Matt Hall set to star at southern hemisphere’s biggest airshow

Newcastle aviator Matt Hall is set to play a major role in the southern hemisphere’s biggest airshow when he takes flight at the Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition at Avalon in Victoria next month.

On the three public days of the airshow (March 4-6), Hall, who swept all rookie records before him when he debuted in the Red Bull Air Race in 2009, will perform a 10 minute aerobatic display in the same racing aircraft – an MXS-R – that he finished second in during the air race’s Perth round in 2010.

With the air race on a sabbatical Hall is enjoying showing the people of Australia the capabilities of his high performance aircraft having flown his high energy display as part of the City of Sydney New Years Eve celebration, the V8 Supercar event at Sandown and the Defence Force Airshow at Williamtown.

While in Avalon Hall will also perform guest speaking duties at the International Aerospace Congress dinner, the Careers & Skills Professional Development and Student Info forums and the Aviators Function.

“I have a really busy week planned but I cant wait to get down there and get into it,” Hall said.

“The Australian International Airshow at Avalon is the centrepiece of airshows in the southern hemisphere and attracts people from all over the world so I am training hard to make sure I can put on the best display possible.

“I’m really looking forward to the Careers & Skills forums too because if I can influence a couple of kids to follow their dream of a career in aviation then I will walk away from the whole event satisfied.”

Later in the year Hall will fly in airshows in the Barossa Valley, Bundaberg, Ingham and at a number of other major events.

Matt Hall to front Wide Bay Air Show billboards

It’s early in 2011 but Matt Hall has already received a career first.

Hall will be the advertising face of the 2011 Wide Bay Australia International Airshow that will take place in Bundaberg from August 19-21.

The three day ‘Barnstorming Bundaberg’ event was launched by Hall in 2010 and now the former RAAF pilot will front advertising billboards in Gladstone and Caboolture.

“It’s pretty bizarre to think I will be standing up there staring down at the traffic,” Hall laughed on hearing of the plan.

“In all seriousness though this is going to be a great event and I hope in some way these billboards can attract more people to the show.”

For more info on the airshow goo to www.widebayairshow.com.au.

Avalon Airshow shirt and hat fan combo

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Exclusive video of Matt’s New Years Eve flight over Sydney Harbour

Check out this exclusive Matt Hall Racing video from Matt’s flight over Sydney Harbour on New Year’s Eve.

Captured by a combination of an onboard Go-Pro camera (supplied by Race Recall on-board video systems) and several cameras around the harbour foreshore.

Matt’s take on his New Year’s Eve flight over Sydney Harbour

It’s been a while since I have written so I thought i’d write a quick recap on how the Sydney Harbour Display went on new Year’s Eve.

First a little on the back ground which you don’t get to see or hear about normally. We had to present a flight proposal, then risk assessment for each phase of the flight to both CASA and the event organisers, explaining what we would do in the case of emergencies such as engine failures, bird strikes, structural failures etc.

Once this was accepted, we received our display approval from CASA.

For this, I was approved for flight down the Parramatta River at 500’, over the Southern Pylon of the Harbour Bridge, then operations around the Harbour between 500’ and 1000’, remaining greater than 100m away from the shoreline. Additionally, I was allowed to conduct aerobatic manoeuvres in a box between the Opera House and Fort Denison, on an East West axis, so long as I could maintain a separation of at least 200m laterally and 500m toward spectators in this area.

Lastly, we branded the aircraft completely for our sponsor Massel, doing the entire fuselage and wings with a vinyl wrap. This was only completed on New Years Eve before the display.

For the display itself, once I was over the bridge I was quite busy assessing the surface conditions for the aerobatics while maintaining the limits set by CASA, while also manoeuvring the aircraft quite aggressively.

It was one of the few times I had a chance in my display flying to look around at the crowd though, which was quite amazing.

After a quick lap of the Harbour, I assessed that there was an area that satisfied my requirements for aerobatics, and commenced some race style manoeuvring, some rolls, and some inverted flying.

During this time, I was talking with the TV choppers, and pulled up between them to hover with them! That put a smile on my face. Then, a quick hover in front of the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, and it was time to leave out through the Heads.

A 25 minute flight back to Cessnock, via my house in Merewether, then home by 8pm for my own celebrations with friends and family.

All in all, a good day out, and a great way to welcome in the New Year for MHR!

Air race star Hall announces calendar, will fly during Sydney’s New Year’s Eve celebrations

Air race star Matt Hall will end 2010 on a high by flying his MXS-R race plane around the Sydney Harbour foreshore as part of the city’s famed New Year’s Eve Celebrations.

The New Year’s Eve display is just one of several exciting performances Hall announced as part of his new look calendar this week.

The ten minute December 31 display will take place between Goat Island and the Heads from 6pm and will be a highlight in what has been a roller coaster 12 months for the former RAAF fighter pilot.

Hall had an up and down year in 2010, finishing his second season in the Red Bull Air Race World Championships in seventh place despite several brilliant podium finishes, a near crash and the news that the popular global series would take a sabbatical in 2011.

While there are several other high profile appearances still being negotiated by the Matt Hall Racing team, Hall said he was thrilled to be able to announce some great additions to his 2011 program.

Newly added events for 2011 include:

  • Great Eastern Fly In at Evans Head – January 7-10
  • Australia Day Ambassador with Warringah Council – Forestville Community for Australia Day 2011 – January 26
  • Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition (Avalon Airshow) as both a display pilot and guest speaker at several events including the Careers & Skills forum – March 3-6
  • Barossa Airshow as a display pilot and guest speaker at VIP function and school visit – April 29-May 1

“We have been working hard behind the scenes to set up an exciting program of events for next year to enable me to fly in front of as many people as possible and I am pleased with where we stand going into 2011,” Hall said during a break in play at the Jack Newton Celebrity Golf Classic where he joined many of the nation’s top sportsmen and women.

“To be part of the Sydney Harbour New Year’s Eve festivities is mind blowing and to know that I will come to the Avalon and Barossa Airshows in the first half of next year is just awesome.

“Avalon in particular is just a massive honour really, just as it is to be asked to be an Australia Day Ambassador.

“On both occasions I will represent my country with pride.”

The new announcements come off the back of a busy few months where Hall has thrilled crowds at the Defence Force Air Show 2010 at Williamtown, the Red Bull Flugtag on Sydney Harbour, the Sandown round of the V8 Supercars, the Show Us Ya Wheels show in Victoria and as guest speaker at several functions around Australia.

Hall had earlier announced he would fly at the 2011 Wide Bay Australia International Airshow (August 19-21) and the Ingham Wings and Wheels Airshow 2011 (September 3-4) and is hoping to make more announcements in coming months.

“I really enjoyed flying at the V8 Supercar event at Sandown and hopefully I can perform at similar types of events in the future,” Hall said.

“We are holding talks with a number of organisations about flying displays, public appearances and speaking engagements so even without the air race 2011 is looking very exciting.”

Matt Hall Racing store sale

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We have dropped the prices on all items at the Matt Hall Racing eBay store by 10%.

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Video from Matt’s display over Sandown Raceway

Here is some video (courtesy of the Sunday Herald Sun) of Matt flying over Sandown Raceway immediately before the V8 Supercar race on Saturday.

For those heading to the track today or in Australia watching on TV he will fly today just after 1430.