Old Station Airshow 2025

Article and images by Caelan McDougall

After a three-year hiatus, the Old Station Airshow returned with a bang. The 2025 edition was held in Raglan from May 23 to 25 and was the biggest yet, with over 11,000 attendees, more than 250 aircraft flying in for the weekend, and over 1,000 people camping at the airfield. Held on the Creed family’s cattle property, the Old Station Airshow began in 1989 as a barbecue and local fly-in. Since then, it has grown to include truck, car, and motorcycle displays, tractor pulling, evening concerts, and a Saturday night fireworks show. The airshow draws a crowd several dozen times larger than the local population, transforming the quiet town into a bustling hub and providing a significant boost to the local economy, with all proceeds donated back to the community each year.

The flying program did not fail to impress the thousands gathered at the runway’s edge for an afternoon of thrilling displays. Highlights included performances from the Paul Bennet Airshows team, the Warplanes Pty Ltd T-28B Trojan flown by Ross Parker, R-Mach Aviation’s Turbo Thrush flown by Peter McDonald, and the Bishopp Aviation P-51D Mustang flown by Cameron Rolph-Smith, who also brought the stunning Spitfire Mk XI. To top off the afternoon, Emma McDonald debuted her new brand in the Extra 300L with Team Beyond Gravity.

Before the show even started the team from Machjet International arrived in style in their massive Transall C160, VH-RPR. On arrival they showed off the speed of the C160 with a 200kt low pass down the runway.

In true Paul Bennet Airshows fashion, the show opened with Paul Bennett spiraling his Wolf Pitts Pro around a skydiver descending from the R-Mach Aviation Cessna 185.

Once the skydiver was safely on the ground, Paul gave the audience a teaser of what was to come – one of the best country airshows in Australia. Looping and rolling through the treeline, Glenn Graham flew the first aerobatic display of the day in the PBA Yak-52.

As soon as Glenn was on the ground, Emma McDonald took to the skies in her Extra 300L for her first display as Team Beyond Gravity.

Shortly after Emma landed, Peter McDonald blasted off in the R-Mach Aviation Turbo Thrush to give the crowd a crop dusting demonstration. Much like previous displays, Peter kept it low and hugged the terrain, weaving around trees and flying over the hills.

He concluded his performance with a simulated firefighting drop on the hill at centre show.

To keep the action rolling, PBA Grumman TBM Avenger took to the skies. The roar of the Wright R-2600 engine never fails to draw eyes across the airfield as it thunders down the runway.

Following the Avenger, Paul Bennet returned in the Wolf Pitts Pro. Looping, rolling, and tumbling through the display box, he showed the crowd why he’s one of Australia’s premier airshow pilots.

Almost immediately after Paul cleared the runway, Cameron Rolph-Smith appeared in the Bishopp Aviation P-51D Mustang. He left the crowd speechless as he flew the Mustang like he stole it, the sound of the V12 Merlin engine echoing off the surrounding hills.

Next, Ross Parker demonstrated the capabilities of his T-28B Trojan. Like the others, he danced through the terrain, putting on a spectacular show for all in attendance.

Following Ross, Glenn Graham returned in the Edge 540. Rolling at over 400 degrees per second and pulling up to 12G, Glenn ducked and weaved through the terrain in another breathtaking display.

For the first time at the Old Station Airshow, the crowd was treated to not one but two incredible pieces of history: the Pays Aviation P-40E Kittyhawk and the Helifan Spitfire Mk IX. Flown by Paul Bennet and Cameron Rolph-Smith respectively, the two Rolls-Royce Merlin-powered aircraft conducted several formation flypasts, leaving eyes glued skyward.

  After the formation, the Spitfire broke away, leaving Paul in the P-40 to showcase its maneuverability.

A highlight for many was Cameron Rolph-Smith’s solo display in the Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX. In true style, he kept the Spitfire low and fast, making all the noise he could with its massive Merlin engine. Using the terrain to full effect, he threw the aircraft around the sky, demonstrating both its power and agility.

To close an incredible afternoon of flying, Paul Bennet and Glenn Graham returned in the Wolf Pitts Pro and Edge 540 for a rare two-ship Sky Aces display.

Raglan is a small town of just 140 people, but the Creed family hosts an incredible airshow that rivals even the biggest in the country. The Old Station Airshow is truly an event not to be missed.