Australian warplanes weave their way between Brisbane skyscrapers

Australian fighter jet and cargo plane weave their way between skyscrapers in incredible display of skill for Brisbane festival

  • A C-17A Globemaster cargo plane and an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter plane flew over Brisbane on Saturday
  • Many Brisbane residents stepped out onto their balconies to see the planes fly past under the setting sun 
  • The stunt as part of the annual Riverfire festival has previously drawn criticism and even comparisons to 9/11 

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A pair of Australian Air Force jets weaved their way between Brisbane’s skyscrapers in an extraordinary display of skill on Saturday night.  

A C-17A Globemaster cargo plane and an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter plane flew low over the Brisbane skyline, coming as close as 300 feet to the buildings, to mark the Queensland city’s annual Riverfire event. 

Many Brisbane residents stepped out onto their balconies to see the Australian Defence Force planes fly past under the setting sun. 

Both the planes, which also flew over Brisbane for rehearsals two days earlier, are manufactured by Boeing and operated by Australian Air Force squadrons which are based in Queensland. 

Group Captain Robert Graham promised a ‘spectacular demonstration of our pilots’ expertise’ in the final event of what was billed as ‘Queensland’s largest arts and cultural event’.  

However, the stunt has previously drawn criticism from residents who said it reminded them of the September 11 attacks and warned that even a ‘small mistake’ could prove catastrophic. 

A C-17A Globemaster cargo plane marked with the insignia of the Royal Australian Air Force banks to the right as it flies between Brisbane’s skyscrapers as part of the city’s Riverfire festival. The four-engine heavy transport aircraft can carry up to three Black Hawk helicopters. The RAAF’s No. 36 Squadron, which is based at RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland, operates eight of the Boeing-designed planes which they purchased between 2006 and 2015

F/A-18F Super Hornet plane

F/A-18F Super Hornet plane

An F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter plane passes a Brisbane skyscraper and flies directly over the roof of the city’s Stamford Plaza hotel. Another Boeing-manufactured plane, the Super Hornet has been in service with the U.S. Navy since 2001 and with the Royal Australian Air Force since 2010. In Australia they are operated by No. 1 Squadron which is also based at RAAF Amberley around 30 miles south-west of Brisbane 

The C-17A plane flies low above the Brisbane skyline as local residents stand on their balconies to take a picture of the unusual sight. The transport planes were involved in retrieving the bodies of Australian victims who died in the MH17 air disaster in 2014 when the Malaysian Airlines jet was shot down over Ukraine

The C-17A plane flies low above the Brisbane skyline as local residents stand on their balconies to take a picture of the unusual sight. The transport planes were involved in retrieving the bodies of Australian victims who died in the MH17 air disaster in 2014 when the Malaysian Airlines jet was shot down over Ukraine 

The C-17A plane banks as it carries out its flypast over the Brisbane skyline on Saturday night. The plane has a 170ft wingspan and a range of nearly 6,500 miles and can be converted to a medical rescue aircraft. The RAAF said the pilots had practised the stunt a number of times in a simulator and also in the plane before flying over the crowds at the festival

The C-17A plane banks as it carries out its flypast over the Brisbane skyline on Saturday night. The plane has a 170ft wingspan and a range of nearly 6,500 miles and can be converted to a medical rescue aircraft. The RAAF said the pilots had practised the stunt a number of times in a simulator and also in the plane before flying over the crowds at the festival

People in one of the skyscrapers look out of the glass windows at the passing Super Hornet. The Boeing jet is equipped with short- and medium-range air-to-air missiles as well as conventional and laser-guided bombs and an AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile. It has a wingspan of 45 feet and a range of nearly 1,700 miles

People in one of the skyscrapers look out of the glass windows at the passing Super Hornet. The Boeing jet is equipped with short- and medium-range air-to-air missiles as well as conventional and laser-guided bombs and an AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile. It has a wingspan of 45 feet and a range of nearly 1,700 miles

Spectators stand on the balconies of their apartment blocks ready for the C-17A cargo plane to pass by on Saturday evening during what was billed as 'Queensland's largest arts and cultural event' in the centre of Brisbane. Group Captain Robert Graham promised a 'spectacular demonstration of our pilots' expertise' during the annual event

Spectators stand on the balconies of their apartment blocks ready for the C-17A cargo plane to pass by on Saturday evening during what was billed as ‘Queensland’s largest arts and cultural event’ in the centre of Brisbane. Group Captain Robert Graham promised a ‘spectacular demonstration of our pilots’ expertise’ during the annual event 

The C-17A cargo plane flies under the setting sun in a spectacular demonstration. Australian military chiefs say the 'transport fleet workhorse' has conducted missions and humanitarian relief as far away as the Middle East and Antarctica. It can carry 70 tonnes of cargo and can be refuelled in-flight

The C-17A cargo plane flies under the setting sun in a spectacular demonstration. Australian military chiefs say the ‘transport fleet workhorse’ has conducted missions and humanitarian relief as far away as the Middle East and Antarctica. It can carry 70 tonnes of cargo and can be refuelled in-flight 

Two days earlier the Globemaster cargo plane flew over the Brisbane River and the city centre under cloudier skies during a rehearsal for the main event on Saturday. Brisbane residents were warned not to fly drones during the cultural event

Two days earlier the Globemaster cargo plane flew over the Brisbane River and the city centre under cloudier skies during a rehearsal for the main event on Saturday. Brisbane residents were warned not to fly drones during the cultural event

The Globemaster flies low over Brisbane during its rehearsal on Thursday. The event has previously attracted criticism from residents who warned after last year's event that it could go 'very wrong' and reminded them of the September 11 attacks

The Globemaster flies low over Brisbane during its rehearsal on Thursday. The event has previously attracted criticism from residents who warned after last year’s event that it could go ‘very wrong’ and reminded them of the September 11 attacks

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