ADF Take to the Skies to Honour Australia
Article by Nate Newman
Images by Nate Newman, Lachy McKay, Laurence Yang, Caelan McDougall
Australia Day each year is a key event on the Australian Defence Force calendar, with flyovers and aerial displays taking place across the country in support of national celebrations. In 2026, the ADF once again delivered a strong nationwide presence, with flyovers conducted across five states and territories, showcasing a broad mix of frontline and heritage aircraft.
One of the most anticipated highlights was the return of the Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II aerial display over Sydney Harbour. Making its first Australia Day appearance in the city since 2022, the F-35A reclaimed its place after the role was filled by the Roulettes aerobatic team in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Display pilot Kurt “KP” Pearce put the fifth-generation fighter through a dynamic routine, marking its first public display of the year. The demonstration featured crowd-favourite manoeuvres such as the Lightning’s signature minimum radius turn and an impressive vertical departure, underscoring both the aircraft’s agility and its cutting-edge capability.
New South Wales also saw strong Royal Australian Navy representation, with a MH-60R Seahawk helicopter from 725 Squadron at HMAS Albatross, Nowra. The Seahawk conducted a highly visible and symbolic sortie into Sydney Harbour, landing at HMAS Penguin before lifting off with a large Australian flag proudly streamed from its undercarriage. The helicopter then conducted multiple passes along Sydney’s coastline, remaining airborne for over an hour as thousands of spectators looked on, before returning safely to Nowra.
Sydney was not the only location to receive fast jet attention, however. The F-35A also conducted a flyover of Nelson Bay, extending the reach of the Australia Day celebrations beyond the capital city. Meanwhile, in the ACT, Lake Burley Griffin played host to an E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft, highlighting the ADF’s command-and-control capabilities. Adding a strong historical element to the Canberra celebrations was the participation of No. 100 Squadron’s CAC Wirraway, representing the Air Force’s flying heritage and connecting modern operations with Australia’s aviation past.
Outside of New South Wales and the ACT, celebrations continued across the country. In Victoria, the Roulettes aerobatic team once again took to the skies, filling the Sydney Harbour role they have held in recent years. Flying over Government House in Melbourne, the display marked the second public appearance of the new 2026 Roulettes team, following their debut at Geelong’s Festival of Sails on January 24. The tight formations and precise aerobatics were met with enthusiastic crowds lining the city’s vantage points.
South Australia’s capital was treated to a flyover by a Royal Australian Air Force Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from No. 11 Squadron, showcasing one of the ADF’s key surveillance and anti-submarine warfare platforms. Further west, Western Australia saw multiple flyovers across Perth, with Hawk 127 Lead-In Fighter Trainers taking part in celebrations throughout the city, adding a distinctly fast-jet flavour to the day.
Across the country, Australia Day 2026 once again highlighted the breadth of the ADF’s capabilities, from frontline combat aircraft and surveillance platforms to naval aviation and historic warbirds, all while engaging with communities and honouring the service of current and former Defence personnel.
