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03 July 2007
Joint Rapid Airfield Construction project lifts off
A team of Australian and United States military engineers have successfully built an air strip in less than four weeks capable of taking the giant C-17 Globemaster aircraft at BFTA.
The Joint Rapid Airfield Construction (JRAC) project team used technologies such as remote control plant equipment, GPS location software and deployable communications systems to build the unsealed landing strip and service aprons. Construction began on 3 June.
The Australian Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd joined Commander of the US 7th Fleet, Vice Admiral Doug Crowder at BFTA for the official opening of the airstrip, in which Australian and American C-17s gave the airstrip its first major test.
The exercise has involved 110 Australian personnel and 105 US personnel. Another 20 civilians from US Army Corp's of Engineers Engineer Research Development Centre have also been involved in the exercise.
The airfield is an example of the type of construction that either United States or Australian engineers would need to undertake to expand a forward base for strategic or heavy lift air transport.
This design provides unloading aprons for two C-17 aircraft with a third aircraft on the runway.
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An Australian C-17 taxis down the Nackeroo airfield towards a turning apron at Bradshaw Field Training Area in the Northern Territory.
(Date taken: 29 June 2007)
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Joint Rapid Airfield Construction (JRAC) Taskforce Commander Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Yeaman says some goodbyes to JRAC Deputy Commander from the US Army Major Pat Stogner at the taskforce headquarters at Bradshaw Field Training Area in the Northern Territory.
(Date taken: 29 June 2007)
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Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd answers questions from the media with an Australian C-17 parked on a turning apron on the Nackeroo airfield at Bradshaw Field Training Area (BFTA) in the Northern Territory.
(Date taken: 29 June 2007)
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Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd farewells the US Commander 13th Air Force Lieutenant General Chip Utterback as they prepare to depart the Nackeroo airfield at Bradshaw Field Training Area (BFTA) in the Northern Territory.
(Date taken: 29 June 2007)
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Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd farewells the US Commander 7th Fleet Vice Admiral Doug Crowder as they prepare to depart the Nackeroo airfield at Bradshaw Field Training Area (BFTA) in the Northern Territory.
(Date taken: 29 June 2007)
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An American C-17 prepares to take-off from Nackeroo airfield at Bradshaw Field Training Area (BFTA) in the Northern Territory.
(Date taken: 29 June 2007)
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An Australian C-17 takes-off from Nackeroo airfield at Bradshaw Field Training Area (BFTA) in the Northern Territory.
(Date taken: 29 June 2007)
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