Chief Executive Officer, Ian Honnery, promised a "bigger and better" event for the next show in March 2011 but was happy with this year's show, considering the adverse conditions.
"Although there has been a slight downturn in attendance, neither wild weather nor a global financial storm and competition from other events such as the Bushfire Sound Relief concert, could stop Avalon 2009 from blasting off to resounding success," he said.
Most of the large national and international companies were present and, for the most part, keen to present their products - apart from Boeing who, despite having a Wedgetail aircraft in the static display, chose not to talk about it. The company says this was in deference to project head Maureen Dougherty wishing to "stay close to the program" following the tragic loss of three Boeing personnel as a result of an airliner crash in Amsterdam two weeks prior to the show.
Another puzzling absence was an Australian Army Tiger helicopter or an MRH 90, although Eurocopter did have their full-size mock up on display - this time configured as a Naval Frigate Helicopter (NFH) variant. The non-appearance of the Army's two newest helicopter types meant that Army Aviation was represented only by 30 year old Kiowas and 20 year old Black Hawks. This absence is even more puzzling considering the first Tigers were delivered more than four years ago.
Perhaps even more enigmatic was the display by Thales of a SIAI Marchetti SF260 modified with a glass cockpit (see separate story for details). The aircraft was on display adjacent to the Expo Hall for all to see, but the company declined to discuss with the media why they had it on display.