Cutting-edge electric aircraft, aerial taxis and cargo drones will give Australian International Airshow attendees a glimpse into the future of flying this weekend.
Trade and Investment Minister Tim Pallas launched the state government’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), which will showcase the latest zero-emission aircraft that promise quiet, quick and cost-effective options for moving freight and people – and the prospect of major industry and jobs opportunities.
The Australian International Airshow at Avalon Airport is the biggest event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and tens of thousands of visitors will flow through the gates for three days from 9am, Friday, March 3.
The AAM display hub provides an opportunity for airshow visitors to get up close to next-generation technology.
Port Melbourne-based Swoop Aero manufactures sophisticated drones using 3D printers – these craft have delivered more than 1.3 million medical items in Australia, Asia, Europe and Africa.
Clayton-based Kite Magnetics, spun out of Monash University, has released the world’s most powerful air-cooled 120kW electric motor for electric aircraft. The lightweight electric motor is more powerful than a typical small car but weighs only as much as a full suitcase.
“Victoria is the innovation state and we’ve identified Advanced Air Mobility as an area of great opportunity – for jobs and industry as well as for zero-emissions transport and travel,” Mr Pallas said.
“Businesses like Swoop Aero and Kite Magnetics are showing the way in Victoria and we’ll work with the community and the Commonwealth to develop a safe, reliable and sustainable industry.”
Meanwhile, visitors to the Deakin exhibition space at the airshow will be able to participate in a world-first ‘Virtual Production’ experience, recording a video of themselves flying in the cockpit of a jet.
It’s a sneak peek into Deakin’s new partnership with Dreamscreen Australia, a virtual production studio that combines video game technology with traditional film production via highly advanced LED screens, at scales of over 20 metres wide.
It can simulate any environment imaginable and display it at scale, allowing actors and filmmakers to tell stories without the boundaries of where you can fly or what you can build on a soundstage. The virtual jet-pilot experience will enable Avalon Airshow visitors a glimpse into these capabilities.
