) and PC-9Ms (Slovenia).
In international seasons – as reported as reported – will include the Spanish Patrulla Aguila with its Casa C-101 and, above all, the Patrouille Suisse with its Northrop F-5E Tiger II. The Krila Oluje with 6 PC-9Ms, the Red Bull Blanix Team, the Czech Flying Bulls Aerobatics Team and the Horsemen Flight Team with three historic North American P-51 Mustangs will also be there. Unfortunately, the Frecce Tricolori, popular regular guests from past Airpower events, will be missing – Major General Promberger: “Unfortunately, there was a scheduling conflict. The Frecce Tricoloi are about to go on tour in the US and unfortunately won’t be back in Europe in time.”
“We are breaking new ground with the argonautensage: the entire signature landscape of the Mur Valley and the backdrop of the Hinterstoisser airbase will become playing fields for choreography in this display.”
Display Director Oberstleutnant Thomas Ploder
The Austrian Armed Forces’ “Argonauts” flying display will also be a real premiere, In this display, 25 aircraft will show all the capabilities of the air forces in combination with ground and special vehicles of the land forces simultaneously for the first time – and this will be integrated into a dramaturgical production by the artist network lawine torrén based on the historical material of the “Argonaut Saga” and with specially composed music, which will be played by more than 140 musicians of the Austrian military music. The work was composed by the well-known composer and arranger Tristan Schulze. https://militaeraktuell.at/spotter-tages-packages-fuer-die-airpower-gewinnen/ The Argonauts saga is a complex of themes from Greek mythology and is about the journey of Iason and his companions to Colchis in the Caucasus, the search for the Golden Fleece and its theft. The travel companions are called the Argonauts after their legendarily fast ship, the Argo. “We are breaking new ground here: the entire signature landscape of the Mur Valley and the backdrop of the Hinterstoisser airbase will become playing fields for choreographies in this display, which will involve Austrian Armed Forces aircraft, soldiers, dancers and actors as well as some ground and special vehicles of the Austrian Armed Forces on an equal footing in a narrative structure between film and theater,” says Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Ploder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FIsfBFVGWc There will also be a completely new show about medium and long-range air defense and the Sky Shield missile shield (-> Austria has joined the Sky Shield Initiative), where visitors will also be able to view the corresponding weapon systems.
“This year’s ‘Airpower 2024’ offers an unprecedented program with numerous highlights and premieres.
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Verteidigungsministerin Klaudia Tanner
Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner was unable to attend the press conference today due to the state funeral of former Federal Chancellor Brigitte Bierlin taking place at the same time. However, she was quoted in an official Army press release as follows: “I am delighted that, together with our partners Red Bull and the Province of Styria, we will once again provide an important tourist and economic boost in the region with ‘Airpower 2024’.
This year, ‘Airpower 2024’ will also offer an unprecedented program with numerous highlights and premieres.” https://militaeraktuell.at/schnell-einfach-und-stressfrei-zur-airpower-2024/ Minister Tanner continues: “According to current planning, a total of 206 aircraft from more than 20 nations will be on display. Around 60 aircraft will be presented in the static display. The Austrian Armed Forces will be present at ‘Airpower 2024’ with over 40 aircraft and The Flying Bulls with 37 aircraft. Visitors will be able to get a first-hand impression of what our air forces are capable of. And what new aircraft we will be getting in the coming years.”
Project manager Brigadier Prieler emphasized the operational nature of the mega air show: “In military terms, ‘Airpower 2024’ is not really an exercise or an event, but rather a real operation. What has to work immediately and right away is the interaction with the international military aviation guests – be it flying in to Zeltweg, supplying the foreign participants, practicing the displays, adhering to common flight safety rules, perfectly functioning air traffic control, the operational readiness of the airport fire department, the preparation by the military meteorological service or working together under high time pressure on the two days of the event.” Prieler continues: “There is no possibility of rehearsing again, there is simply no room for error.”
“In military terms, Airpower 2024 is not really an exercise or an event, but rather a real operation.
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Projektleiter Brigadier Wolfgang Prieler
Airpower 2024 will also be supported by a team of environmental protection and sustainability specialists, which will be coordinated and managed by a dedicated “Sustainability” staff unit. “As a result, special attention is currently being paid to all aspects of sustainability during the planning and implementation phases and the aspects of climate protection, environmental protection, sustainability and waste avoidance are being considered and implemented throughout the entire organization,” says Tanner.
2022 achieved a reduction in theCO2 balance of 18 percent per visitor, 100 percentCO2 compensation made the “Airpower 2022” a climate-neutral event. Further savings in theCO2 balance are planned for 2024, primarily through the new transportation concept with an increase in public travel and an improved waste management concept – in addition to a large number of other planned individual measures. https://militaeraktuell.at/rheinmetall-man-1-515-lkw-fuer-die-bundeswehr/ To cater for the departure peaks of the expected 300,000 spectators on the two days of the event, there will also be program offerings such as a cinema film screening (Top Gun: Maverick), a “Meet the Pilots Corner” or military music performances until 7 p.m. at the event site after the end of flight operations. There will also be a separate children’s area on site from 7.30 am until the end of the flight demonstrations (5.00 pm). In his speech, Styrian Governor Drexler referred to the enormous added value of the air show for the Murtal region and Styria as a whole: “Airpower generates additional overnight stays and brings a total added value of around nine million euros to Styria. In addition, the event offers us a good opportunity to present Styria as an innovative business location and diverse tourism destination beyond the state’s borders.”
“Airpower generates additional overnight stays and brings a total added value of around nine million euros to Styria.
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Steiermarks Landeshauptmann Christopher Drexler
The motto of Europe’s largest air show on September 6 and 7 is “Flying. Freedom. Enthusiasm”, organized in cooperation with the Austrian Armed Forces, the Province of Styria and Red Bull. As in previous years, admission is free.
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