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Learning
to fly - the graduates of 203 Pilots Course savour the moment
before being posted to units across the country.
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Photo
by CPL Gary Dixon
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THE
latest military aviators of the Air Force and Navy graduated from
the Advanced Pilots Course at No. 2 Flying Training School, RAAF
Base Pearce, late last year.
After many hours of ground and flying training over 38 weeks,
the student pilots of 203 Pilots Course were not only relieved
to finally graduate, but excited at the prospect of postings to
operational units.
For Officer Cadet David Torrington, who has been posted to Forward
Air Control, becoming an Air Force pilot has been his long-time
aspiration.
“It has taken four years of hard work but it has finally paid
off,” he said. “I’m looking forward to further challenges my Air
Force career both as a pilot and a junior officer.”
Air Commander Australia Air Vice- Marshal John Quaife was the
graduation reviewing officer and was impressed by the standard
of the parade. In his address AVM Quaife recognised the effort
put in by the graduates and encouraged them to continue working
hard to achieve the highest levels of professional excellence,
leadership and teamwork in the operational environment.
As is customary before the graduation, 2FTS paid tribute to the
efforts of the student pilots, with each student hosted by a qualified
flying instructor in a Thunderbird formation flypast.
A ‘Thunderbird’ consists of approximately 22 PC-9 aircraft and
is the largest formation the Air Force undertakes. The route of
the flypast encompassed a flyover of Rottnest Island, Perth City
and the Pearce base where family and friends were gathered to
help celebrate.
There were five separate award winners for 203 Pilots Course.
OFFCDT Farzan Kalantary won Dux of the Course, Most Proficient
Pilot, and the Navigation awards; OFFCDT Chris Baker won the Instrument
Flying award.
OFFCDT Vladislav Bismarck won the Highest Academic Marks, Pilot
Officer Danny Mills won the Aerobatics prize, while OFFCDT David
Torrington was awarded Most Improved and the Leadership prize.
Graduates have since been posted to a wide range of units including
No. 34 Squadron, No. 36 Squadron, No. 79 Squadron, FAC and 723
Squadron at HMAS Nowra.
