Lacking Star Power?
Jointly organised by the Austrian Armed Forces, Red Bull and the Province of Styria, AIRPOWER has established itself as one of the largest airshows in Europe, with 250,000 people flocking to Hinterstoisser Air Base across the 6th and 7th of September 2024.
Military participants from 12 nations contributed to an eight‑and‑a‑half‑hour flying display, including a strong Austrian Air Force presence, with at least one of every type in their inventory taking to the air. The EF2000 pair proved a crowd favourite, opening with a mock intercept of an Austrian C‑130K Hercules before transitioning into a dynamic routine of air combat manoeuvres, complete with synchro elements woven throughout. Further Austrian fixed‑wing representation came from the DA‑40s and PC‑7s, flying a 3‑ship and 4‑ship respectively, in a series of relaxed combined flypasts, before a single PC‑7 broke away for a solo routine.
Recent AIRPOWER shows have featured bespoke set pieces showcasing Austrian Air Force assets — the 2016 edition included a helicopter combat demonstration, while 2022 bid farewell to the Alouette III with nine‑ship flypasts. For 2024, organisers attempted something different: an aviation interpretation of the Jason and the Argonauts myth. It’s difficult to articulate just how bizarre this 30‑minute “production” was, as nothing quite like it has ever been attempted at an airshow — and perhaps for good reason. Twenty‑five aircraft and helicopters, covering every type in Austrian service, appeared in sporadic flypasts or loose formations to represent elements of the story, while vehicles, dancers and actors attempted to convey the narrative on the ground. The result was a hugely anticlimactic end to the flying display: the aerial elements were irregular, the emphasis on the actors was excessive, and for anyone unfamiliar with the myth, the entire sequence made little sense. Despite its oddity, the routine did offer a couple of positives — it marked the public debut of the AW169 in Austrian service, and it delivered one of the show’s standout moments as 12 helicopters (4× OH‑58B, 1× AW169MA, 4× AB212 and 3× S‑70A‑42) hovered at varying heights to depict a rolling sea wave.
AIRPOWER24 could be seen as a victim of its own past successes, with this year’s show lacking a true stand‑out star item. Historically, the event has featured a healthy representation of Eastern Bloc types in the flying display — such as 2022’s Croatian MiG‑21 or 2019’s Polish Su‑22 Fitter — but that wasn’t the case in 2024. Instead, the fast‑jet contingent consisted of the more familiar European solos: Hellenic F‑16 “Zeus,” Swiss and Finnish Hornets, Reparto Sperimentale di Volo EF2000 and T‑346, plus Gripens from Hungary and Czechia. While each of these displays is individually excellent — particularly the flare‑laden Finnish Air Force F/A‑18C — the show lacked that single moment when the crowd collectively leans forward to catch a glimpse of the headline act.
That said, the United States Air Force F‑35A Lightning II demo made a rare European appearance at AIRPOWER, using one of four jets from the Vermont Air National Guard’s 158th Fighter Wing that were on base to exercise with the Austrian Air Force in the week following the show. However, for a fifth‑generation fighter, the demonstration was somewhat underwhelming; it lacked the punch and fluidity of the European solos and spent considerable time repositioning outside the display box between passes.
AIRPOWER24 was well supported by the German Armed Forces, with multiple participants from the Air Force, Army and Navy. The flying display featured four German assets, highlighting the nation’s strong return to the European airshow scene after nearly two decades of predominantly static‑only appearances. Their A400M demo is a welcome addition to a European circuit short on heavy transport displays, while performances from the EF2000, Tiger UHT and NH‑90TTH rounded out an impressive German contribution. The ground displays also included a few gems, such as a P‑3C Orion and Sea Lynx Mk88A — both nearing the end of their German Navy careers — and the Air Defender‑schemed Tornado IDS.
The static display offered its own selection of rarities, including the Enstrom EN‑480B‑G “0460” of the Czech Air Force, making a rare international appearance. A Turkish Air Force F‑16C and F‑16D — the former in a striking tiger scheme — and a Slovak Air Force Mi‑17M were further highlights in a static park rich with uncommon types.
