Proud to enter Air Force service
THE son of a former South Vietnamese infantryman who came to Australia as a refugee, the grandson of a World War II fighter pilot and an ex-Royal Air Force warrant officer were among the graduates of the Initial Officer Course at Point Cook on September 12.

High flyers sought for annual Eagle award
AN Air Force member who has soared to great heights will receive the 2003 Rolls-Royce “Eagle” Trophy.

Correcting the record
Corrections to the last issue

Mates fire up to raise funds for Steve
FIREFIGHTERS from RAAF Base Richmond and the wider Air Force community have rallied behind a workmate stricken with cancer, raising more than $10,000 following a recent barbecue.

Adventurous evaluation
ADVENTUROUS training in the ADF is under evaluation by the Inspector-General of Defence.

ADGs under microscope
PREVENTING injuries among ADF personnel will be the focus of a new $2.5 million study involving Airfield Defence Guards.

Victory parade
NO. 26 (City of Newcastle) Squadron has held a ceremonial parade to commemorate the awarding of the trophy as the most proficient Reserve Squadron for a second year in a row.

Son joins dad’s old squadron
“LIKE father like son” usually applies to looks, habits or mannerisms. But for 20-year-old Officer Cadet Luke Hildebrandt, of No. 27 (City of Townsville) Squadron, it’s more a case of following his father’s footsteps into the Squadron.

Sweeping changes to DMO
THE Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) will receive greater autonomy to manage and deliver products as a result of the Kinnaird Review.

Web site gets facelift
IF you have visited the Air Force Internet web site lately you will have noticed a difference.


No. 38 Squadron set to celebrate
THE Air Force’s longest continuously-serving transport squadron and the second largest flying squadron will mark a proud 60-year history with birthday parties and a freedom of entry during October-November.

Disciplined graduates
APPLICATION and discipline – these are the qualities demonstrated by graduates of a recent Warrant Officer Disciplinary Course.

Band plays up Navy acceptance
THE RAAF Central Band has provided musical support for a US Navy acceptance ceremony in Hobart.

Milestones marked
A PARADE through Townsville and a dining in night were organised by RAAF Base Townsville to mark the recent Centenary of Townsville and the Centenary of Powered Flight.

Expert eyes cast on Brunei
AN ADF team of six has visited Brunei to provide external checking and standardisation of operations, pilots and loadmasters of the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAF).

Tribute to victims of terrorists
IN a poignant reminder of why they were there, members of the Maritime Patrol Aircraft Task Group in the Middle East joined their Canadian and New Zealand allies in remembering the tragic terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Man of peace remembered
CDF General Peter Cosgrove has spoken with sad affection of UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello, killed in last month’s UN Headquarters bombing in Iraq.

Strong ties of friendship
Sergeant Katarina Babic ties the laces for Teresena, from St Clara’s Orphanage in Dili, East Timor, before teaching her inline skating.

Surveillance system on trial
TRIALS are being conducted on a leading edge surveillance system fitted in a commercial aircraft to develop ways of improving Australia’s intelligence gathering capabilities during operations.

Project bolsters Orions’ future
THE Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) has completed a four-year full-scale fatigue test of the empennage – the rear section of the aircraft structure – of the P-3C Orion aircraft.

Badges get a new look
THE shape and design of the Parachutist and Skill at Arms badges have been changed.