Military might, machines and music

Nikita Watts.U | 4th July 2009

TUNE UP: Saxophone player Corporal Lancelot Muschamp leads the US Marine Forces Pacific Show Band in a warm-up before they perform for the Talisman Saber Opening Day at Rockhampton’s Riverside Park tomorrow.

LANCELOT Muschamp will be leaving behind the barracks to show off his sax appeal.

Corporal Muschamp is a saxophonist in the US Marine Forces Pacific Show Band which has travelled from Hawaii to perform tomorrow at the Rockhampton Open Day for Exercise Talisman Saber 2009.

The high-energy ensemble arrived in Rockhampton with nine containers of equipment and is sure to play, dance and sing to audiences with songs off the latest Top 40 and old rock and roll.

The opening day celebrates the military operation, which begins on Monday involving 24,000 US and Australian troops.

The US Marine Corps Pacific Forces Band and the Australian Army Band will entertain with a marching display and concerts during the day.

Military equipment such as armoured personnel carriers, trucks, trailers and the US Humvee (a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle) will be on display from the 31/42 Royal Queensland Regiment and Defence Force Recruiting.

One of the RAAF's soon-to-be-retired Caribou transport aircraft will do a fly-past over Riverside Park at 2.30pm and an F-111 bomber will dump fuel for its fiery and spectacular “dump and burn” as at 5.30pm.

Quay Street, between Denham and William streets will be closed from 8 am to 8 pm and a section of the Riverside Car park will also be closed.

OPEN DAY

• 1pm-6pm: Military equipment and vehicle displays at Riverside Park, Quay Street.

• 2pm: Official opening on the steps of Customs House.

• 2.30pm: Fly-past of a Caribou Aircraft over Riverside Park.

• 5.30pm: An F-111 will fly past and 'dump and burn'.

• The Australian Army Band and US Marine Corps Pacific Forces Band will entertain all day.