By Tony Moore
RAAF Base Amberley's F18 Super Hornets roared noisily while army helicopters hovered with stealth in front of tens of thousands of cheering people at Riverfire 2015 in Brisbane.
But it was the 30-minute fireworks extravaganza at Brisbane's annual Riverfire over the inner-city that truly grabs the crowd's attention each year as the end of the Brisbane Festival.
Crowds watch Army Helicopters fly along the Brisbane River during the 2015 Riverfire as part of Brisbane Festival.Credit: Michelle Smith
Early in the afternoon the RAAF C17 Globemaster thundered along the river, followed by the Army's more nimble Tiger helicopters.
After successive sweeps by the F-18 Super Hornets down low along the Brisbane River near the South Bank Parklands and by the city's Botanical Gardens, the fireworks leapt skywards from three river-based barges.
Tonnes of choreographed fireworks were also released from the rooftops of some of Brisbane's tallest buildings and from the arch of Brisbane's iconic structure, the Story Bridge.
It showered the city - still celebrating after the hometown Brisbane Broncos forced their way into the NRL grand final with a Friday win over the Sydney Roosters - with sparking, shimmering light for more than 30 minutes.
That replaced the showers from the brief afternoon rain.
Although afternoon showers slowed the arrival of some of the crowds in the afternoon, with one hour to go South Bank Parklands, staff reported the crowds looked similar to last year's event.
"It was slower this afternoon, but it looks very crowded down there now," one South Bank staff member said.
"We've asked and they say crowds are pretty close to 2014."
The crowds gathered wherever they could find a clear view to the South Bank Parklands, including children and staff at the nearby Lady Cilento Children's Hospital.
Earlier in the day families told how they arrived early to secure their spot at the Kangaroo Point clifftops before thousands steadily arrived.
The Leitch family from Caloundra and Kangaroo Point arrived at the Kangaroo Point cliffs at 5.15am.
Jeanette Leitch came from Childers to meet daughter Melissa Leitch who on Saturday morning saved a table right on the clifftops at 5.15am for her family coming from Caloundra.
"It's school holidays," Jeanette Leitch said. "It's good."
Grand-daughter Hannah Leitch, 9, said she could not wait for the Hornets or the helicopters.
"We kept waving and waving to the pilots," she said.
Nearby Deidre and Rodney Thompson from Carindale were not far behind them – arriving at 5.30am - and erected a tent to provide cover for the nine people joining them during the day.
The F-111s, which were once a big draw of the Riverfire until they were retired, are now a vivid memory, Rodney Thompson said.
"You could look out from here - and literally see the pilot – in the cockpit."
"Then boom, straight up and gone."