AAIIR FVol. 52, No. 11, June 24, 2010 The official newspaper of the Royal Australian Air Force

RCERCE

REBALANCING ACT

Rhino rocket Rhino rocket sciencescience

SAD DUTY: AIR FORCE BRINGS HOME FALLEN COMRADES

Travelling at more than 900km/hr and 500ft above ground level, this 1SQN Super Hornet looks like it’s

turning to vapour as the humid atmosphere and low air pressure

mix to create Prandtl-Glauert condensation clouds. The jet was

put through its paces during a low-level training flight over Mount Mitchell near RAAF Base Amberley.

More Rhino news, PP6-7.

P2

Photo: LAC Benjamin Evans

AIR FORCE Reserve ‘City’ squadrons can look forward to an exciting, dynamic and expanded role from July 1 when the squadrons are re-roled as part of the ongoing Combat Support Group (CSG) restructure project.

These squadrons will assume responsibility for fixed airbase support

and training operations at their respec-tive bases.

Also from July 1, Air Force will reform two of its most distinguished WWII fight-er squadrons. 30SQN and 31SQN will be reactivated and named ‘City of Sale’ and ‘City of Wagga Wagga’ respectively.

These initiatives are a result of

changes within CSG as Air Force moves to further integrate the permanent and reserve aspects of its organisation and to realign itself through its ‘Rebalance’ program within the overarching ADF Force 2030 processes.

See Page 3 for the full story.

(1SQN style)(1SQN style)

Classification of Housing

Rank GroupCurrent two- bedroom rate

New two-bedroom rate

Current three-bedroom +

rate

New three-bedroom + rate

Band Group

— A CPL or lower $306.20 $322.06 $340.22 $357.84

1 B1 CPL or lower $306.20 $333.76 $340.22 $370.84

1 B1 FLGOFF, SGT $356.12 $386.87 $395.68 $429.86

2 B2 FLTLT, WOFF $404.24 $440.62 $449.16 $489.58

3 C WGCDR, SQNLDR $450.88 $491.45 $500.98 $546.06

4 D AIRCDRE, GPCAPT $560.38 $641.47 $622.64 $712.74

5 E AVM and above $844.06 $1010.93 $937.84 $1123.26

2 News June 24, 2010RCEAIR F

DirectorRod Horan: (02) 6265 4650

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DisclaimerAir Force News is published fortnightly by the Directorate of Defence Newspapers. Printed by Capital Fine Print. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising if it is deemed inappropriate and to change the size of the ad, print type or other specifications if material is not compatible with our system. The fact an ad is accepted for publication does not mean that the product or service has the endorsement of Defence or Air Force News.

Contact us:Email: raafnews@defencenews.gov.au Website: http://www.defence.gov.au/news/raafnewsFax: (02) 6265 6690Postal address:R8–LG–048, Russell OfficesCanberra, ACT 2600

RCEAAIIRR F

GRS fortnightly contributions effective July 22

NOTE: As part of the 2010 GRS changes, the Higher Contribution Scheme (HCS) will also increase. HCS, introduced in 2007 under the name Choice Contribution Scheme (CCS), requires ADF members to pay the additional cost involved if they choose a residence above their rent band entitlement. The change of terminology from CCS to HCS was made to avoid confusion that had occurred between this contribution and the Rent Band Choice housing benefit. HCS does not apply to members allocated a residence in a higher rent band because no housing was available at their entitlement level.

Higher Contribution Scheme: fortnightly contribution for a service residence where a member with dependants choos-es a property above their entitlement – effective July 22

AIR FORCE has again played its part in the sad repatriation of fallen Austral-ian soldiers from Afghanistan.

Sappers Jacob Moerland and Darren Smith, from the Brisbane-based 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment (2CER), died as a result of wounds sustained when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated on June 7.

An Explosive Detection Dog also died in the incident.

One soldier was killed instantly; the second was aero-medically evacuated to a nearby ISAF hospital after receiving first aid at the scene from other patrol members.

They were a part of an Australian dismounted patrol conducting opera-tions in the Mirabad Valley region of Oruzgan province.

The Australian patrol had earlier in the day uncovered three substantial caches of weapons and ammunition, including 1,600 rounds of ammunition, 23 rocket propelled grenades, five mor-tar rounds and fuses.

CDF ACM Angus Houston was devastated to learn of the tragic loss of Sappers Moerland and Smith.

“These two fine soldiers were out-

Bringing them Bringing them homehome

POIGNANT: Above, bearer party and escorts carry the caskets of Sappers Jacob Moerland and Darren Smith off a C-17A at RAAF Base Amberley. Photo: LAC Leigh CameronLONG JOURNEY: Left, CHAP Peter Friend leads the bearers from the C-130J at the Australian Support Base in the United Arab Emirates. Photo: LEUT Todd Austin

standing Australians, quietly serving our nation, demonstrating every day the very best of what Aussies pride themselves on displaying to the world: courage, determination, mateship and selfless service,” ACM Houston said.

“We in the ADF are immensely proud of them.

“To the families and friends of these two soldiers, I offer my heartfelt sympathies and the full support of the ADF.”

On June 9, a moving service was held for the soldiers at Tarin Kowt, after which their Australian flag-draped caskets were moved through an hon-

our guard of Australian, Afghan and ISAF troops on to a waiting 37SQN Hercules. The C-130J flew to the Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, where it was met by another honour guard.

The ceremony was observed by Defence Minister Senator John Faulkner, CDF ACM Angus Houston and Defence Secretary Dr Ian Watt, who had diverted from their planned itinerary in the country to pay their respects.

The soldiers were then returned to Australia on a C-17A, which touched down at RAAF Base Amberley on June 13. The aircraft was met by family and

colleagues in another solemn and dig-nified ceremony. Soldiers from 2CER formed an honour guard and bearer party to receive and carry the casketsto their families.

ACM Houston, CA LTGEN Ken Gillespie, Commander 7BDE BRIG Paul McLachlan and CO 2CERLTCOL John Carey were in attendance,along with Senator Faulkner, Shadow Minister for Defence, Personnel and Science Bob Baldwin and Member forBlair Shayne Neumann.

Sapper Moerland’s funeral was held on June 17 and Sapper Smith’s washeld on June 19.

SGT Brian Hartigan

MEMBER contributions for service residences and rent allowance resi-dences will increase for all ranks from July 22, with the change reflected in members’ salary variations on pay day August 5.

Contribution increases range from 8.46 per cent to 17.77 per cent depending on rank and circumstances – with, for example, a corporal in a three-bedroom house paying an extra $30.62 per fortnight.

The Group Rent Scheme (GRS) increases reflect rises in the nation-al rental market as well as ongoing moves to correct an imbalance in the subsidy Defence provides to mem-bers for housing.

Head of People Policy Steve Grzeskowiak said it was a longstand-ing policy that Defence should subsi-dise 50 per cent of the national aver-age cost of housing for ADF members and their families, however Defence’s contribution had slipped out to more than 56 per cent over recent years.

“For the 2010 annual GRS update, the Secretary and CDF have agreed to implement a subsidy correction instal-ment to bring the Defence subsidy and member contributions closer to 50 per cent each,” Mr Grzeskowiak said.

Rent growth combined with the subsidy correction will mean a 9 per cent increase to contributions to rent bands 1, 2 and 3, except for SGT(E), PLTOFF(E) and FLGOFF(E) in rent band 1, for whom an 8.46 per cent

increase will achieve the 50 per cent subsidy target.

Subsidy corrections will not apply for lower-amenity housing in group A or group 1A because this housing stock is being progressively phased out of service.

Contributions for rent band 4 (GPCAPT/AIRCDRE(E)) will be increased by 14.47 per cent and rent band 5 (AVM(E)) by 17.77 per cent.

Mr Grzeskowiak said Defence offered ADF members compel-ling service conditions, with hous-ing assistance being one of its most attractive components.

“To ensure that the qual -ity of housing can be maintained and improved in the future, it is important that costs are shared fairly between Defence and ADF members,” he said.

“Rents paid by Defence are cal-culated on the basis of independ-

ently assessed market rents across Australia, which are updated annu-ally in January.

“In the past, the resulting adjust-ment in the GRS was not passed on to members until October or November, with the lag contributing to the increase in the Defence share.

“Last year, to help rectify this, the contribution increase was introduced in July.

“We had hoped to bring it for-ward to March or April this year, but that proved more difficult than antici-pated.”

It is now planned that, from 2011, GRS adjustments will be made in March or April.

� The GRS report published in the service newspapers last year incor-rectly implied that the scale of last year’s contributions increase was partly attributable to the start of the rebalance in the percent-age payments made by Defence and Defence members. This year is actually the first instalment in the subsidy correction. Last year’s adjustments were based upon mar-ket rent only, but included a change in the timing designed to reduce the lag in passing market rent move-ments on to members and so reduce Defence’s total overspend on hous-ing subsidies.

For more information, visit http:// intranet.defence.gov.au/pac/ or www.defence.gov.au/dpe/pac

Group Rent Scheme asks for more

ItemIf a member with

dependants has a rank in this group...

their contribution for a rent band above their entitlement is...

Rent Band 1 or Amenity

Group B1

Rent Band 2or Amenity Group B2

$ a fortnight

Rent Band 3 or Amenity Group C

$ a fortnight

Rent Band 4 or Amenity Group D

$ a fortnight

1. CPL or lower N/A 540.90 682.18 938.02

2. FLGOFF. SGT N/A 589.51 739.79 995.63

3. WGCDR, SQNLDR N/A N/A 630.86 886.70

4. AIRCDRE, GPCAPT N/A N/A N/A 801.91

3 NewsJune 24, 2010RCEAIR F

Number 30 (City of Sale) Squadron30SQN was formed at RAAF Base Richmond on March 9, 1942 and flew Beaufighters in New Guinea. After the Japanese surrender, the squad-ron was redeployed to Deniliquin in NSW. It was disbanded on August 15, 1946. It reformed as a target-towing squadron on March 8, 1948 but disbanded again eight years later on March 21, 1956. Then, in January 1961, it was reformed for the third time, this time as a Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) squadron operating Bloodhound SAMs in the Sydney and Darwin areas. It finally disbanded on November 30, 1968.

Number 31 (City of Wagga Wagga) Squadron31SQN was formed on August 14, 1942, flying Beaufighters against Japanese targets in Timor and the islands north of Darwin. On December 17, 1944 the squadron moved to Morotai and joined with 22 and 30SQNS to form 71WG operat-ing against the Japanese as far apart as Borneo and the Philippines. The squadron’s impressive wartime achievements came to an end when the squadron returned to Australia at the end of 1945 and was disbanded on July 6, 1946.

SQNLDR Paul Lineham

THE names might be changing but the jobs will stay the same when Air Force Reserve ‘City’ squadrons assume respon-sibility for fixed airbase support at their respective bases from July 1.

The squadrons will take over respon-sibilities of the Combat Support Units (CSUs) on their bases or, in the case of No. 23 (City of Brisbane) Squadron and No. 26 (City of Newcastle) Squadron, the fixed base resources of 382 and 381 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadrons (ECSSs) respectively.

As a result, all CSUs and some ECSSs will be disbanded.

The current COs of the CSUs will take command of their local city squad-rons, with the exception of 23SQN and 26SQN where the Air Base Executive Officers (ABXO) will take command.

The current COs of the City squad-rons will become Flight Commanders in the expanded squadrons and will take on extra responsibilities for training.

As part of this restructure, CAF AIRMSHL Mark Binskin has announced the reformation of two historic WWII fighter squadrons to assume responsibili-ty for fixed airbase support at their bases.

