Sale pulls in the crowds

The Roulettes carve white scars in the sky during an aerobatic demonstration. Photos by CPL Katrina Johnson

Flying Officer Pete Lambert, of No. 76 Squadron, explains the role of the Hawk.

Group Captain Peter Norford leads the toast at a 60th anniversary cocktail party.

THOUSANDS of people helped celebrate RAAF Base East Sale’s 60th anniversary at a base open day on April 12.

Members of the public lined up to view static aircraft displays, take tethered flights in the Air Force balloon and tour the base’s schools.

Bus tours took visitors to East Sale’s School of Air Navigation, School of Air Traffic Control and Photographic Training Flight.

Aircraft on display included an F/A-18 Hornet, F-111, Hawk, Mustang, Squirrel, Winjeel, C-130J and HS748. The Air Force Roulettes also made an appearance.

Plenty took the opportunity to climb a ladder for a close look at the cockpit of a Hawk from No. 76 Squadron and queues were consistently long for the balloon rides.

76SQN’s Flying Officer Michael Findlay, who spent some time sitting in the cockpit of the Hawk answering questions, said many youngsters had shown an interest in the Hawk.

“Parents were asking on behalf of their children what I had done personally in the Air Force and what the training system was like,” he said.

East Sale Base Commander Wing Commander Vic Lewkowski said the open day went extremely well.

“The weather shaped up really well, and it was a relaxed, easy-going day to have a look at the RAAF base,” he said.

East Sale was formed as a wartime flying training base on April 22, 1943.

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