Avion Gold Channel Samples: 108.68 g/t Au Over 2.0 Metres and 25.15 g/t Au Over 2.3 Metres at the Tabakoto Mine, Mali

TORONTO, ONTARIO, Aug 17 (MARKET WIRE) --
Avion Gold Corporation ("Avion Gold" or "the Company") (TSX VENTURE:
AVR), today announced the results of channel samples in the Tabakoto Pit
and for the third and fourth of five holes drilled to test the Segala
Main zone at depth in support of the planning for underground development
of the Segala Deposit (see figure).

Tabakoto Channel Samples:

The two channel samples were collected from a 300+ metre long,
northeast-trending, mineralized fracture in the southwest corner of the
Tabakoto pit from the centre of the pit base access road and from the pit
wall. The two channel samples are 13.0 metres apart, horizontally. The
pit wall sample, which returned 108.68 g/t Au (18.24 g/t Au capped at
37.5 g/t Au) over 2.0 metres true thickness, comprised five samples
ranging in grade from 7.32 g/t Au over 1.0 metres to 377.5 g/t Au over
0.25 metres. The channel sample from the pit access road returned 25.15
g/t Au (23.47 g/t Au capped) over 2.3 metres (true thickness). These
results indicate an area of surface accessible, exceptional grades that
will be further delineated through a focused drill program and modeling.

Segala Drill Holes:

Hole S-09-03A intersected 2.32 g/t Au (2.24 g/t Au capped) over 32.15
metres core length (approximately 20.0 metres true width) approximately
310 metres from surface (see figure); this intercept includes a higher
grade core that returned 8.19 g/t Au (7.70 g/t Au capped) over 5.25 m
core length (3.3 metres true width). Hole S-09-04, located 62.0 metres to
the east, returned 3.89 g/t Au (3.07 capped) over 49.3 metres core length
(approximately 27.0 metres true width) approximately 338 metres below
surface; this intercept includes 5.00 g/t Au (4.09 g/t capped) over 10.2
metres core length (5.6 metres true width), 11.30 g/t Au (7.60 g/t Au
capped) over 7.9 metres core length (4.4 metres true width) and 4.65 g/t
Au over 5.7 metres core length (3.2 metres true width). Both holes tested
an area of the Segala Main Deposit that, from a resource study announced
on December 12, 2008, contains an inferred mineral resource. Both of
these holes extend the higher grade mineralization to depth where the ore
resource model had indicated, similar to slightly higher grades. These
two holes were drilled at approximately the same vertical elevation as
previous released holes S-09-01 and S-09-02, which returned 3.62 g/t Au
over 26.9 metres core length and 5.37 g/t Au over 20.89 core length,
respectively (Avion news release July 9th, 2009). Assay results for drill
hole S-09-05, which tested the Segala Main zone below all previous
drilling at more than 500 metres from the surface, are still pending.

Avion's exploration program is progressing with two core drills and one
RC drill. To the end of June approximately 11,000 metres of drilling in
55 holes have been completed. A minimum of 15,000 metres of core drilling
is planned. The drill program is designed to both increase the confidence
in existing resources and to discover new mineralized zones. The drill
program to date has tested targets at the Segala Main (10 holes), Dar
Salam (14 holes), Moralia (9 holes), NE Orpailleur (2 holes), Fougala (9
holes), Diolafoundou (3 holes) and to a lesser extent Tabakoto zones (6
holes). The next series of holes will further test the Segala and
Tabakoto areas. Results are pending for the non-Segala Main holes, which
were prioritized.

"The Tabakoto and Segala properties continue to deliver. The high grade
results from the Tabakoto pit may provide additional mill feed for Avion
in 2009, and good grades over mineable widths continue to be intersected
at Segala Main at depth. Such results indicate that Avion should, with
confidence, be able to extend the project mine life beyond the initial
four years announced in December, 2008" commented John Begeman, President
and CEO.