30SQN and 31SQN will become part of CSG from July 1 and will be named ‘City of Sale’ and ‘City of Wagga Wagga’ respectively. The current COs of CSU East Sale and Wagga will assume com-mand of these squadrons.

Building up our cities

FIREFIGHTERS

SECURITY POLICE

COOKS

LOOK WHO’S BACK

Who will be joining their city squadrons?

Another change will occur at RAAF Bases Tindal, Pearce and Townsville where the responsibilities of the Senior Australian Defence Force Officer (SADFO) will transfer to the COs of 322ECSS and Nos. 25 (City of Perth) and 27 (City of Townsville) Squadrons.

The aim of the CSG restructure is to deliver a more efficient and focused organisation to provide the expedition-ary and fixed airbase support as part of Air Force’s ‘Rebalance’ program. This will be co-ordinated with the Strategic Reform Program and is part of achieving

Force 2030, under which permanent and reserve units will be integrated under the Total Force concept.

CAF believes the restructure provides the ideal opportunity, as part of his One Team approach, to enhance the capability contribution, relevance and profile of the reserve squadrons by giving them respon-sibility for fixed airbase support, with additional responsibilities for operational outcomes, as well as training.

Commander CSG AIRCDRE Noddy Sawade said, despite the changes, it would be business as usual.

“Those personnel, be they perma-nent, reserve or APS, who are currently involved in fixed airbase support, will be doing exactly the same job they’d normally do – the only difference is they will now be working for their local City squadron as opposed to a CSU or ECSS,” AIRCDRE Sawade said.

The CSG restructure and the integra-tion of the City squadrons into the Air Base Support Capability will be phased in over 2010-2011.

CAF said that during the transitional phase all personnel would remain in situ and maintain their current duties. Any postings that would occur as a result of the new command arrangements would be expected to be included in the normal posting cycle at the end of the year.

There will be no changes to 322ECSS and 324ECSS other than a transfer from 396ECSS to 395ECSS, and Nos. 28 (City of Canberra) and 29 (City of Hobart) Squadrons will continue their current roles but will transfer to CSG.

AIRCDRE Sawade complimented the CSG Restructure project team and noted that there was further work to be done.

“The team has undertaken an exten-sive program of review and consultation across Air Force, and negotiated a new structure that will enable us to achieve greater efficiencies and effectiveness,” he said.

“The next step is to review our expe-ditionary capabilities and construct.”

PTIs

To name just a few...

ON THE WAY: Airbase support personnel, including suppliers, will come under their local city squadrons from July 1.Photo: LACW Jessica Smith

For more information or to register call Nick Williams on 1300 138 037 or email nwilliams@wtaa.com.au

www.wtaa.com.au/leadership-summit

����������

������������ ��� ������� �������������������������������Canberra, 16th & 17th September

Howard BroadCommissioner,

New Zealand Police

Lee A Johnson Commissioner, QLD

Fire and Rescue Service

Brigadier Matthew Hall

Commander of Career Management, Army

John Adrian Lawler APM

Chief Executive Officer, Australian Crime

Commission

Rev Tim CostelloChief Executive, World

Vision

Ron McLeod AMCommissioner, 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission

Hadyn SmithChief Executive,

LandSAR New Zealand

David MelvilleCommissioner, QLD Ambulance Service

Air Marshal Mark Binskin, AM

Chief of Air Force

Brigadier Alison Creagh, CSC

Director-General Public Affairs, Army

Vice Admiral Russ Crane, AO, CSM, RAN

Chief of Navy (Invited)

The leadership event for Australia’s Police, Defence and Emergency Services

Including keynote presentations from an unprecedented line-up of Australia’s highest ranking leaders

Binskin AO, AM

Affairs

4 June 24, 2010RCEAIR FNews

Officer (AO) in the Military Division of the Order of Australia, Royal Australian Air Force

CAF AIRMSHL Mark BinskinFor distinguished service to the ADF in senior command and staff appointments.

Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the Military Division,Royal Australian Air Force

WGCDR Lindley GheeFor meritorious service in the field of Boeing 707 aircraft air-to-air refuelling operations.

SQNLDR Bradley ClarkeFor meritorious service to the Air Force in the development and management of Air Logistics Support and Airborne operations.

WOFF David TuiteFor meritorious service as Unit Quality Manager at 76SQN and as WOFF Engineering at 3SQN.

FSGT Bradley PitcherFor meritorious performance of duties as a Divisional Senior Non-Commissioned Officer and Squadron Sergeant Major at the Australian Defence Force Academy.

Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC), Royal Australian Air Force

GPCAPT Mark ScougallFor outstanding achievement as the Commanding Officer of the C-17A Logistics Management Unit.

SQNLDR John HalyFor outstanding achievement Quality Control Centre at Combat

Support Unit Pearce.

SGT Michael HornerFor outstanding achievement as an Instructor at 292SQN and as the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of 11SQN flightline operations.

CPL Andrew TurnbullFor outstanding achievement as the Simulator Operator Supervisor at Surveillance and Control Training Unit.

Conspicuous Service Medal (CSM), Royal Australian Air Force

SQNLDR Cameron Cornell For meritorious achievement as Staff Officer, Australian Super Hornet Transition Team.

FSGT Matthew Clarke For meritorious achievement as Assistant Staff Officer – Network Engineer, Defence Network Support Agency.

CSM: SGT Ross Graham.

CSC: FLTLT Joleen Darby.

CSM: SGT Angela Maher (pictured as a CPL).

CSM: SQNLDR Cameron Cornell.

as an Exchange Officer and Detachment Commander, Australian Super Hornet Transition Team.

FLTLT Joleen DarbyFor outstanding achievement in the application of exceptional skills as the medical officer in HMAS Childers on April 16, 2009.

SGT Kevin AldridgeFor outstanding achievement as the Senior Non–Commissioned Officer-in-Charge of the Fuel

Congratulations to this year’s recipients

Queen’s birtthdayhday honours

OAM: WGCDR Lindley Ghee.

AO: CAF AIRMSHL Mark Binskin.

SGT Ross GrahamFor meritorious achievement as the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Ground Support Equipment section at 75SQN.

SGT Angela MaherFor meritorious achievement as the Training Developer – Electronic Intelligence at the Defence Force School of Signals Electronic Warfare Wing.

THE previous edition of Air Force News (June 10) incorrectly stated that the last 38SQN task through Malaysia occured in 1979 (‘Speedy Return’, page 7). The Office of Air Force History has advised that a 38SQN Caribou was used to swap with another Caribou operated by Headquarters Butterworth in January 1987. The author apologises for this error.

Caribou clarifi cation

5 NewsJune 24, 2010RCEAIR F

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TRAILING a spectacular plume of fire, a spacecraft that is hoped to have brought back samples of the Itokawa asteroid has safely landed back on Earth, and the ADF played a vital part in the recovery.

The Japanese Hayabusa space-craft touched down in the Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA) on June 13 and was recovered and returned to the Woomera Range Control Centre before its transfer to Japan on June 17.

In 2003, Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the Hayabusa – Japanese for Falcon – to intercept the asteroid Itokawa in an attempt to recover material from the surface that might help scientists better understand the solar system’s origin and evolution.

Travelling more than two bil-lion kilometres, Hayabusa landed on Itokawa and hopefully retrieved the precious samples.

On June 13, Hayabusa entered Earth’s atmosphere and began its fiery descent. By design, the mothership burnt up on re-entry.

The return capsule parachuted to the WPA where a combined Australian and JAXA search party located it within the hour. It was taken to the Range Control Centre before its return to Japan, where it will be opened

and its contents analysed. Australian authorities have been working with JAXA since 2003 on the Hayabusa mission and in particular its re-entry and recovery.

The Aerospace Operational Support Group (AOSG) manages WPA.

Commander AOSG GPCAPT Reg Carruthers said WPA director Doug Gerrie and his team at Woomera pro-vided both operational and technical support to JAXA and NASA.

Other Defence support provided at Woomera included:� Providing advice on the nominat-

ed landing area so as to minimise impacts on the WPA’s inhabitants;

� Liaising with indigenous inhabit-ants to ensure no damage had been caused to sacred sites, assisting JAXA to develop supporting docu-mentation including the Recovery Operations Plan and Return Emergency Plan;

� Obtaining support from the US Strategic Command for Collision Avoidance and Re-entry track-ing by the Space Surveillance Network; and

� Raising a Temporary Restricted Airspace notice to ensure exclusive use of the area for the re-entry and NASA’s tracking aircraft that also deployed to Australia.

OUT OF THIS WORLD: Above, SQNLDR Darin Lovett from the Defence Space Coordination Office was among the lucky few Air Force members to watch Hayabusa’s spectacular re-entry into the atmosphere on June 13. The background image shows the spacecraft’s fiery descent 180km north west of Woomera. Above inset, from left, FLTLT Melody Earl and SQNLDR Lindsay Campbell of AOSG with associate executive director of JAXA, Mr Yoshiyuki Hasegawa, and Mr Matt Mitchell at the Woomera Range Control Centre. Main photo: SGT Errol Jones

Hayabusa Hayabusa has landedhas landed

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6 June 24, 2010RCEAIR FNews

FLTLT Skye Smith

THE Super Hornets have clocked up another milestone with an Air Force F414-GE-400 turbofan engine tested for the first time in Australia.

'Un-installed engine test cells’ have been modified at RAAF Bases Amberley and Williamtown to enable the testing of the F414 engine fitted to the F/A-18F Super Hornet and the F404 engine fitted to the F/A-18A/B Classic Hornet, at either site.

The upgrade of Test Cell 1 Amberley and Engine Test Facility Williamtown was conducted by Tasman Aviation Enterprises (TAE) with the data acquisition upgrade sub-contracted to Yanos Aerospace Inc. and airflow modelling by BMT WBM Pty Ltd’s Brisbane office.

The design development commenced in early 2009, with site acceptance testing at Amberley and Williamtown completed in March and again in May this year.

Australian Super Hornet Engineering Support Systems Manager, SQNLDR Shane Rees, said 1SQN will conduct operational level maintenance on the F414 engine while TAE will provide a local intermediate and deeper-level maintenance capability.

They will also exercise engineering authority on behalf of General Electric

International Inc. in support of a Total Logistics Support contract.

“TAE will use the un-installed engine test facilities to conduct acceptance test and troubleshooting of F404 and F414 engines to ensure engine reliability and availabil-ity outcomes are maximised for both the Classic Hornet and Super Hornet opera-tions,” SQNLDR Rees said.

The F414 engine is an advanced deriva-tive of the GE F404 engines installed on the Classic Hornet. They produce 35 per cent more thrust and the airframe air inlets have been enlarged to provide increased airflow into the engines.

Some of the technological enhancements adopted in this model include bladed disks, new high temperature/strength materials and dual channel redundant Full Authority Digital Engine Control, which will allow control by wire throttle.

The F414-GE-400 Sea Level Static thrust rating is equivalent to the F-111 TF30 engine at only half the weight, which underlines the advances in engine design that have occurred over the past 40 years.

This upgrade will enable the Air Force to test both Hornet and Super Hornet engines here on Australian soil with state-of-the-art facilities that are managed with maximum Australian industry involvement.

Revving the the engine

FLTLT Skye Smith

NUMBER 2 Operational Conversion Unit (2OCU) has returned to Townsville to participate in Exercise High Sierra and intends graduating eight new fighter pilots following the three-week deployment.

The pilots will be put through their paces during the exercise prior to gradu-ating as operational fast-jet pilots.

Exercise High Sierra began on June 14 and represents the last three weeks of the F/A-18 operational conversion course, which converts fighter pilots from the Hawk Lead-in-fighter to the F/A-18.

