The seventh annual Catalina Festival at Rathmines on Saturday will feature some daring aerobatics displays and rare aircraft.
And 1233 will be broadcasting all the action during a special live broadcast from 10am till noon, hosted by Jenny Marchant in place of our usual Treasure Hunter show.
All proceeds from the day's events will go to the Catalina Project, which aims to have a permanent museum and hangar built to house several Catalinas on the former WWII flying-boat base.
Jenny will find out about the rich history of Rathmines and the museum plans, sample some hot-air ballooning (weather permitting!) and hear what life was like on the Catalina base from someone who was there during the war.
She's already had a chat with international aerobatics pilot Paul Bennet, who'll be doing a series of handling displays in some rare planes on the day. (listen to attached audio)
Paul will circle a parachutist in a Pitts Special, as well as giving a low-level aerobatics display in a WWII Wirraway.
"We do all the crazy stuff," he told Jenny.
"It's dangerous, there's no doubt about that, but it's a calculated risk.
"If you put in the right amount of practice and you've got the right mindset for it, I guess that limits the risk a little bit.
"But yeah, there's no doubt it's risky and we've gotta make sure we do it as safe as possible."
As well as aviation displays the festival includes two live entertainment stages, amusement rides and markets.
Last year the festival, which is the largest community event held in Lake Macquarie, attracted more than 10,000 people and this year is expected to be even bigger.
The attractions include aerobatics by Paul Bennet and Matt Hall, vintage and classic cars and motorcycles, a petting zoo and vintage farm machinery.
The aviation program features Tiger Moths, gyro copters, an Avenger, Orion PC3 and of course a Catalina.
There'll also be food and market stalls, live entertainment, rides, face painters, with attendance from the Air League, Air Force Cadets, Royal Aeronautical Society and the Guild of Air Pilots.
The festival will also host the inaugural Australian Sea Plane Pilots Convention.
Gates open at 8am, with the main activities between 10am and 3pm.
Festival entry is $10 per adult, $5 per pensioner or child 12-18, with children under 12 free.
You can find more information at the Rathmines Catalina Festival website.
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