Impressive hourly rate ... Squadron Leader Jeremy Summers has notched 3000hrs in the PC-9/A.

A new elite pilot club, with a membership of just one, has recently been formed at 2FTS.

Squadron Leader Jeremy Summers, Chief Flying Instructor at 2FTS, is the first Air Force pilot to complete 3000 flying hours on the PC-9/A Pilatus basic trainer aircraft. After about 2500 "strap-ins" SQNLDR Summers celebrated his 3000th hour with an aerobatics display above RAAF Base Pearce on June 11 before heading back to earth and celebrating his achievement with staff and students of 2FTS.

While the achievement of 3000 flying hours is not unheard of in the Air Force, especially on long-haul aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules, it has never been achieved by a pilot on the PC-9.

Most sorties on the PC-9 last just over an hour. It has taken SQNLDR Summers nine years and three tours of duty to achieve the milestone. His 3000th PC-9 hour represents nearly half of his total military flying time.

During each of the 3000 hours SQNLDR Summers has gained an affinity with the PC-9 and believes the aircraft is an excellent trainer.

He also believes that the aircraft is safe and reliable, which is just as well because his most memorable moment with the PC-9 was during a dual instruction sortie when the engine failed 8km from base at 5000 feet.

To the great relief of the student pilot and all those waiting at Pearce, SQNLDR Summers was able to glide the aircraft safely back.

He is enjoying his second tour of duty at 2FTS. He is aiming for 5000 PC-9 hours by the time he completes his tour in 2008.

By FLGOFF Nigel Harrington