More than 150 members of 2OCU, 76SQN and 4SQN are participating in the biennial training activity, which is being conducted in the Shoalwater Bay and Townsville Field training areas. It wraps up on July 2.

The exercise provides participantswith high complexity air combat trainingopportunities to test and practise deploy-ment capabilities so that Air CombatGroup units can operate away from theirhome bases when necessary.

CO 2OCU WGCDR David Smithsaid the exercise was the culmination ofsix months of intensive training on theF/A-18 for his students.

“Exercise High Sierra providesimportant training for all aircrew andground crew in deployed operations andshould result in the graduation of newoperational fighter pilots,” WGCDRSmith said.

The students are FLTLT DanielO'Donnell, FLGOFFs Jarrin Coombes,Benjamin Lyons, Timothy Venz,PLTOFFs Matthew Eastaway, MichaelKeightley, Adam Rouessart and SBLTTodd Woodford.

High Sierra takes off

START ’ER UP: For the first time in Australia, a F414-GE-400 Super Hornet engine is being tested at RAAF Bases Amberley and Williamtown. Above and inset, the engine is given a test run at Amberley, while, left, test cell operators Ivo Correia (left) and Jody Riggs from TAE monitor operations. Photos: CPL Mark McConnell/ACW Rosaleen Normoyle

7 NewsJune 24, 2010RCEAIR F

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First to ride a RhinoFLTLT Skye Smith

BREAKING the sound barrier was an ex-perience Ipswich Mayor Councillor Paul Pisasale would never forget when he took to the skies as the first civilian passenger in an Australian Super Hornet on June 1.

Cr Pisasale strapped into aircraft 202, affectionately dubbed the ‘City of Ipswich’, for the flight of his life.

Aircraft 202 was the first to touch down at RAAF Base Amberley back in March and was piloted by CO 1SQN WGCDR Glen Braz on both occasions.

“It was quite a thrill to be flying in the Rhino that bears the City of Ipswich crest,” Cr Pisasale said.

WGCDR Braz said the familiarisa-tion flight provided Cr Pisasale with a comprehensive overview of the Super Hornet capabilities and the many support systems for operations.

“It also provided our local council-lor with an enhanced appreciation of the flight profiles in the south-east Queensland region from the aircrew’s perspective,” WGCDR Braz said.

Highlights of the hour-long jour-ney included manoeuvres near Moreton Island, before flying back over Brisbane and home to Amberley.

Back on the ground, Cr Pisasale said that the flight had been an “incredible, unforgettable experience”.

“It was a great honour to be the first Australian civilian to fly in the new Super Hornets,” he said.

The Ipswich Mayor has been a strong supporter of Amberley for many years and plays a very important role in help-ing to maintain the relationship with the Air Force community in south-east Queensland.

Cr Pisasale said the reason he took the flight was to highlight the impor-tance of the role the Air Force played in the defence of Australia.

“As a community we really need to embrace the Air Force and make Defence families feel welcome in Ipswich,” he said.

Cr Pisasale joined the mayors of Newcastle and Port Stephens, along with then Commander Air Combat Group AIRCDRE Neil Hart to demon-strate their commitment by signing a Communities for Air Force Agreement on September 21 last year.

The agreement is one of a number of ongoing activities designed to foster base relations with the local communities of Ipswich, Port Stephens and Newcastle.

“The agreement highlighted the local government’s commitment to recognise Air Force personnel and their families as key members of the community and to work with Air Force for the mutual benefit of the community, Defence per-sonnel and operations,” AIRCDRE Hart said.

The Super Hornet flight follows Cr Pisasale’s 2004 ride in an F-111, piloted by then SQNLDR Braz, who was XO 6SQN at the time.

Aircraft 202 flies low and fast over Mount Mitchell

during a training flight on June 3. It was the same

Super Hornet Ipswich Mayor Councillor Paul

Pisasale flew in two days

FLIGHT OF A LIFETIME: Ipswich Mayor Councillor Paul Pisasale gets kitted up with the assistance of FLTLT Trent Baldry of 1SQN prior to his familiarisation flight in a Super Hornet. Behind the controls was CO 1SQN WGCDR Glen Braz, pictured left with Cr Pisasale in the cockpit before the flight. Photos: ACW Sandra Midson

Super fast training run

earlier. The impressive vapour cloud is a result of the humid atmosphere

mixing with the low air pressure. Photo: LAC Benjamin Evans

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9 NewsJune 24, 2010RCEAIR F

NUMBER 33 Squadron’s new Squadron Standard was awarded and consecrated with pomp and ceremony at a Vice Regal parade at RAAF Base Amberley on June 2.

A Standard is awarded to a unit by the reigning sovereign in recog-nition of its 25 years of faithful and outstanding service.

The Standard was inscribed with 33SQN’s battle honours, Moresby 1943, Markham Valley 1943-1944, Morotai, Pacific 1943-1945, Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea and Borneo 1945.

Queensland Governor Penelope Wensley reviewed the parade, which was a t tended by Air Commander Australia AVM Mark Skidmore, Commander Combat Support Group AIRCDRE Noddy Sawade, Commander Air Lift

Group AIRCDRE John Oddie and GPCAPT Noel Derwort, Director of the KC-30A Transition Team.

The parade was also watched by veterans of 33SQN.

CO 33SQN WGCDR Guy Wilson was the parade commander.

Ms Wensley inspected the parade, escorted by WGCDR Wilson.

After the Standard was officially draped across the drums, the offi-ciating chaplains, AIRCDRE Peter O’Keefe, AIRCDRE Murray Earl and GPCAPT Kevin Russell, bless-ed the Standard and the squadron.

The Governor then addressed the attendees. After welcoming the squadron back to Queensland, she spoke about the service and sacri-fice of 33SQN during the war and subsequently in peacetime.

“Although we are honouring today the long journey that the his-tory of 33SQN represents, it seems especially fitting that the conse-cration of this Standard is taking place when the squadron is about to make a major new contribution to our armed forces capability, with the arrival and operation of the new Multi-Role Tanker Transport air-craft,” Ms Wensley said.

“This is an exciting develop-ment and even more exciting for Queensland that the squadron is coming home and being located here in Amberley.”

After she had finished, with its Standard proudly flying, the entire squadron marched past in salute to her.

The first of the KC-30As is due to arrive by the end of 2010.

IT APPEARED to be raining troops over Nowra on June 4, when an entire course of parachute trainees jumped out of a slow-moving C-17A.

The 36SQN aircraft was sup-porting the Army Parachute Training School (PTS) for the first time. It was also the first jump for the sol-diers on the course.

All 72 trainees and six staff and

instructors were able to be lifted at once, with room to spare. This feat would normally be achieved by more than 10 loads on a typical PTS support aircraft.

The descents were conducted from 1000ft using static line para-chutes. The C-17A circled above the Nowra region several times to com-plete the task.

It’s raining troops – lots of them over Nowra thanks to a C-17

AWAY THEY GO: CO of Parachute Training School at HMAS Albatross LTCOL Simon Vellabonativa is first to jump out of the Globemaster, above, followed by 72 of his trainees. Photo: LSIS Kelvin Hockey

ROOM FOR ALL: Personnel from the Parachute Training School get comfy on the C-17A at the Naval Air Station, HMAS Albatross. Photo: WO2 Ralf Jaeger

Historic day for 33SQN

SPICK AND SPAN: Queensland Governor Penelope Wensley inspects the parade with the Parade Commander, CO 33SQN WGCDR Guy Wilson at RAAF Base Amberley. Photo: ACW Sandra Midson

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10 June 24, 2010RCEAIR FNews

Eamon Hamilton

THE partnership between Defence and Hawker Pacific at 38SQN is opening up new opportunities for technicians.

SGT John Oppelaar and CPL Joe Jackson at 38SQN are being processed as Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (LAMEs) by Hawker Pacific to conduct a range of maintenance activities on the King Air.

The unique arrangement at 38SQN means Hawker Pacific is responsible for aircraft mainte-nance; however, there are about 15 Air Force maintainers at the squadron.

The licenses are control-led by the Civil Aviation Safety Authori ty (CASA), and in

NUMBER 75 Squadron will hold a commemora-tive event on August 7 to mark the 20th anniversary of the mid-air collision which resulted in the death of WGCDR Ross Fox, then CO 75SQN.

The event will be held at RAAF Base Tindal from 10.30am to about 3pm.

It will consist of a parade, a fly-past in missing-man formation and the presentation of the inaugural perpetual WGCDR Ross Fox Trophy for Excellence, which is awarded to the most outstanding member.

Mrs Viki Fox, the widow of WGCDR Fox, will dedicate a memorial garden within the 75SQN com-pound to all fallen members of 75SQN. The formali-ties will be followed by a barbecue lunch.

There is an open invitation to those members wish-ing to attend.

For planning purposes all attendees are to contact FLTLT Jen Arnold on (08) 8973 7502 or jennifer.arnold@defence.gov.au

King-size chance

THE WAY AHEAD: From left, SQNLDR Rex Kidner, Mr Steve Foster (HP TVL), SGT John Oppelaar, CPL Joe Jackson, WGCDR Tony Thorpe (CO 38SQN), Mr Terry Kirby (HP TVL) and WOFF Glen King.

King Air maintainers seize new work opportunities

Tindal to remember WGCDR Ross Fox

38SQN’s case they have taken into account members’ service history as well as experience on the King Air.

CO 38SQN WGCDR Tony Thorpe said that the uniformed maintainers would help boost the unit’s capability.

“By receiving civil certified qualifications enabling them to work as LAMEs on the King Air, they will enhance the unit’s effec-tiveness and deployment capabil-ity,” WGCDR Thorpe said.

SGT Oppelaar has gained a CAR 31 rating in King Air Airframe Groups 1 and 5, and

CPL Jackson has gained a CAR 31 rating in King Air Airframe Group 1. Hawker Pacific are finalising their LAME quali-ficat ion as Self-Cert ifying Maintainers.

They will also be authorised by Hawker Pacific to mentor and act as a Trades Supervisor for Tradesmen for Hawker Pacific and Air Force.

SQNLDR Slade Kidner, On Site Liaison Officer for 38SQN, said that two more aircraft tech-nicians and an avionic technician were currently being assessed by CASA for their ratings.

“Holding a Certificate IV in Aeroskills and completing all the mandatory B300 courses allows the technicians to gain a Maintenance Authority as a tradesman in the relevant area – such as Airframe, Engine and Avionics,” SQNLDR Kidner said.

“They also gain authority for daily flight servicing, refuelling, marshalling, launch and recov-ery.”

SQNLDR Kidner cal led the achievement a milestone in 38SQN and Hawker Pacific’s relationship.

“This milestone could not have been achieved without the dedication and one team approach between 38SQN, Air Lift Group and Hawker Pacific,” SQNLDR Kidner said.

CDF ACM Angus Houston officially launched Sir Richard Kingsland’s autobiography in Canberra on June 15.

The book’s title, Into the Midst of Things, well describes Sir Richard’s WWII service which included shooting his way out of Vichy French custody in Morocco and taking on the Luftwaffe over France.

He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross as a young flight lieutenant in 1940, following the Morocco mission.

Sir Richard had a distinguished Air Force career from 1935 to 1948 and went on to have an equally stellar career in the Commonwealth Public Service.

Into the Midst of Things was com-missioned by the Office of Air Force History in conjunction with the Air Power Development Centre.

CAF AIRMSHL Mark Binskin also attended the launch.

ACM Houston said that Sir Richard was a truly remarkable Australian.

“What this book provides is an absorb-ing and illuminating look at what life in the RAAF was like barely 15 years after it came into being — bearing in mind that the RAAF celebrates its 90th anniversary next year,” CDF said.

A feature story on Sir Richard and his book will be published in an upcoming edition.

