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MMPI Aviation Photography

Showcasing the aviation photography of Mick McKean, based in Brisbane, Australia.

09/09/2026

USMC Bell Boeing MV-22B Osprey 168345 of VMM-268 (Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268) "Red Dragons" performing its handling display at Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2026. They put on a good performance, showcasing the aircraft's ability to hover, move any direction at the hover and transition to high speed flight.
Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

04/09/2026

Pays Air Services Supermarine Spitfire T.IX VH-TR9 performing its handling display at Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2026. In comments I'll post history of this airframe from the owner's website.
Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

30/08/2026

North American P-51D Mustang VH-FST "the Flying Undertaker/Snooks 6th" in action at the Watts for Breakfast August 2026 fly-in event. One lucky punter won a 20 minute adventure ride, thanks to Fighter Pilot Adventure Flights for supporting this event.
Watts Bridge Memorial Airfield, Cressbrook, Queensland, Australia.
Queensland Warbirds and Vintage Aircraft Association

23/08/2026

Beech D18S VH-FID performing its handling display at Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2026. I think this was my first time seeing the type in flight, I was impressed by the bank angles the pilots put this classic machine through and running two smoke trails made for some nice photos.
Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
This aircraft flew was built 1948 and flew in the USA as N628B until 1961. It was imported to Australia and flew with Flinders Island Airlines from June 1961. Later it was operated by the Melbourne Herald Group, used for delivering newspapers. In 1979 it became part of the Malcolm Long collection and was made airworthy with Panama Jacks Vintage Aircraft at Canning Bridge, WA. Passing through several owners around Australia, from 2020 it is currently owned by Doug Hamilton of VIC. Although this airframe never served with the RAAF, it is currently displayed with WWII RAAF roundels as a tribute, although I can find no reference to the type serving with the RAAF.
Airshow Gold Coast 2026

22/08/2026

U.S. Navy Boeing P-8A Poseidon 169547 of Patrol Squadron 47 (VP-47) “the Golden Swordsmen” performing its handling display at Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2026.
Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

19/08/2026

The Southern Knights Formation Team performing their formation display at Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2026. They put on an excellent display of close formation aerobatic manoeuvres in their Harvards/T6/SNJs, with that distinctive drone from the two-bladed prop tips breaking the sound barrier.
Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Sony A7RV + Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM + Sony 1.4X TC

17/08/2026

Warplanes Pty Ltd's North American T-28B Trojan VH-RPX taxiing for takeoff at the Watts for Breakfast August 2026 fly-in event.
Watts Bridge Memorial Airfield, Cressbrook, Queensland, Australia.
Sony A7RIV + Sony FE 24-105mm F4
1/80sec | f/18 | ISO 160 | 54 mm (effective FL)
Queensland Warbirds and Vintage Aircraft Association

13/08/2026

Supermarine Spitfire HF Mk VIII VH-A58 in action at the Watts for Breakfast August 2026 fly-in event. This beautifully restored machine carries the markings of RAAF A58-484 CR-C, one of the three Spitfires assigned for personal use of 1st Fighter Wing Commander Clive "Killer" Caldwell, DSO, DFC & Bar who was the leading Australian air ace of World War II.
Watts Bridge Memorial Airfield, Cressbrook, Queensland, Australia.

11/08/2026

Kennedy Aviation's recently-acquired North American P-51D Mustang VH-AK5 at the Watts for Breakfast August 2026 fly-in event. At the time I photographed it was under tow from the fuel station, with towbar attached. Looking fantastic in a highly polished finish, it is on the list of performers at next weeks' Pacific Airshow on the Gold Coast - I can't wait to see her in flight.
Watts Bridge Memorial Airfield, Cressbrook, Queensland, Australia.
AIRCRAFT HISTORY
===============
This airframe was built 1945 by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) as a CA-18-Mk 22 and served with RAAF until decommissioning in 1958. It was owned for several years by Fawcett Aviation of Bankstown, NSW. In 1968 it was relocated to the USA, restored as USAAF s/n 45-11483 c/r N4674V and raced at various US air races over several years. In another guise in the 1970s it was used as a chase plane for the Piper Enforcer close air support aircraft development. In 1991 a change of markings applied the name "Best Years of Our Lives" and rego change to NL286JB. It was then relocated to France 1991 and was badly damaged there in a forced landing incident at Dijon. In 1994 it was given a new livery (presumably after post-accident repair) as "Short-Fuse Salle" with markings of AJ-T 415622. transported back the USA in 1996, through a few more owners before being acquired by Kennedy Aviation in 2025 and relocated to Australia.

26/04/2026

For ANZAC Day 2026 my wife and I once again travelled to Toowoomba for their ANZAC Day march. Local aviation company Aerotec organises a formation flypast over commemoration ceremonies around the Darling Downs region. I planned to capture them at takeoff but arrived just as they blasted off the the flight so missed out there. I waited for them to return to Toowoomba City Aerodrome and captured them on approach. Following this we went to Queens Park in Toowoomba CBD for the ANZAC Day parade, and caught the formation as they went up for another overflight of that ceremony. Many thanks to owners and pilots of this trio of CAC CA-25 Winjeels ; Matt Handley (VH-XXD A85-436), Stephen Bowtell (VH-NSJ A85-404) and Peter Thompson (VH-XXD A85-455) for performing this valuable contribution to our national day of remembrance.
Lest We Forget.
Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.

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