Image Gallery: September 2009
01 September 2009
Arnhem Drifter, Drifts over the Top End
The Balloon went to Nhulunbuy (Gove) to show the balloon and give people from the town and others around it, the opportunity to get up close to it and go for a tethered ride.
The Air Force Hot Air Balloon, operated by a Canberra-based detachment of the Air Force Central Flying School (CFS), is travelling through Arnhem Land as part of Exercise Arnhem Drifter from August 24 to September 4.
It is bringing the Air Force and all of its career possibilities to Indigenous and other Australians in Nhulunbuy, Yirrkala and Gapuwiyak.
The school children of Arnhem Land in particular were left speechless by the sight of this rarely seen object floating above them and for most it is their first experience of seeing one up-close and personal.
The Balloon's pilot, Squadron Leader Michael Bannerman, is a PAF member serving with CFS. Balloon ground crew members are from the Air Force Active Reserves drawn from CFS and No. 28 Squadron. There are four balloon crew members taking part in Exercise Arnhem Drifter, with another four in support – an Air Force medic, an Air Force member in an Indigenous Affairs Liaison role and two Defence Public Affairs personnel.
Weather permitting; the Balloon will conduct free tethered flights for children and teachers during its visit.
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Pictured is the balloon's pilot, Squadron Leader Michael Bannerman in the early morning light as the balloon is getting set up.
(Date taken: 28 August 2009)
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Pictured is crew member Corporal Vivienne Rixon.
(Date taken: 28 August 2009)
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Pictured is crew member Sergeant Paul Thorpe talking to (left to right) Lincoln Teagle, 9, Noah Canobie, 6 and Savanne Canobie, 10.
(Date taken: 28 August 2009)
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Pictured are school children shaking the balloon to get air into it.
(Date taken: 28 August 2009)
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Pictured is crew member, Sergeant Paul Thorpe with school children from Year 3 who were given Air Force bags, stickers and posters.
(Date taken: 28 August 2009)
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Pictured is the balloon taking off just on dawn.
(Date taken: 30 August 2009)
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Pictured is the balloon taking off just on dawn with members of the public on board.
(Date taken: 30 August 2009)
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Pictured is the balloon taking off just after dawn.
(Date taken: 30 August 2009)
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Pictured is Alexandra Manwaring, 9 (left) and Maggie Nash, 9 (obscured) up in the balloon with pilot, Squadron Leader Michael Bannerman.
(Date taken: 30 August 2009)
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Pictured is Indigenous Affairs Liaison, Leading Aircraftwoman Deborah Booker, with members of the public awaiting their turn.
(Date taken: 30 August 2009)
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Pictured is Indigenous Affairs Liaison, Leading Aircraftwoman Deborah Booker, with 7 year old Mary Colquhoun who drew a picture of the balloon for the visiting crew.
(Date taken: 30 August 2009)
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Balloon crew member, Sergeant Paul Thorpe (left), gives Corporal Craig Hackney, transport NCO from Arnhem Squadron NORFORCE, a familiarsation on the Scania truck that was used to transport equipment out to Gapuwiyak. Sergeant Thorpe drove the truck up from Canberra on a 6-day journey carrying the hot air balloon.
(Date taken: 31 August 2009)
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D Flight commander and balloon pilot, Squadron Leader Michael Bannerman, drives out of Arnhem Squadron, NORFORCE's compound on the way to Gapuwiak.
(Date taken: 31 August 2009)
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On the Central Arnhem Road - (left to right standing), Sergeant Paul Thorpe, Squadron Leader Michael Bannerman and medic Corporal Blake Reeve from RAAF Base Tindal. (left to right kneeling) Indigenous Affairs Liaison Leading Aircraftwoman Deborah Booker, Warrant Officer Steve Mountstephen and Corporal Vivienne Rixon.
Mid Caption: The Balloon went to Gapuwiyak, an Indigenous community 230km south-west of Nhulunbuy, for three days to show the balloon and give people from the community and others around it, the opportunity to get up close to it and go for a tethered ride.
(Date taken: 31 August 2009)
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On the Central Arnhem Road - (left to right) Corporal Blake Reeve a medic from RAAF Base Tindal, Corporal Vivienne Rixon, Warrant Officer Steve Mountstephen, Sergeant Paul Thorpe, Indigenous Affairs Liaison Leading Aircraftwoman Deborah Booker and balloon pilot Squadron Leader Michael Bannerman.
(Date taken: 31 August 2009)
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