A hero’sinspiring story is launched

REMARKABLE: Sir Richard Kingsland.

11NewsJune 24, 2010RCEAIR F

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FLTLT Skye Smith

AN EMOTIONAL wave swept over RAAF Base Amberley as F-111s were loaded with high explosive (HE) weapons for the last time dur-ing 6SQN’s final Bomb Camp from June 7 to 11.

The F-111s generally use HE weapons during major exercises such as Chong Ju, Talisman Sabre and Northern Challenge. But due to limited training opportunities in the F-111s’ final year of service, 6SQN scheduled a specific bomb camp.

A pair of F-111s took to the skies each day and night for the duration of the exercise conducted over the Shoal Water Bay Training Area (SWBTA).

With the impending retirement of the Air Force’s longest-serving aircraft, all 6SQN members partici-pated in the exercise with armament technicians being called upon from both 6SQN and 1SQN, including reservists.

6SQN pilot FLTLT Vladislav Bismarck said the bomb camp was specifically dedicated to preserving HE currency for both maintainers and aircrew.

“The bomb camp provided air-crew with hands-on training for pre-flighting loaded aircraft and the opportunity to practice some of the more technical aspects of deliver-ing weapons in a formation, such as simultaneous time over target attacks,” FLTLT Bismarck said.

A total of 86,000 pounds of HE was deployed during the week, including Mk82Air, Mk84, GBU-12, GBU-10 and GBU-24 weapons.

Preparing for a bomb camp relies heavily on the cohesive teamwork of 6SQN across all aspects from air-crew, maintenance, logistics, opera-tions and support personnel.

6SQN armament technician SGT Simon Cazneaux joined the Air Force in 1991 and spent 12 years working on F-111s before taking on a posting at the Aircraft Research and Development Unit.

Having spent his entire Air Force career on the same aircraft type, SGT Cazneaux chose to return to 6SQN in 2008 to see out the F-111 era.

“It is quite emotional watching the last bomb being loaded,” SGT Cazneaux said.

“I felt a tingle run up my spine as I reflected on the last 19 years I’ve spent working on the Pigs.”

The bomb camp providedaircrew with the opportunity toexpend HE weapons using tacticsthey do not necessarily practiceevery day.

Most 6SQN aircrew will convert on to the Super Hornet as the unit transitions platform types next year.

“I feel very privileged to be selected as one of the final crews on the F-111,” FLTLT Bismarck said.

The F-111s will be farewelledin December this year havingserved the nation for the past 37years.

FLTLT Skye Smith

THE impending retirement of the F-111 marks the end of an era for 278SQN Technical Training Flight (TTF) Amberley with the final trade specific courses now completed.

Over the past four decades, 278SQN has equipped the F-111 technical workforce with the under-pinning aircraft system knowledge and trade skill sets to ensure the airworthiness of the aircraft and maintain its operational capability.

All F-111 specific trade courses, safety and familiarisation courses have now ended with the com-pletion of the F-111 Manager’s Familiarisation course on June 3.

The manager’s course was tailored for engineering offic-ers, WOFFs and FSGTs new to employment on the F-111. It provided an engineering overview of all F-111 aircraft, avionics and armament systems.

278SQN Amberley has now transitioned to providing technical instruction on a new modern aircraft platform and it looks forward to pro-viding the same level of quality train-ing for the life of the Super Hornet.

There are mixed feelings about teaching the last F-111 courses, OIC 278SQN TTF AMB FLTLT Paul Mulcahy said.

“There is some sadness due to the impending retirement of the F-111 with the majority of the current instructors having worked on the aircraft for over 15 years. For some this is the only airframe they have worked on.

“But there is also excitement at the prospect of providing instruc-tion on a technologically advanced modern fighter aircraft, such as the Super Hornet.”

Thirty instructional and man-agement staff are employed within 278SQN TTF AMB. However, this will reduce to 25 in January with the retirement of the F-111.

The Amberley TTF faces sig-nificant change as it transitions from the delivery of F-111 to Super Hornet training.

This includes instructor avail-ability as many are currently under-going training to qualify on the new aircraft.

Super Hornet training is con-ducted in a single block format with all training provided at the start of employment on the aircraft. These courses range from eight to twelve weeks in duration depend-ing on the trade.

The initial F-111 technical train-ing course was undertaken in 1968.

F-111’s last hurrahsBombs away on the final camp

GETTING READY: Armament technician CPL Ross O’Mara attaches the wind-driven power generator as part of explosive ordnance preparation on a Mark 84 low drag bomb to be attached to an F-111 for the bombing camp. Photos: ACW Rosaleen Normoyle

End of an era for trainees

Over the past four decades, 278SQN TTF AMB (and its earlier iterations) has trained every F-111 technician that has come to work on the jet.

This equates to over 20,000 students and well over 13,000 separate trade-specific, generic and safety related courses over 42 years.

LINK TO THE PAST: OIC 278TTF AMB FLTLT Paul Mulcahy, left, and the youngest instructor at 278SQN, CPL Christopher Cocks, proudly hold the certificate that was presented to the first graduate of an F-111 technician course conducted by the unit in 1968.

FOND FAREWELLS: The F-111s have served the nation for the past 37 years.

Photo: LACW Kylie Gibson

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13 NewsJune 24, 2010RCEAIR F

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Andrew Stackpool

AIR FORCE motorcyclists can look forward to learning how to ride smarter and safer next financial year after CAF agreed to Air Force participating in the Army Motorcycle Safety Awareness Program, RIDE SMART.

RIDE SMART has been initiated to reduce risks to Defence personnel who ride motorcycles by encouraging eligible motorcyclists to attend on-road rider skills training courses.

The program is run by specialist motorcycle training companies and funded by Defence.

Its primary aim is to reduce the number and impact of motorcycle crashes by improving safety aware-ness, skills and attitudes and enhanc-ing a rider’s ability to negotiate criti-cal situations. It recognises that most

riders have usually undertaken for-mal training at the Learner’s level and through real-world experience but may have slipped into bad habits that they may not recognise.

The courses are being con-ducted by Stay Upright Motorcycle Techniques and Honda Australia Rider Training.

The program will also use other specialist, accredited companies in all states who will be selected by the usual tendering progress.

Dave Shipley, from the RIDE SMART program office in the Army’s Directorate of Assurance and Safety, said that CAF wanted Air Force rid-ers to be provided training and that he would provide funding.

In the next financial year the RIDE SMART courses would be run in Defence localities where there are

enough riders to fill courses. Each course comprises a day or a day-and-a-half of theory and practical teach-ing.

“The program is about being a smart rider who, while enjoying the ride, makes sure they finish it and protects themselves and others,” Mr Shipley said.

“The theory covers the important mental skills knowledge and tech-niques to manage the risks they face in normal traffic conditions; space management, observation skills and response actions.

“The second part is practical, which focuses on aspects such as pos-ture on the bike, obstacle avoidance, emergency braking, cornering tech-niques and slow-speed manoeuvring. It also highlights the need for suitable safety clothing and bike safety.”

The usual course size was 12 stu-dents with two instructors, but groups of 18 or 24 students could be catered for if extra instructors were available.

Students must hold a minimum provisional licence and have their own registered and roadworthy on-road motorcycle.

There is no pass or fail as the course is about developing the physi-cal and mental skills vital to being a safe rider.

On completion of the course, each rider will be given a certificate of completion by the company and the RIDE SMART office will record course completion on the member’s PMKeyS.

Riders wanting to know more about the training or dates and places for courses should email ridesmart@defence.gov.au

WORTH A CLOSE LOOK: FLGOFF Jason Meyers, a pilot from 34SQN, with his motorbike after completing the RIDE SMART program in Canberra.Photos: LAC Aaron Curran

AB Melanie Schinkel

A FREE exhibition of 47 paint-ings and photographs that cap-ture the experiences of Australian service men and women in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf was launched at the Australian War Memorial (AWM) on May 20.

Framing Conflict: Iraq and Afghanistan is a compilation of artistic works by Melbourne-based husband and wife team Lyndell Brown and Charles Green, who were commissioned as official war artists by the AWM and embedded with members of the ADF for six weeks in early 2007.

The artwork portrays a diverse combination of ADF operational activities, along with logistic sup-port, training, communications and reconstruction work.

Artist and lecturer at the University of Melbourne, Ms Brown said the detailed oil paint-ings were derived from the thou-sands of photographs they took while embedded.

“We focused on what was behind the news. In particular, the scale of modern warfare and the vastness, entropy and fragility of vast air fields and shipping containers surrounded by Afghanistan’s mountainous ter-rain,” she said.

“We were trying to show the sub-tle things, not the drama of impact, inspired by the watchfulness and constant suspense of waiting.”

The exhibition is on display at the AWM until August 18.

MEAO on exhibition

HERC ART: One of the RAAF paintings on display.

THE Army Motorcycle Safety Awareness Program, RIDE SMART, follows from the now-defunct Defence Motorcycle Safety Awareness course that was held around the country from 2006 to 2009.

CA LTGEN Ken Gillespie decided that a motorcycle safety awareness course should continue and decided to fund RIDE SMART for another three years.

As a big supporter of motorcycle safety, CAF has agreed that Air Force get on board the program.

Building on the past

Focus on safety

The program is about being a smart rider who, while enjoying the ride, makes sure they finish it and protects themselves and others.

– David Shipley‘

CAPT Joe Nyhan got to experience an Operation Resolute mission first-hand when he caught a ride on a 92WG AP-3C in the Top End.

It’s two hours prior to launch out of Darwin and the 11 members of Crew 1, 11SQN, morning brew in hand, gather around for that day’s mission

briefing in support of Operation Resolute. It is a familiar routine for FLTLT Adam Saber and his crew who are on another rotation for border protection duties in the Top End after leaving their friends and families behind at home in Adelaide.

Air Force AP-3Cs have now flown in excess of 2200 sorties on Operation Resolute tasks since late 2002. Today’s eight-hour mission is typical; a patrol of Australia’s Provisional Fisheries and Surveillance Exclusion Line north-west of Darwin as well as looking out for potential irregular entry vessels.

The airframe might well be older than most of the crew operating it, but the capability of the AP-3C has been updated throughout the aircraft’s life to ensure it remains at the leading edge.

After a transit of an hour-and-a-quarter at cruising altitude, the Orion begins its descent through cloud and rain in preparation for its first sweep of the ‘line’.

With windscreen wipers working overtime, a glimpse of the white caps breaking atop the swell below can be seen as the aircraft passes through 500 feet, then the Orion drops under the low cloud ceiling, continuing its descent initially to 120 feet and then climbing to just under the cloud layer. With the

14 Op Resolute featureJune 24, 2010RCEAIR F 15

Number Four starboard outboard engine shut down and propeller feathered to increase endurance, the AP-3C still manages 250 knots and produces nearly 9000 horsepower on the remaining three engines which are set at full power. At this height and speed, things happen very quickly and the chatter throughout the aircraft is disciplined and confined to mission essentials. The crew is so close that they can often tell what each other are thinking by the inflections in their voices.

“Sensor tacco,” calls tactical co-ordinator FLTLT Mick McGreevy to FLTLT Matthew Basedow, the lead among the five sensor operators. “How many contacts?”

“We’ve got a Type 3 fishing vessel south of the line but he’s steaming,” FLTLT Basedow responds. The one on the nose is a Type 4 tracking zero-six-zero. Are you happy? He’s got a red tarp over the top of him. Five seconds pilots…”

“Ready,” replies FLTLT Saber from the captain’s seat.

And so the communication goes on for the next six-and-a-half hours as the crew identifies every surface vessel in its path, using the Orion’s sophisticated array of sensors backed up by visual observation. It’s a well-oiled machine.

