A vintage Sea Fury, once operated by the RAN Fleet Air Arm, took part in a recent air day at HMAS Albatross. MCAUST RADM Rowan Moffitt, took a seat.

Photo: LCDR Graham Hawkins

By Graham Davis

There were a few minutes the other day that the Maritime Commander Australia, RADM Rowan Moffitt, swapped waves for wings.

He climbed into the cockpit of a vintage Sea Fury aircraft of the type once operated by the RAN Fleet Air Arm.

The occasion was an air day staged at HMAS Albatross by the Australian Museum of Flight in cooperation with the Navy.

Held on October 31, it attracted 15,000 people and broke previous attendance records.

Piloted by John Arnott, the Sea Fury was put through a handling display, one of many performances on the program.

RAN helicopter pilots put their aircraft through their paces while the ever-popular RAAF Roulettes thrilled the huge crowd with their aerobatics.

The Army’s red berets dropped in via parachute adding even more excitement to the day.

The officer in charge of the historic event was LCDR Graham Hawkins.

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