Love is in the air
Proposing to someone has never been easy, especially when you only give yourself eight seconds to do it.

Unit ends with pride
With a mixture of pride and sadness, No. 6 Hospital paraded at RAAF Base Williams Point Cook for the last time on December 12 and was disbanded two days later.

Good and bad gifts
Air Force News asked a selection of personnel what is the worst Christmas present they have received and what they would like for Christmas this year.

Pilot bails out of Herc
IN THE skies over Jervis Bay recently, C-130H Hercules pilot Flight Lieutenant Marty Copland handed the controls to his co-pilot, got out of his seat, leapt from the aircraft through the open ramp and free-fell towards the airfield below.

Hannah’s honour
AIR Force Officer Cadet Hannah Jude-Smith was one of three Australian Defence Force graduates to be awarded a University Medal at the recent Degree Conferral Ceremonies.

Frozen Pigs
AS Australia prepares to swelter through another long, hot summer, temperatures at RAAF Base Amberley have recently plummeted below -40 degrees Celsius.

US visitors learn about our F-111s
FOR the first time the Royal Australian Air Force has allowed two students and two staff members of the United States Navy Test Pilot School in Maryland to visit RAAF Base Amberley to learn about the F-111 as a culmination of their flight test weapons operator course.

Memorable double
AN Amberley-based airman pulled the double when he celebrated winning the RAAF Base Amberley Airman of the Year award, followed soon after by the birth of his first child.

Ground control
MEMBERS of No. 44 Wing went bush for the final field phase of the Battlefield Airspace Operations Course (BAOC).

Chief checks in to Tindal
CHIEF of Defence Force General Peter Cosgrove made a flying visit to RAAF Base Tindal recently to discuss various issues and meet with Air Force personnel.

Darwin recognition
RAAF Base Darwin’s No. 321 Combat Support Squadron’s contribution to Op Bali Assist has been formally recognised, with the squadron receiving a Commander Combat Support Group Unit Commendation.

Ceremony notes Kiwi contribution
THE sound of a wet season thunderstorm gave way to the cries of the traditional Kiwi Haka at RAAF Base Darwin recently as it hosted a ceremony recognising the end of New Zealand support to INTERFET, UNTAET and UNMISET in East Timor.

School a joint effort
THE Air Force, Army and Navy have combined to form a joint school that will become the Australian Defence Force’s centre of military communications.

A caring professional
Obituary - Squadron Leader Denise Cruickshank achieved a long-held ambition when she joined the Air Force in 1996 after a successful career in nursing and as an academic at Griffith University.

‘Protest’ at base
TEN anti-war protesters blocked military vehicles and handed out pamphlets at the front gates to RAAF Base Amberley recently.

Herc flypasts a capital event
EYES turned to the skies in Canberra when an Air Force Hercules flew two ceremonial flypasts over the national capital.

Water fees might drop
WITH water restrictions in force in many areas it is reasonable to assume that the cost of water usage by Defence Force members in service residences will fall. That’s the message to ADF members from Assistant Director of Housing Policy Peter Redston.

RAAFSTT’s golden celebrations

Vatican honours chaplain
A TITLE of honour and authority recently bestowed on Chaplain (Air Commodore) Peter O’Keefe has come from a high level – the Vatican.

Commander’s last visit
THE Commander Training Air Force (COMTRG-AF) Air Commodore Chris Beatty has toured RAAF Base Amberley’s Security and Fire School (RAAFSFS) in what could be his last visit to RAAFSFS as COMTRG-AF and a permanent member of the Air Force.

Web site for cadets
CADETS now have their own internet site – CadetNet.

Tarawa memorial unveiled
Two Australians are among 22 Commonwealth citizens commemorated on a new memorial in Tarawa.

Coalition discussions
THE Air Lift Group Warrant Officer Disciplinary has met with the Chief Master Sergeant of the United States Air Force to discuss the effective use of the squadron’s warrant officer on coalition operations.

Dutch feat for Aussie marcher
A ROYAL Australian Air Force SNCO has participated in the renowned Nijmegen marches in Holland.

Achieving the desired effect
Effects Based Strategy (EBS) is all about combining the most appropriate people, technology, and plans that will cause an adversary to stop aggressive behaviour against Australia, its territories and interests.

A question of force
Since we all work for an air force, we can take that air force for granted. It’s easy to assume that a nation’s air power is best generated and employed within an independent service.

Visit makes horse sense
RAAF Base Williamtown personnel have visited a Riding for the Disabled (RDA) facility at Raymond Terrace.

Scholarship winners
Jacqueline Buckton and Nathan Thompson are the winners of the Fighter Squadrons’ Branch of the Air Force Association’s annual scholarship.

Kit for special needs families
Defence families with special needs will be given a helping hand with a new information kit.

VC winner remembered
The spirit of a VC winner is alive and well at RAAF Base Richmond.

Wilderness trek
MEMBERS of No. 13 Squadron have undergone survival training at the Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge.

Leave assessment
Consultation has started on a Defence Reserves Support Council discussion paper and draft policy on Defence leave for Commonwealth public sector employees who are reservists.

Changes to directorate
Directorate of Reserves - Air Force has been renamed the Directorate of Personnel Reserves - Air Force (DPR-AF).

CDF’s view of Federation
Federation officials first met with CDF General Peter Cosgrove on October 17 to discuss a broad range of personnel issues and establish the ground rules for a cooperative working relationship between our respective organisations.