“If it’s out here, there is no hiding the fact,” FLTLT Saber says.

To maximise concentration and minimise fatigue, FLTLT Saber and co-pilot FLGOFF Michael Holding rotate flying duties at regular intervals. Down the back, the sensor operators seated sideways under dim lighting along the fuselage in front of their screens are also able to relieve one another. It’s not quite airline standard, but with plenty of room to move, the pilots, flight engineers, air combat operator, tactical coordinator and sensor operators are able to help themselves to a brew, a cold drink or hot meal whenever the opportunity arises.

With the current operational tempo and versatility of the AP-3C, the Orion crews are subjected to a wide range of flying. Within the current 12-month period, Crew 1, 11SQN, will have flown Operation Resolute rotations, performed search and rescue tasks, taken part in Exercise Rimpac in Hawaii and flown missions in support of Operation Slipper over Afghanistan.

“We try to keep the crews fairly constant,” says FLTLT Saber. “It’s

really important to know how individual people do things and we can work much more efficiently when we develop that team bond.

“When we are engaged in search and rescue activities, we’re working against the clock to ensure we get the best out of the people and the aircraft so we can provide the best possible level of response to the people in distress.

"Similarly, the surveillance activities of Op Resolute are very challenging, but require different preparation and a different mission focus. Concurrently, we have to maintain the crew at a high level of preparedness for when we transition back to the type of flying we do over Afghanistan. And then there’s our more traditional roles of anti-submarine and maritime warfare. Anti-submarine warfare is very challenging, and very exhilarating, normally conducted at 100 to 300 feet above the water, and is a much more aggressive type of flying.”

The radio crackles to life again as air combat officer FLTLT Nicola Rhodes contacts the Armidale Class Patrol Boat HMAS Childers.

“Australian Patrol Boat, this is Sea Lion. Operating your area. You got anything for us?”

“Sea Lion,” Childers responds. “Unknown vessel bearing 265 from our position.”

“We’ll check it out for you,” FLTLT Rhodes replies.

A short time later, the contact is identified by FLTLT Basedow’s team.

“It looks like a trawler,” he calls on intercom. “You happy with

that?" he asks the tactical co-ordinator.

FLTLT McGreevy replies, “Yeah, I can see the booms out fishing.”

With the mission complete, FLTLT Basedow reflects on its outcomes. Approximately 50 surface contacts across 80,000 square miles of ocean were investigated and the vessels’ activity near Australia’s border accounted for. He considers it a relatively quiet day, but ponders how long and how many resources would have been needed to achieve the same outcome without the Orion. The AP-3C might be older than most of the crew, but it still has no equal in capability.

FLTLT Matthew Basedow says that the AP-3C world is unique in that all jobs are competency, not rank, based.

“It takes three to five years to fully train someone to operate the full suite of sensors. Sometimes the least experienced operator is a 20-year-old SGT working within a group of very bright people.

"The best thing about maritime is that it’s a team sport; everyone working together with their different skills sets to achieve a collective goal.”

SMOOTH OPERATORS

MARITIME MARITIME LIFELINELIFELINE

TACCO: FLTLT Mick McGreevy. Photo: ABIS James Whittle

ACO: FLTLT Nicola Rhodes. Photo: LACW Shannon McCarthy

SEM: FLTLT Matthew Basedow.

CAPTAIN’S SEAT: FLTLT

Adam Saber at the controls of an Orion as it makes

a low pass over a foreign fishing

vessel during an Operation

Resolute mission. Photo: ABIS James

Whittle

UP AND AWAY: An Orion takes

off from RAAF Base Darwin for a

mission. Photo: LACW Shannon McCarthy

LOOKING: Above, AEA SGT Peter Hedger observes vessels from an AP-3C on a Resolute mission. COOL TASK: Left, 11SQN’s SGT Ben Herbst, left, and CPL Sean Conway remove a ground air-conditioning unit from an AP-3C at RAAF Base Darwin.HANDS ON: Right, AC Josiah Jiri carries out repairs on an aircraft. Photos: LACW Shannon McCarthy

HIGH FLIERS: 10SQN aircraft captain FLTLT Marija Jovanovich and co-pilot FLGOFF Nathan Bunt after a mission. Photo: LACW Shannon McCarthy

PROPER CHECK: FLTENG WOFF Peter Robjent inspects an AP-3C propeller before a flight. Photo: LACW Shannon McCarthy

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LAC Aaron Curran

IF YOU feel you are having one of those days when everything is just too confus-ing, spare a thought for Air Force person-nel at Tamworth Airport.

Operating in the relatively small BAE Flight Training Facility are two members who are both called Mark Smith – and are both WGCDRs. You can imagine the confusion that must cause.

OIC ADF Pilot Selection Agency (ADFPSA) WGCDR Mark Smith is referred to as the ‘elder’ and CO ADF Basic Flying Training School (ADFBFTS) WGCDR Mark Smith, the ‘younger’. They are also the only two WGCDR Mark Smiths in the Air Force.

“We have both been in Tamworth since September 2007,” the elder said.

“I was posted to the ADFPSA to replace the younger.”

On top of that, they previously knew each other at 1 Flight Training School where the elder was a flying instructor and the younger a student.

Now here is the confusing part: the younger was replaced as OIC ADFPSA by the elder and in turn will be replaced by the younger later this year.

Got that?In other words, the younger was

replaced by the elder who will be replaced by the younger – it goes full circle.

“Considering that the ADFPSA is about to have its third period in a row with a Mark Smith as OIC, perhaps it is

LAC Aaron Curran

THEY say when you join the Air Force it is not just you who joins, but your whole family.

For the Higgs family, that saying rings true. FSGT Julie Higgs and her husband WOFF Mark Higgs recently attended their daughter Jordan’s graduation from 1 Recruit Training Unit (1RTU), carrying on the family’s tradition of service.

Julie and Mark, both Signals Operator – Linguists in Canberra, have accumulated more than 50 years service in the ADF.

They said the ADF has always been a positive influence in their lives, so they were not surprised when Jordan decided to follow in their footsteps.

Halfway though Year 12, Jordan chose supplier for her Air Force career.

“My parents suggested some-

thing like supplier because it would immediately give me more exposure to the wider Air Force and has good deployment opportunities,” Jordan said.

“I thought it would be an excit-ing job, with good money, job secu-rity and travel opportunities. Mum and Dad gave me good advice and I thought I knew what I was getting into but nothing really prepared me for 1RTU.”

Julie and Mark always hoped she would choose the Air Force life – but they were also careful not to push her.

“We told her it was a great job choice where she would have secu-rity, the best training and opportuni-ties for advancement,” Julie said.

“Once we knew she was accept-ed we talked a lot about the hard work ahead, keeping her head down and giving it 100 per cent with the end result hopefully being a long and rewarding career.”

The first time they saw her in Service Dress at the 1RTU gradu-ation was a moment they said they would never forget.

“Everyone could see how proud we were of her and how proud she was to wear the uniform,” Julie said.

“It was also her 18th birthday, but she was adamant it took a back-seat to her graduation. Now she has graduated, we know the experiences and opportunities that lie ahead of her.”

Jordan said she was relieved to have made it through 1RTU and that it was “awesome” to be stand-ing there in the same uniform as her parents.

One thing that Julie and Mark – and any other parent of a teen-ager – could laugh at was Jordan’s reflection on recruit training.

“It was very rewarding to get to the end of the course,” she said. “But I have never had to be so tidy in my life.”

ONE OF US: WOFF Mark Higgs and his wife FSGT Julie Higgs with their daughter ACW Jordan Higgs.

Daughter joins family tradition

a job requirement for that position,” the elder said.

The elder told of a situation at a Rotary dinner.

“I was invited to address a Rotary dinner where some of the audience knew and thought that the other Mark Smith was the guest speaker,” he said.

“‘You’re not Mark Smith!’ is turn-ing into a common phrase heard around Tamworth these days.”

One last piece of information to add to the confusion at Tamworth: a flying instructor from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology at Point Cook recently completed flight screening at Tamworth.

His name is Marc Smith.

NEARLY SEEING TRIPLE: WGCDR Mark Smith, OIC ADF Pilot Selection Agency, left, and WGCDR Mark Smith, CO ADF Basic Flying Training School, with Mr Marc Smith and the model of the “Black Cat” that his flight screening course built at Tamworth.

WGCDR Mark Smiths keep them on their toes

Everyone could see how proud we were of her and how proud she was to wear the uniform.‘

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18 June 24, 2010RCEAIR FFlightline

HARD HAT: Above, 92WG aircraft life support fitter CPL Arron Cox fits a helmet to Tim Wilkey from Para West High School during a visit by 60 indigenous students to RAAF Base Edinburgh. The visit was organised by the SA Directorate of Indigenous Affairs as part of its Indigenous Youth Connections Program. SHARP END: Below, during the same visit, 11SQN’s FLTLT Jamie Stirling shows Alfie Gollan, left, of Ross Trevor College and Joel Calyun of Para West High School the cockpit of an Orion aircraft. Photos: LAC Glen McCarthy

AFTER CARE: Above, 75SQN avionic technician AC Nathan Cowie inspects the engine intake and front turbine blades during an after-flight check of a Hornet on Exercise Bersama Shield, held from April 26 to May 7. KEEPING THEM AIRBORNE: Left, 75SQN’s LAC Luke Rodell conducts a pre flight service on a Hornet pilot’s helmet at RMAF Base Butterworth during the exercise. Photos: LAC Casey Smith

COMBAT TECHNICAL EXPERTISE REWARDED: SQNLDR Justin Cockroft from Headquarters Combat Support Group displays his US Meritorious Service Medal and WOFF Paul Dowdle from 382ECSS displays his Bronze Star after they received the awards for their duties with the Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) Intelligence Fusion Cell, Joint Combined Task Force Troy, Multi-National Corps-Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. SQNLDR Cockroft was the leader of the C-IED training team, which comprised ADF personnel and contractors. They were responsible for providing C-IED training to more than 60,000 coalition personnel in the Iraqi theatre of operations. WOFF Dowdle was responsible for mentoring Intelligence Section personnel on the technical aspects of IEDs. They were awarded their prestigious medals at RAAF Base Amberley on May 11. Photo: ACW Rosaleen Normoyle

JUST LIKE OLD TIMES: Former Indonesian Air Force AVM Djoko Poerwoko (ret’d), is shown over an F-111 by XO 82WG WGCDR Terence Deeth during his visit to RAAF Base Amberley. Now a journalist with Indonesia’s Angkasa magazine, the former fighter pilot met several personnel during a tour of the base last month. Photo: ACW Sandra Midson

19 PersonnelJune 24, 2010RCEAIR F

A MilHOP, SKIP AND A JUMPTO A BETTER HEALTH FUTUREFor a better health service for you and your ADF teammates, participate in the MilHOP survey.

milhop@cmvh.org.aucmvh.org.au/milhop1800 886 567

Alan Pinsker

IF YOU haven’t yet completed the Military Health Outcomes Program (MilHOP) Survey, it’s not too late to help make a difference.

That’s the latest message from researchers of MilHOP to those ADF personnel who are yet to complete its web-based question-naire.

Since the study went online on April 23, the response rate has been excellent with a large number of serving personnel already com-pleting the online survey.

“We don’t want to lose momentum and have the survey drop off the radar of ADF per-sonnel; we really need those who have partially completed it to fin-ish it off, and those who have yet to start it to jump on board and do so,” MilHOP principal investigator Professor Sandy McFarlane said.

Professor McFarlane said securing a significant response rate was critical to the success of the study and the ability of researchers to make recommenda-tions from it.

“Completing the survey is

about ADF members actively engaging in providing feedback on their health outcomes to Defence health services, which will be of benefit to themselves, their fami-lies and their mates in the future,” he said.

