Riverfire 2007 this Saturday
This Saturday evening is Riverfire, the highlight of Brisbane's yearly River Festival. The highlight of Riverfire is of course the F-111's of the Royal Australian Air Force turning kerosene into speed, noise and light with their "dump and burn" flyover. One or two F-111's overfly the Brisbane river opposite the CBD, at a height of about 400 feet (lower than many buildings in the CBD), with their afterburners on, while dumping fuel.
In the daytime, it's impressive: (click for larger version)
But at night, it's awe-inspiring: (click for larger version)
Still images can't really do justice to the first-hand experience of the event. Here's a video that will give you a better idea of what it's like:
[Other videos here, here and here]
Alas, it still doesn't capture the raw energy of the real thing. I love the smell of Jet-A in the evening. The F-111's won't be flying forever -- Australia is the last country in the world to fly the F-111, and they are scheduled to be retired in 2010. Riverfire is a fantastic opportunity to see them up close and personal, while you still can.
In the daytime, it's impressive: (click for larger version)
But at night, it's awe-inspiring: (click for larger version)
Still images can't really do justice to the first-hand experience of the event. Here's a video that will give you a better idea of what it's like:
[Other videos here, here and here]
Alas, it still doesn't capture the raw energy of the real thing. I love the smell of Jet-A in the evening. The F-111's won't be flying forever -- Australia is the last country in the world to fly the F-111, and they are scheduled to be retired in 2010. Riverfire is a fantastic opportunity to see them up close and personal, while you still can.
That daytime shot of the F-111 is sweet.
Good luck this Saturday if you're out around the traps, I'm going to try to shoot from Bartley's Lookout for a skyline-style shot.