Course graduates before their departure from BAE Systems at Warton. They are (back) BAE Systems Instructor, WGCDR David Willcox, SQNLDR Steve Smith, BAE Systems Instructor (front) SQNLDR Chris Hake, SQNLDR Katsenmaier, FLTLT Ben Sleeman and FLTLT Hinton Tayloe.

The first six Hawk 127 qualified RAAF pilots returned to Australia in September last year after completing a conversion course in the United Kingdom. The pilots left Australia on 21 July to travel to the BAE Systems facilities at Warton, near Blackpool in England.

The eight-week conversion course included simulated air-to-surface weapon attacks and simulated air-to-surface sorties.

Since returning to Australia, the graduates have been preparing for the introduction of the first 11 Hawk 127 Lead-in-Fighter jets that arrived at 76SQN in October. On arrival, the qualified instructors conducted post conversion flying training on home soil, assisted BAE Systems with test flying operations and conducting test flights.

The instructors are now converting the next six aircrew instructors onto the new aircraft at 76SQN.

By FLTLT Sharon Dwyer