Invitations to become involved have been sent to more than 55,000 serving ADF members.

All participants are assured that their privacy is protected and their responses to the questionnaire will remain anonymous.

The study is scheduled to be completed by June 30, 2012.

Anyone who has not received an invitation to fill out the MilHOP Survey, has had difficulties dealing with the web-based questionnaire or would prefer a hard copy sent to them by mail, should ring the freecall number 1800 886567 or email milhop@cmvh.org.au

Study is now offi cialBen Wickham

THE most extensive health study in ADF history was of-ficially launched on June 15, and commanders are urging all ADF men and women to take part.

The Military Health Outcomes Program (MilHOP) is the initiative of the Centre for Military and Veterans’ Health (CMVH).

CMVH is a consortium of the Universities of Queensland and Adelaide and Charles Darwin University, and is funded by the Department of Defence and Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

MilHOP comprises four studies:� MEAO Health Study – This study will examine the

25,000 current and ex-ADF personnel who deployed to the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) between 2001 and 2009.

� MEAO Prospective Health Study – This will assess current ADF personnel both before and after they deploy to the MEAO in 2010-2011.

� MEAO Mortality and Cancer Incidence Study – This will look at rates of death and cancers among MEAO veterans.

� Health and Wellbeing Survey – This study looks at the mental health of currently serving ADF personnel who have not deployed to the MEAO. Participants are asked to complete a survey either in hard copy or online. A number of participants will be invited to take part in a subsequent telephone interview.VCDF LTGEN David Hurley delivered a firm mes-

sage to ADF commanders, saying, “you need to drive your men and women to respond to this survey.

“To be successful we need at least 55 per cent of the personnel who are in the ADF to respond.

“It’s not only those who have served overseas, but also those who are yet to deploy and those who may not deploy,” LTGEN Hurley said.

According to the Director of CMVH, Professor Peter Warfe, one of the major outcomes of the three MEAO studies will be to reveal “whether there’s been any signif-icant change in these people’s health, compared to people who haven’t gone to the Middle East”.

Director of Mental Health COL Stephanie Hodson said the Health and Wellbeing Survey stems from the recommendations of the 2009 Dunt Review and has four goals: “It will give us a mental health prevalence rate. It will allow us to look at risk factors. It also will allow us to look at stigma and barriers to care and it will allow us to validate our current mental health screening proc-esses,” COL Hodson said.

Demonstrating the Health and Wellbeing Survey online form at the launch was CPL Alisha Davis.

CPL Davis said the survey was straightforward.“It’s easy – there are no trick questions,” she said.“It’s going to be great because Defence needs to know

about our mental health and how we’re feeling.”

Let’s hop to it, everyone

SURVEY: LCDR Tony Ellis and CPL Alisha Davis show the MilHOP survey form to VCDF LTGEN David Hurley and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel Alan Griffin.

Photo: Bryan Doherty

20 June 24, 2010RCEAIR FPersonnel

DEFENCE logistics staff can ex-pect access to an improved software package next month that will replace the current system and enhance the way Defence does business.

The Military Integrated Logistics Information System (MILIS) will replace the Standard Defence Supply System (SDSSv4) perma-nently as of June 30 with MILIS available for use, under Joint Project 2077, on July 5.

Set to offer significant improve-ments in the management of Defence logistics, the JP2077 Project Team will facilitate the MILIS software transition.

As preparations for the introduc-tion of the system draw to a close, Air Force has been working closely with the project team to ensure a successful transition across the serv-ice.

MILIS representative LTCOL Karel Dubsky said the implementa-tion of MILIS was a complex activ-ity that required the support of many ADF personnel.

“MILIS will ‘go live’ over four phases in 10 weeks, with phase one officially launched on June 1,” LTCOL Dubsky said.

“Business preparation, support, processes and restart activities, plus transaction freezes, outages and workarounds, will be addressed within this 10-week software roll out.”

He said that while MILIS would alter some processes, the majority of fundamental tasks would remain unchanged.

To assist ADF users with MILIS process changes, the Electronic Supply Chain Manual has been updated.

AIR FORCE commanders, safety personnel and other interested members are invited to comment on their observations of RAAF-SAFE to assist in a review of the system.

The Directorate of Defence Aviation and Air Force Safety (DDAAFS) is undertaking the review, which is nearing the next devel-opmental phase.

Areas for improvement identified so far in the review include:� better definition for some of the

RAAFSAFE requirements and account-abilities including acquisition and modi-fication;

� better auditing tools to assist with pro-ducing objective results;

� improved alignment between SAFETYMAN and RAAFSAFE;

� provision of Air Force specific guidance on the treatment of hazards;

� better direction as to what consti-tutes mandatory policy and what is guid-ance;

� inclusion of risk management policy and guidance;

� measures to provide visibility of legisla-tive requirements; and

� opportunities for closer alignment with the Aviation Safety Management System.Input is sought by July 9 by email-

ing DDAAFS@defence.gov.au For more information, contact SQNLDR

James Ryan on (02) 6266 3987.

See the next edition for a story on Air Force safety, featuring the winners of the recent Air Force Safety Awards.

MILIS to go live

COMMANDER Joint Lo-gistics AVM Margaret Staib wants to spur logisticians to tap into their good ideas to achieve far-reaching logistics reforms.

“In the near future we’ll be working from new warehouses and using new systems and technology,” AVM Staib said.

“What we need are new ideas about how we can best support the more muscular and hard hitting ADF that will be here in 2030.”

AVM Staib made the comments leading up to the Australian Defence Logistics Conference 2010, which is being held at the Australian Defence Force Academy on July 15 and 16.

For information on the conference, visit http://intranet.defence.gov.au/JLC or call (02) 6266 2101 or (02) 4237 5554.

Call for ideas

� June 1-30Finalisation of Go-Live prepa-rations, including the introduc-tion of interim business proc-esses and workarounds.� July 1-6Cut-over activities, including the removal of all user access to SDSSv4, the archiving of data, and the granting of user access to MILIS.� July 7-23 Fixed asset migration, includ-ing the removal of interim business processes and workarounds introduced in the Go-Live preparation phase.� July 31 End of month activities, including the transition of MILIS support from the project to sustainment.

Project phases Have your say on RAAFSAFE

DO YOU have an interest in air power and are you inter-ested in putting your thoughts on the subject to paper?

Then, CAF is interested in seeing what you have to say.

CAF AIRMSHL Mark Binskin believes that the abil-ity to clearly articulate and debate air power issues is of fundamental importance to the development of every Air Force member and that is why he announced a new initiative, the Chief of Air Force Essay Competition (CAFEC), at the 2010 Air Power Conference.

He said the CAFEC was another means to raise awareness of the Air Force’s contribution during past conflicts and to develop professional mastery.

He also said the competition was a vehicle for further promoting discussion within the wider community on the contribution of air power within the Australian context.

The CAFEC has two prize categories. The Wrigley Prize is open to all ADF personnel, Australian citizens and foreign military personnel serving with the ADF. Participants will write an essay of no more than 5000 words from a list of contemporary air power topics.

The winner will receive $2000. The Middleton Prize is open to Air Force cadets at

the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) only. Participants will be required to submit an essay of no more than 3000 words about a battle or operation in which the RAAF was involved.

The winner will receive a fully-sponsored ADFA bat-tlefield study tour for 2011.

Essays for the 2010 CAFEC are to be submitted to the Air Power Development Centre by November 1.

For further information about the essay competition, including submission requirements and topic selections, visit the APDC website at http://airpower.airforce.gov.au or email airpower@defence.gov.au

Air power essay prizes up for grabs

CHANGE AFOOT: Suppliers like CPL Kane Beasley, left, and LAC Neville Gamble will find their work made easier after MILIS goes live. Photo: LACW Shannon McCarthy

LTCOL Dubsky said that some components of MILIS would not be available at ‘Go-Live’, however, it is anticipated that these would be available as part of the first software upgrade scheduled for August 14.

For ADF members who have already successfully complet-ed MILIS training, the use of the

MILIS Sandpit (replica environ-ment) is encouraged to ensure indi-viduals maintain and improve upon their software knowledge and skills.

For further information on the MILIS Go-Live phases, visit http://intranet.defence.gov.au/dmoweb/Sites/JP2077/comweb.asp?page=85433

June 24: The Ceremonial Band will support the 2FTS Pilots’ Course gradu-ation parade at RAAF Base Pearce from 10.45am.June 25: The Ceremonial Band will provide musical support to the 2ACO and Observer graduation parade at the School of Air Warfare, RAAF Base East Sale, from 11am.June 25: The Ceremonial Band will support the Korean Veterans Commemoration ceremony at the Shrine of Remembrance, St Kilda Rd, Melbourne.June 29: A band chamber group will provide background music for the RAAFA Luncheon in Ballarat.June 30: The Ceremonial Band will support the 1RTU Graduation parade at RAAF Base Wagga from 11am.July 2: The Ceremonial Band will sup-port the OTS Graduation parade at RAAF Base East Sale from 11.30am.

AIR FORCE BAND

HELP US BE SAFE: Tell Air Force what you think of RAAFSAFE.

21 PersonnelJune 24, 2010RCEAIR F

Defence have closed their 6 calibra�on equipment laboratories around the country.The surplus equipment as well as addi�onal electronics and avionics equipment will be auc�oned at ManheimFowles Melbourne on Wednesday 7th July.

The auc�on will feature oscilloscopes, spectrum analysers, transformers, various generators, radio test sets, voltmeters, power supplies, soldering sta�ons and more.

You can view the items on Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th July.

Department of Defence Calibra�on and Electronics Auc�on

manheimfowles.com.au

Dept of Defence

22-9

-92

LMCT

858

8For more informa�on or to register to receive informa�on about this and future Defence electronics auc�ons visitmanheimfowles.com.au and click on the electronics icon on the right or contact Peter Carah on 0400 646 693, email peter.carah@manheimfowles.com.auManheimFowles - Gordon Luck Ave, Altona Nth VIC 3025

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A WINDOW of opportunity is being opened for airmen as the Executive Warrant Officer (EXEC-WOFF) mustering enters its third year of operation.

The mustering was established in January 2008.

CAF AIRMSHL Mark Binskin said the mustering had matured during the last two years.

“It has proved to be an excel-lent resource for gathering infor-mation and providing solutions for commanders,” CAF said.

The identity of EXEC-WOFFs as a mustering is being addressed. In December 2009, CAF present-ed EXEC-WOFFs with a unique Badge of Office. It comprises the Air Force crest and ‘Executive Warrant Officer’ title.

Also that month, the EXEC-WOFFs attended a three-day Cognitive Behavioural Workshop.

Conducted in Canberra under the guidance of the Adaptive Culture team and human resource developer Dr Stephen Mugford, the workshop aimed to let them better co-ordinate their efforts on behalf of airmen as well as explore the dynamics of their role in the Air Force.

As the chief conduit for air-men’s issues for commanders, the role of EXEC-WOFFs is an impor-tant one.

They ensure that our people are being professionally led, managed and trained, alongside the chain of command.

WOFF Stephen Airey, EXEC-WOFF for Air Lift Group, said one of the most rewarding aspects of his role was its influence in the future direction for the ADF.

“You have the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with senior officers, which opens one’s eyes to the ‘big picture’ and the ever- increasing challenges that Defence is facing,” WOFF Airey said.

“Visiting units also allows

AIR MAIL

G'day all. It has been a while since I have had the opportunity to let you know what has been happening around Air Force. CAF, the Air Commander and I have had the pleasure of conducting several base visits and parades this year.

