Over a hundred years, RAAF Base Richmond has recorded more than 1.28 million visitors at air shows, flying displays and community events.
The real attendance figure is likely over 1.5 million, with many events not documenting the official numbers of visitors, or there being no clear records.
Outside of air shows, crowds have watched from RAAF Base Richmond's perimeter as generations of aviators took to the skies.
They've borne witness to young trainee aviators flying biplanes and gliders to supersonic fighters and mammoth transports; and aviation icons like Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Jean Batten make milestone flights across the Tasman.
The base has held at least 42 air shows or other major public events in its history, according to Squadron Leader Eamon Hamilton, who was the Public Affairs Officer at RAAF Base Richmond from 2006 until 2022.
"The shows have often celebrated Air Force anniversaries like this year's centenary at RAAF Base Richmond, and that's what a lot of people single out in their memories of coming here," Squadron Leader Hamilton said.
"They're often opportunities to demonstrate new or developing capability in Defence and aviation, such as displays by the C-17A in 2006, or the F-111 in 1971.
"The photos and video we have from RAAF and civilian photographers alike really speak to how much aviation has changed over the century, while the backdrop of the Blue Mountains is completely unchanged."
The first recorded RAAF air show at Richmond was an "air pageant" in November 1934, followed by "Empire Air Days" that included silver biplanes like the Hawker Demon, Bristol Bulldog and Westland Wapiti.
The fledgling Air Force demonstrated its flying abilities through aerobatics, formation flying and mock attacks, hoping to inform the public how it would be used in a future conflict.
The Second World War limited the public's interaction with the base, but from 1948 regular air shows - including "Air Force Week" events - were held annually into the early 1970s.
Similar to the air pageants of the 1930s, Air Force Week showcased the changing nature of RAAF capability as it entered the jet age.
Alan Flett witnessed that transition by attending every air show at RAAF Base Richmond from 1962 until 1996, and returned for its centenary air show in 2025.
A self-described archivist and amateur photographer, his pictures of air shows at RAAF Base Richmond have been catalogued by Air Force's History and Heritage Branch.
He recalls travelling from Homebush with his parents as a 13-year-old for the 1961 air show.
"My childhood memories are of avgas, cut grass, car exhaust and primus stoves because everyone makes cups of tea," Mr Flett said.
"After the show, we went back to the panel van, pump up the primus stove, and have a cup of tea for a couple of hours until the crowds had gone.
"At those shows, I got to see the transition from Sabre jets to the supersonic Mirages, and it was like we were watching spaceships."
Tony Paton is a self-confessed "Avgeek" who has attended most air shows at RAAF Base Richmond since 1981, when he visited as a nine-year-old with his parents.
The highlight that year was an air race between Iroquois helicopter, Winjeel trainer and other aircraft like the Hercules, Caribou and Mirage.
"It was like a handicap race so you had the Iroquois flying the shorter circuit of the base and a Mirage flying high-speed longer runs," Mr Paton said.
"I can still remember seeing the Mirage come around the base and do a victory roll, the pilot claiming he'd won the race."
Seven years later, Mr Paton returned to Richmond for the 1988 bicentennial air show - the largest public event to be held at the base, with more than 200,000 visitors over five days.
It brought aircraft from the Soviet Union (including a Ukrainian An-124), the United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Netherlands.
For Mr Paton, the highlight was the Royal Air Force's Tornado jet fighter, a sleek grey interceptor with swing-wings like the RAAF's own F-111.
"It was the loudest thing I've heard then or since!" Mr Paton said.
"When you're used to Hornets and Mirages, the Tornado was just a totally different noise - and it went fast."
By 1988, Alan Flett was enlisted for the official commentary team for the bicentennial air show.
"What stands out is the incredible international nature of it," Mr Flett said.
"I was the one who gave the Ukrainians a car so that they could visit Bondi for the day during the show."
For showrunners and the public alike, the bicentennial air show remains a fond memory for everyone who attended.
"I attended all the flight briefings, went out into the airside of the tarmac and got the best photos I've ever taken, and broke all the stories," Mr Flett said.
"At the end of five days of air show work, you're tired of it and ready to finish - but after the fifth day of that show, we were wanting a sixth.
"It was just amazing."
More shows at RAAF Base Richmond followed in 1991 and 2006, with an open day in 2024 and the centenary air show in 2025.
This year's format recalled the air pageants of the 1930s, with flying displays on a north-south axis that once again set the Blue Mountains as the show's backdrop.
The speed and energy of F-35A and F/A-18F handling displays speaks to how much aircraft have changed in a hundred years, but the thrilled crowds at RAAF Base Richmond remain.
