An RAAF Mirage III jet fighter outside the hangers at Parafield Airport, along with a Sabre jet (behind the Mirage jet), and a mounted section of a jet engine. Note the airport control tower in the background.

I went to the Parafield Fly-In at Parafield Airport, north of Adelaide, on Sunday 18th March 2007. From the photographs, it doesn't really look like the middle of March in Adelaide, which can have very hot and dry weather conditions.

A Westpac rescue helicopter comes in to land just behind some of the aircraft in the display (right to left: a De Havilland Chipmunk trainer, a red with silver painted De Havilland Tiger Moth, a cream-coloured Pitts Special, and a North American T-28 Trojan, as painted for the US Navy).

This is a very well-known World War 2 fighter from the USA, though it is painted up in RAF (or maybe RAAF) colours.

This is a beautifully maintained aircraft that was originally manufactured around 95 years ago. I have seen several Tiger Moths flying low and slow over Adelaide during ANZAC Day ceremonies. They look and sound fabulous up in the sky, especially when flying in a formation of 4 or 5 aircraft.

This is another well-known World War 2 fighter from the USA. It is a fascinating design, with twin engines, a short-ish cockpit pod between the two engines, two tail beams, etc.

Spitfires were famous British fighters used in World War 2. I assume the scale of this aircraft was close to full size (maybe 0.8 size, or similar). The owner-pilot-builder of this aircraft sits proudly inside the aircraft. It is interesting that he chose to build a scale replica of the original.

The pilot’s hard helmet rests on the front of the windscreen. The passenger, with headphones on, sits behind the pilot.

The sound of the Packard V-1650-7 engine was sensational!

Some of these aircraft were used during the Vietnam War.

The interesting thing with this formation of aircraft is that they are all different types.

An interesting aircraft designed and built in Australia. Apparently, it is a very stable 3-seat air trainer.

The Parafield Fly-In was a tremendous event, with an excellent atmosphere.

It is interesting that many of the more charismatic historic aircraft that are shown at such an event are war planes. I guess war planes gain a certain reputation amongst the people who look on from the outside of the realities of fighting. War planes have also typically undergone quick development cycles, hopefully fixing earlier problems that were found out through grim trial and error processes.