These have been very successful as they are a great opportunity for CAF to address everyone and then chat further about issues and questions during the visits. It is also a great opportunity for me to see a lot of you in your workplace and answer your questions.

Our visits so far have taken in RAAF Bases Edinburgh, Richmond, Darwin, Tindal and Townsville.

I recently attended the Air Force Awards Night and was pleased to announce CPL Michael Gifford as the AVM B.A. Eaton Airmen of the Year, CPL Christopher Rounsley as the inaugural WOFF-AF Instructor of the Year and CPL Lauren Cunningham as the winner of this year’s Lipshut Bursary.

Congratulations to these very deserving winners.

I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the Air Force members, particularly the enlisted members, recog-nised on the Queen’s Birthday Honours List this year. Well done.

There has been a lot happening around Air Force as far as the WOFF fraternity is concerned. This year’s three members at Command and Staff College are due to graduate soon. We have sent the Group WOFF for AFTG, WOFF Gina Goninon, over to New Zealand to represent Australia and the RAAF at the Warrant Officer Advanced course. This is a great opportu-nity for us to get into the New Zealand tri-service environment.

The CSG Group WOFF, WOFF Jason Van Rysbergen, attended the USAF Senior Enlisted Leaders Forum, which was a great opportunity for us to represent the RAAF with our coalition partners and senior enlisted leaders from around the Asia-Pacific region.

These opportunities help our neigh-bours and coalition partners better under-stand our Air Force structure and the way we develop our enlisted force. Our neigh-bours are very keen to learn and adapt to some of our ways as they see us as a strong, dedicated force.

Until next time, be good.

Way ahead forEXEC–WOFFs

WOFF-AF JJ Millar

EXEC-WOFFs a greater opportu-nity to network and identify areas of concern. Each unit has its own set of challenges and these will vary from location to location.

“EXEC-WOFFs observe and monitor the morale of the airmen workforce and provide solutions up the chain of command. This task is made much easier by using WOFF networks as these aid the transmission of information.”

“It is essential that these work efficiently to pass on the com-mander’s intent and expectations,” he said.

As well as carrying out tra-ditional senior airman roles, the mustering’s primary function is to

support commanders in achieving their ‘Raise, Train and Sustain’ activities, as well as meeting exer-cise and operational commitments.

Further certainty over EXEC-WOFF career progression will come from DP-AF’s career pro-gression plan, which will soon be published and will be able to be viewed on People Central.

EXEC-WOFFs will have the opportunity to have two post-ing tenures at each level with the opportunity to reapply for a 12

month extension at each stage. They can also continue on to the Air Command WOFF and WOFF-AF positions.

With the establishment of a career progression plan, WOFFs from all musterings are now expressing interest in applying for EXEC-WOFF positions.

Candidates that are selected for remuster to EXEC-WOFF will have excellent opportunities to advance their own and their organ-isation’s development.

A quick word from JJ

I would like to introduce the ALG EXEC-WOFFs, WOFFs Airey and Wheatley (above), and thank them for this inform-ative article. There will be articles coming from each of the Force Element Groups to keep you all up-to-date with what is happening within the respective groups.

EXECS: 86WG’s WOFF Ian Wheatley, left, and WOFF Stephen Airey of HQALG discuss personnel matters. Photo: LAC Philip Sharpe

Director of Studies – Air at the Australian Command and Staff College (ACSC), GPCAPT Ted Prencel, left, and WOFF-AF JJ Millar, right, congratulate the first three WOFFs to undertake both the Foundation Studies and Air Force Single Service modules at the college. With their certificates, from left, WOFFs Mark Pentreath, Tim Fuery and John McMahon graduated on June 11 after five months of intensive study.

Photo: John Illingworth, ACSC

First for WOFF study

www.dha.gov.au | 139 DHA (139 342)

Received your posting before 1 July 2010?

Moving before 31 August 2010?

You will need to talk to us as we will manage your relocation. Any postings received after 1 July 2010 will be handled by Toll Transitions.

23 HistoryJune 24, 2010RCEAIR F

Andrew Stackpool

THE Historical Aircraft Restora-tion Society (HARS) is interested in hearing from any serving or former members of the Navy’s Fleet Air Arm and Air Force who have any experience and/or quali-fications relating to the former Macchi MB326H jet trainer air-craft.

F r o m t h e s t a b l e o f Aermacchi in Italy, but with the Australian designator CA-30 (the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation – CAC – built almost

80 of them), the aircraft type flew with the Air Force between 1967 and 2000 and the Navy between 1967 and 1983.

Ai r Force opera ted 87 Macchis; Navy 10.

The Air Force variant had the series number A7.

HARS has acquired the former Air Force Macchi A7-025 and intends to restore it to flying condition.

Project manager of the HARS Macchi restoration committee, Ben Morgan, said the society was inviting current or former mem-bers with Macchi experience or

qualifications to contact his team.“This is an extensive restora-

tion project and one of signifi-cance as there are no Macchis in flying service with the Air Force or on the civil register in Australia,” Mr Morgan said.

“There are also very lim-ited numbers of these aircraft in museum hands and for the gen-eral public to view.”

The RAAF Museum has A7-001 on display.

Macchi A7-025 last served with No. 25 (City of Perth) Squadron and had a colourful service history.

“We are very proud to be the custodians of this important piece of Air Force history,” he said.

When it is restored, the Macchi will join the other former Air Force aircraft operated by HARS from its base at Albion Park, NSW. They are a Lockheed SP-2H Neptune, a PBY Catalina, C-47 Dakotas and a de Havilland FB-31 Vampire.

It will also be used for static aircraft displays with other non-flying aircraft including a CAC Wirraway, a CAC Boomerang, a CAC Ceres cropduster and a CAC MK 32 Sabre.

Calling all experts

FLASHBACK: Air Force Macchi A7-025 flying in the 1980s. HARS now intends to restore the aircraft to airworthiness; the only one in Australia, and is seeking volunteers to assist. Photo: courtesy HARS

LONG ROAD AHEAD: Repainted in camouflage colours, the after fuselage section of A7-025 is carefully lowered onto a low loader for its trip to HARS and restoration to flying condition. Photo: courtesy HARS

DURING the 1960s, the Air Force needed replacement aircraft for its ageing Winjeel and Vampire training aircraft and decided to opt for an all-jet trainer to train pilots for the Mirage III jet fighter then on order from France. In 1965 it se-lected the Italian Macchi MB-326.

While the first 20 airframes were made in Italy, the aircraft were to be produced under licence by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC).

The Air Force’s first Macchi flew in Italy in April 1967 and handed over in October 1968. Australian

production continued until the last aircraft was delivered in September 1972.

It served with 25, 76, 77 and 79SQNs until 2000. It also served with 2 Operational Conversion Unit, 5 Operational Training Unit, 2 Flying Training School, Central Flying School and with the Roulettes between 1970 and 1989.

The Navy’s aircraft were based at the Naval Air Station, HMAS Albatross and flown by 724SQN.

With the end of fixed-wing avia-tion by the RAN in 1982, the 10 aircraft were transferred to the Air Force in mid-1983.

Memories of Macchis

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Defence Relocation Services are changing in 2010Effective 1 July 2010 Toll Transitionswill be the primary contact for all ADF member and family relocations.

Freecall 1800 819 167 or visit www.tolltransitions.com.au

Freecall 139 DHA (139 342) or visit www.dha.gov.au

Toll Transitionswill be responsible for the co-ordination of ADF member and family relocations and relocation entitlements and allowances.

Defence Housing Australia will manage ADF member and family housing and related services.

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25 HealthJune 24, 2010RCEAIR F

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Avoid winter damageWHILE winter sports provide the oppor-tunity to provide some social interaction and friendly competition, they can also lead to a higher risk of injury for the ill-prepared.

The ADF Health Status (2000) rated sports injuries as high as 32 per cent.

Recent statistics highlighted by Sports Medicine Australia show an increase of more than 30 per cent for sporting injuries during winter months.

With this in mind, how can you best minimise your chance of injury?

Human errorOne of the major causes of sporting

injuries is human error. Often players ‘jump in’ to make up the numbers or there is only one team in the local work-place and all players, regardless of skill level, are welcome.

Have you been asked to ‘fill in’ or ‘come and play’ for a work team (with the match being that night)?

With low sports-specific skill levels, the chance of injury is high. Likewise, poor fitness plays its part.

For months, your only metabolic training has been a 2.4km run that lasts no more than 15 minutes; suddenly you are on the pitch for 90 minutes and, as fatigue sets in, technique falters and injuries occur.� Ensure you are fit enough to play

sport. Undertake some pre-season fit-ness training.

� Before all games, include a warm-up that concludes with a simulated game, thus preparing the body for the specific activity to follow.

Terrain and equipmentSporting fields or ovals that have

lowered pipes, drains and sprinklers cre-ate potential trip hazards.

Many fields also have hidden pot-holes and dips with stones, pebbles and branches scattered around.

Most team sports at one stage or another have players sliding, falling or jumping. Loose soil or stones or sticks and uneven footing caused by dips or potholes can not only cause sprains and strains but also tear and graze skin.

Often ring-in players have to borrow equipment that does not fit correctly or for simplicity, many lunchtime-fun games totally disregard inconvenient equipment.

Have you ever played basketball without a mouth guard or soccer with-out shin pads?� Before playing games, even those

quick games, check your playing area. Have each team spread out and search for hidden obstacles and remove the smaller obstacles like stones etc. If unhappy with the venue, find another.

� Avoid using solid concrete paths or gutters that ring the playing area as boundaries, use marker cones or

� Don’t let peer pressure drag you into playing when you know you’re unpre-pared.

� Acclimatise yourself to colder weather by training outdoors and conducting a thorough warm-up that is longer than in the summer months.

� Apply a broad-spectrum 30+ sunscreen to exposed skin when outdoors.

� Maintain your hydration by drinking water before, dur-ing and after the game or training.

� Dress in layers to trap heat and prevent heat loss. Add or remove layers of cloth-ing as necessary accord-ing to exercise level and conditions.

� Those with a pre-existing medical condition affecting the feet, such as diabetes, should see a doctor before taking part in winter sports.

The winter sports season is upon us and LT Rob Orr says take particular care with your preparations for the cold season.

jumpers placed well within the field.� Ensure that you have all of the equip-

ment required for your sport and that the equipment is used.

Winter climateOften players are poorly prepared

for the cold climate. With an insufficient warm-up, the colder muscles impact on your energy usage and muscle move-ment, placing your body at a greater risk of injury.

Be prepared both physically and

logistically for your sporting games to minimise your chance of injury.

For more information, visit Sports Medicine Australia: http://sma.org.au/2010/06/preparation-reduces-winter-sports-injuries-2/

WINTER WEAR AND TEAR Some things to think about to avoid injury in the winter sports season.

PREPARED: Are you fit for winter sports? Photo: LT Cameron Jamieson

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26 June 24, 2010RCEAIR FSp rt

Flint second in NZFLGOFF Lisa Flint, who has been chosen to represent Australia in the marathon in India in October, finished second in the Christchurch half-marathon in New Zealand on June 6. She was one of nearly 6000 runners who contested the marathon and half-marathon distances, and set a cracking pace to take the lead at the 1km mark in three minutes. New Zealander Shireen Crumpton hit the lead at 15km and won in 1hr 16min 9sec, 45sec clear of FLGOFF Flint.

Basketball titlesTHE ACT/Wagga Inter-service Basketball competition will be held at the Royal Military College courts in Canberra on the weekend of June 26 and 27. Participants will be con-sidered for the men’s and women’s ACT Combined Services Team to compete at the National Combined Services Championships at RAAF Base Williamtown in late November/early December. Selection is open to all ADF members (permanent and reservists). For more information, contact FLTLT Fiona Harris, fiona.harris@defence.gov.au or, at Wagga, WOFF Ken Robertson, ken.robertson@defence.gov.au. If you are unable to make it and still wish to be considered for selection, let them know.

