Canberra’s annual Skyfire, with music simulcast on FM 104.7 in sync with the fireworks, will have an added dimension this year with the RAAF coming to the party.

A F/A-18 Hornet and a F-111 combat jet will be flying over Canberra
on Saturday 10 March to support the Australian War Memorial Open Day and the Skyfire event performing a spectacular “dump and burn”.

The Air Force media release said, “Assistance from the media is sought in notifying Canberra residents of an increase in aircraft noise during these activities”. Presumably from zero to really, really loud!

The Hornet will track from Black Mountain to Lake Burley Griffin and then
overfly ANZAC Parade, passing directly over the Australian War Memorial at 1000 feet (approximately 300 metres) and at a speed of 400 knots
(approximately 740 kilometres). The Hornet will then climb from the area
over Mt Ainslie before returning to RAAF Base Williamtown.

Later on, a single F-111 will approach Canberra at low level of 500 feet
(approximately 170 metres), flying overhead Lake Burley Griffin at a speed
of 360 knots (approximately 740 kilometres per hour) and then conduct a
climbing dump and burn heading east.

The dump and burn will start at the western end of the lake and will
continue along the lake at a level altitude before climbing in the vicinity
of Kings Avenue. The aircraft will climb to 28,000 feet (approximately 8500
metres) while tracking back to the north once overhead Canberra airport. The dump will last approximately 20ˆ30 seconds and will continue as the aircraft climbs.