With few family events returned yet after the latest COVID-19 lockdown and the cancellation of last year's event, organiser Mark Bright said he anticipated strong interest in the event.

Among the highlights, Mr Bright said, was the traditional F/A-18 Classic Hornet flyover at the start of the show, in a year that will mark the aircraft's farewell to active service.

He said another highlight each day would be a handling display from the F35 Lightning, set to take place in the middle of each day with pilot Ross Bowman.

"It is the first official aerobatic display by the new fifth generation fighter and something well worth seeing," Mr Bright said.

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"Being the RAAF centenary year we wanted to make it big.

"It is also good to be able to farewell the F/A-18 Classic Hornet and we are opening and closing the show with an F/A-18.

"A lot of the HARS aircraft are also flying this year including the Super Constellation "Connie", a Neptune, Caribou and the Catalina.

"We also have a lot of the old favourites including a Mustang, Spitfire and a Corsair this year which we haven't had before."

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Mr Bright said it was good the event was able to proceed after another very challenging year and he was grateful to be able to provide an opportunity for people to get out again.

"We didn't know officially that we would be able to go ahead until about a month ago," he said.

"When we heard we could we bit the bullet and got started because we knew we could not wait. Everything was delayed anyway including approvals.

"Aircraft in Queensland could not come down because of COVID-19 restrictions and aircraft from Victoria didn't think they could come until a couple of weeks ago."

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

AIRCRAFT

A spokeswoman for Wings Over Illawarra said the flying schedule was still being finalised, but could confirm the below aircraft would likely be attending (though was "subject to change"). She also said more aircraft were yet to be announced.

Shellharbour Airport (formerly Illawarra Regional Airport) is adjacent to the Princes Highway at Albion Park Rail, approximately 20kms south of Wollongong CBD and 100kms south of Sydney City Centre.

TRAIN

The closest station to Illawarra Regional Airport is Albion Park.

Event attendees can cross the Princes Highway under traffic control and should follow the direction of event staff on site.

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