Lawn bowlers setAIR FORCE lawn bowlers will be desper-ate to recapture their mantle as service champions at this year’s Australian Services Bowls Association National Championships at Booval Bowls Club, Queensland, from September 20 to 24. For years, Air Force and Army have shared the spoils, however, both teams were so stunned by Navy’s shock win at last year’s championships that the call now has gone out to find their next gen-eration of lawn bowlers. The National Championships will include a state v state and an inter-service competition. NSW is conducting its state carnival at Raymond Terrace from August 16 to 20. For enquiries for state and national titles, contact SQNLDR Ian Lane (02) 6127 6241, ian.lane@defence.gov.au or, APS, Ronald Kern (07) 3332 7707, ronald.kern1@defence.gov.au

City to Surf callTHE Australian Defence Running and Athletics Association hopes to field teams for this year’s 14km City to Surf in Sydney on August 8. If you are interested, send your name as soon as possible (it’s a popular event with about 75,000 participants and entries close early) to luke.grattan@defence.gov.au

IN BRIEF

John Martin

FOR the third year running, SGT Mur-ray Stabler has carried the Air Force flag by winning the longboard title at the NSW inter-service surfing carni-val.

It’s a source of frustration though that the coveted Grant Robinson per-petual trophy for the best-performing team at the titles eludes us.

Air Force surrendered an early lead to be narrowly edged out by Navy at the titles near Port Stephens from May 25 to 27.

“We’re getting closer,” SGT Stabler said.

Navy won with 89 points, with Air Force on 84 points.

“Last year we finished 22 points behind, so we’re closing in.”

Air Force also tasted success in the shortboard competition, with FSGT Ricky Phieffer in second place.

The event this year was organ-ised by the RAAF Base Williamtown Boardriders Club and SGT Stabler, aside from competing, took on the job as one of the co-ordinators.

Air Force fielded a strong team of 22 competitors against Army and

Surf’s up againAIRCDRE Rick Owen (JWDTC), longboard; SQNLDR Mark Evans (3CRU), longboard; FLTLT Adam Carrol (81WG), man-ager; FLTLT Ross Murray (SACTU), short; FLGOFF Samantha Hearne (3SQN), female; FLGOFF Luke Shepherd (4SQN), long; FSGT Martin Johns (SACTU), long; FSGT Ricky Pfieffer (3CRU), short; SGT Stephen Medaris (77SQN), short; SGT Murray Stabler (278SQN), long; CPL Simon Dodd (381ECSS), short; CPL Richard Goldshaft (278SQN), short; CPL Russell Huxley (2OCU), long; CPL Stuart Johnson (3SQN), long; CPL Jamie Levin (381ECSS), short; CPL Stefan Mapleson (CFS), marshal; CPL Benjamin Wilkie (36SQN), short; LACW Karen Beveridge (3SQN), female; LAC David Bennett (77SQN), short; LAC William Burnett (2SQN), short; LAC Danny Hawthorne (36SQN), short; LAC Jarvis Lane (381ECSS), long.

THREE TIMES WINNER: SGT Murray Stabler turns off the top of the wave during the team challenge. Photos: LAC Craig Barrett

ABOVE BOARD: FSGT Martin Johns executes a bottom turn.

Air Force teams, but despite a push to attract more female competitors, only two of these were women, as opposed to Navy’s four women.

Conditions over the three competi-tion days ranged from 1m to 3m swell with north-west to south-east winds.

The teams event, which is much sought after for its bragging rights, was held at the end of the individual finals.

Air Force took a commanding lead over Navy and Army in the first half

of the event – only to see it eroded during the afternoon.

Army put in a solid effort but could not match it with the depth of the Navy and Air Force teams and slowly lost touch of the lead through-out the day.

The remainder of the afternoon saw the lead change between the Navy and Air Force several times and the final result was the closest margin seen in recent years.

If the Air Force surfers thought their work was done at the end of competition, they had to think again.

The presentation was held at Williamtown’s Kittyhawk Club, which started with a barbecue meal cooked by the Air Force team.

The awards were presented by AIRCDRE Rick Owen, himself one of the surfers who put in a rock solid performance in both the longboard and the teams event.

OUR SURFERS BRIDGING THE GAP

FORMER WGCDR Matt Hall was praised for his flying when he regained control of his MXS-R aircraft after skimming the Detroit River in Canada in a Red Bull race.

He preferred to look at it differ-ently though.

“I feel like it was a terrible piece of flying to get myself there. So it depends how you look at it,” he said.

“I did what I had to recover from a situation that I put myself in. So I guess it evens out. A slight bit of damage but [I] walked away from it.”

The incident happened dur-ing the first qualifying session in Windsor, Ontario, on June 5.

Hall was challenging for the lead when he suffered an aerodynamic wing stall. His left wing skimmed the surface of the river that sepa-rates the US and Canada. His right wheel cover hit the water as well but Hall was quickly able to regain

Hall talks about his Detroit River feat

control of his aircraft and climb up away into the sky.

“I felt I was having a fairly good run,” Hall said. “I might have skipped twice on the water. It’s a very disappointing result for me. It’s the motor racing equivalent of touching the wall.

“I’ve never hit the surface of the earth before unintentionally. But I have had very close calls.

“There are a lot of risks and you balance the risk and your safety margins so that every now and then if you do go across the line with the safety margin you manage to keep everything else under control, then the odds are stacked in your favour.”

Hall’s plane was inspected in the air after his safety climb out by another pilot who was flying in a holding pattern. Hall then landed safely back at the race airport.

“The main damage is on the right aileron. I think the plane is not that badly damaged. It is going to be a matter of replacing parts.”

Hall finished third in the Red Bull series in his debut year last year and finished second when the event came to Perth, Western Australia, in April.

CLOSE CALL: Matt Hall clips the water on the Detroit River in Windsor, Canada.

Photo: Getty Images for Red Bull Air Race

27June 24, 2010RCEAIR F Sp rt

CPL Craig Barnes

WHILE NSW and Queensland were bracing themselves for the State of Origin rugby league series, airmen at Al Minhad Airbase (AMAB) in the MEAO had something to cheer about themselves.

A touch match was played at AMAB on May 25, the day before the first big game back in Australia.

Queensland supporters will be very happy they got up in the touch too, beating a NSW team 5-3.

Four teams actually competed in the tournament – two Queensland teams and two NSW teams who played off for the right to represent their state in the final.

When the games started at 5.15pm, the temperature was still in the high 30s.

The Queensland fixture finished level at the end of regular time resulting in the need for a drop-off to be played.

After just four touches, Queensland 2 scored in the corner to secure the victory and move to the final.

In the “Battle of the Blues”, NSW 1 opened the scoring through quick hands to score in the corner for what was to be the first of their five tries. NSW 2 could only muster two tries for the game, allowing NSW 1 easy progress to the final.

The final was reminiscent of the real clash and had all the right ingredients to make the encounter a game to remember.

Queensland came out fast, crossing over for two tries in the first few minutes. When they stopped at half-time the temperatures still hov-ering in the low 30s.

Queensland repeated the dose in the second half.

Turning up the heat at Al Minhad

From Back Page After the tri-service tourna-

ment, CDF ACM Angus Houston announced that CAF AIRMSHL Mark Binskin had committed to fielding an Air Force women’s team in the 2011 Australian Services Rugby Championships.

FLGOFF Quinn, who was elated to play in the talented ASRU team and experience competition at the national level, is in no doubt that it can be done.

“The prospect of having a full Air Force Women’s team run out on to the field at next year’s Australian Services Rugby Championships is incredibly exciting,” she said.

“The only way we are going to achieve that, however, is by get-ting the word out there that, in my opinion, this is one of the best team sports out there.

“Air Force girls have definitely been missing out on a great oppor-tunity to represent their service.

“I’ve no doubt that the girls are out there but we just need to get the contacts going and let people know who to contact and what events (development camps, training ses-sions etc) are happening in their area.

“We’ve got a group of girls in Wagga who are incredibly keen and I’m hoping to hold a development camp in August to help identify and improve the skills of girls who would like to play.”

Boon for women’s rugby

LACW Smyth hopes to be involved in that development camp. She’s putting personal rugby goals aside – “I think I’ve probably achieved enough lately,” she said with a laugh – to concentrate on the team Air Force goal.

WO2 Emmett said the ASRU team’s achievements were the result of all the players, from whichever service, coming together as a strong cohesive unit and working together for the common goal.

“This was a key aspect of our preparation,” he said.

WO2 Emmett has no doubt that Air Force can do it too. He’s got another year to serve as ASRU

women’s coach and said he wel-comed the prospect of having more players to pick from.

He certainly has the foundations of a great team already. After stel-lar performances for ASRU, Army players loosehead prop LT Caroline Vakalahi and No. 8/lock LT Kate Porter were asked to train for the Wallaroos team that will be named later this month for the World Cup in England in August. Both women were in last year’s team.

If interested in the women’s Air Force team, contact FLGOFF Margie Quinn on (07) 4752 2201, margaret.quinn@defence.gov.au

THE FOUR PIONEERS: The Air Force players pose together before their last game for ASRU – clockwise, from rear left, FLGOFF Margie Quinn, FLGOFF Gabrielle Cook, SQNLDR Mina Roberts and LACW Brimlea Smyth.

Photo: LAC Leigh Cameron

FAST BREAK: SGT Trent McKellar streaks away for a NSW try with, at right, referee SGT Dave Chessell keeping an eye on the action. Inset: SGT McKellar with his triumphant opposing skipper, SGT Dave Gass. Photo: FLGOFF Michael Yeomans

State of Origin feverState of Origin fever

SP RTJune 24, 2010

Face of the future

STATE OF ORIGIN WINNERS IN THE MEAO Page 27

John Martin

IF ANYONE doubts that Air Force is capable of fielding its own women’s rugby team, consider the meteoric rise of LACW Brimlea Smyth.

After playing just FOUR games of rugby, LACW Smyth – BJ to her teammates – was chosen in the Australian Services Rugby Union (ASRU) team that finished second in division two of the Australian wom-en’s championship in Canberra in early June.

Impressive enough. But that’s not where her remarkable rise ended.

LACW Smyth played two full games and one half-game in the three-game championships and was named the ASRU best back of the series for her performances.

“It was a big surprise,” she said.Last year ASRU actually won

division two but coach WO2 Sean Emmett was impressed with what he sees as progress.

“As strange as it may sound, we actually played better overall this year than last year,” he said.

“We only had to play two games last year.

“We played exceptionally well in the first game this year (beating NSW Development 22-5), but we had some distractions leading into the second game and we were not in the right headspace (losing to Victoria 29-5). We got ourselves in the right frame of mind for the last game (which resulted in a 33-12 win against South Australia).”

Victoria went on to win division two, which came as no surprise. Last year the Vics played in division one.

The ASRU team, which was drawn from 15 Army players, seven Navy players and four Air Force play-ers, was selected after the tri-service carnival in Canberra in May at which Army beat a combined Navy/Air Force team 29-13.

Four of the five Air Force players in that game were chosen for rep-resentative duties: LACW Smyth, SQNLDR Mina Roberts, FLGOFF Margie Quinn and FLGOFF Gabrielle Cook.

Continued Page 27

Striking a blow for women’s rugby

ANNOUNCING HER ARRIVAL: LACW Brimlea Smyth passes the ball at the national women’s championships in Canberra where she was judged Australian Services Rugby Union best back of the series.

Photo: LAC Leigh Cameron

Serving notice in the surf

Page 26