Studies to support a capacity upgrade to 200,000 ounces per year are in
progress with grinding studies, preliminary mill expansion and open pit
versus underground mining studies underway. This work is being completed
by both consultants and company staff and is expected to be completed
before year-end. Avion's current Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource
is 1.21 million ounces of gold grading 3.48 g/t Au. In addition, Avion's
Inferred Mineral Resource is 1.14 million ounces of gold grading 3.50 g/t
Au (Avion, May 19, 2009 news release).

Don Dudek, P.Geo., the Senior Vice President, Exploration of the Company
and a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the
scientific and technical information in this press release. Avion Gold
Corporation has not completed a feasibility study on the Mali gold
projects.

Avion's procedures for handling drill core comprise initial description
and logging into a Microsoft Access database. Mineralized and suspected
mineralized intervals in the holes are described in detail and marked for
sampling. Core is then cut in half with the right-hand portion of the
core put into plastic sample bags and sealed. Assay standard samples are
inserted every 20th sample and split core from every 20th sample is also
quartered and sent in as a separate sample to double check the assays
from these intervals. This sampling procedure was initiated and
periodically reviewed by Avion's Senior Vice President of Exploration,
Don Dudek, P. Geo. These samples were then delivered to a representative
of SGS Mineral Service based in Kayes, Mali. The assay samples are then
crushed to 2 mm with riffle split if required to 1.5 kg, the entire
sample milled in a LM2 mill to a nominal 95% passing 75 micron. All the
preparation equipment is flushed with barren material prior to the
commencement of the job. Gold values were determined by Fire Assay and
AAS with a 50 gram nominal sample weight. Avion's channel samples were
analyzed at Avion's Tabakoto mine laboratory. In order to ensure that
local, exceptionally high grade assays are not overly represented in
assay composites Avion is also presenting assay composites with high
grade samples capped at 27.5 g/t Au, which is the capping level deemed
appropriate for the Segala Main Deposit and 37.5 g/t Au for the Tabakoto
Deposit (Avion: December 12th, 2008 news release).

About Avion Gold Corporation

Avion is a Canadian-based gold company focused in West Africa. The
Company holds 80% of the Tabakoto and Segala gold projects in Mali. Gold
production at these projects has commenced, and production for 2009 is
forecast to be 55,000 ounces at an expected cash cost of less than
US$540/oz.(i)(Avion: August 12, 2009 news release). Avion has a highly
skilled management team, with a focus on growth and consolidation within
West Africa.

(i)All amounts for 2009 YTD are preliminary and based on initial end of
period estimates. Final adjustments may be required. Estimates for cash
costs do not include royalties payable.

Cautionary Notes

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the
meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking
information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the impact
of the results on the Company; statements with respect to the development
potential and timetable of the Mali projects; the future price of gold;
the estimation of mineral resources; conclusions of economic evaluation
(including scoping studies); the realization of mineral resource
estimates; the timing and amount of estimated future production,
development and exploration; costs of future activities; capital and
operating expenditures; success of exploration activities; mining or
processing issues; currency exchange rates; government regulation of
mining operations; and environmental risks. Generally, forward-looking
information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology
such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget",
"scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does
not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases
or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would",
"might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking
information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity,
performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different
from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information,
including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive,
geopolitical and social uncertainties; the actual results of current
exploration activities; ability to successfully integrate the purchased
properties; foreign operations risks; other risks inherent in the mining
industry and other risks described in the annual information form of the
Company which is available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that
cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can
be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as
actual results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place
undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not
undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance
with applicable securities laws.

Should you wish to receive Company news via email, please email
info@avionresources.com and specify "AVR News" in the subject line.

NOTE: To view the figures associated with this release, please visit the
following link - http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/avionfigs0817.pdf

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS
THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE

Contacts:
Avion Gold Corporation
Rene Bharti
Vice President Business Development
(416) 861-5913
info@avionresources.com

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