Introduction to flight for Cadets

Flight Lieutenant Jason Day, of 2FTS.

By PLTOFF (AAFC) Roger Buddrige

INSTEAD of enjoying a break away from the cockpit, Flying Instructor Flight Lieutenant Jason Day of No. 2 Flying Training School at RAAF Base Pearce spent the recent school holidays teaching No. 7 Wing Australian Air Force Cadets to fly.

The Elementary Flying Training Course was held at Cunderdin in Western Australia – some 160km from RAAF Base Pearce – which became home for 10 days to 11 Cadets keen to master the basics of powered flight.

FLTLT Day, who used to pilot C-130 Hercules transport aircraft and now teaches the intricacies of the PC-9 to up and coming Air Force pilots, has a civilian grade 1 instructor rating.

“The look on the face of a young person who has just made their first solo landing delivers me all the encouragement I need to give of my time in this way,” said FLTLT Day, who was on loan from the Permanent Air Force.

“There’s a huge difference between the flight deck of a C-130 and the cramped controls of a Cessna 152, but the reality is that almost every pilot in the RAAF learnt their flying basics at the controls of something this size.

“It’s very much a case of Cessna today, C-130, Orion, Hawk or F/A-18 tomorrow.”

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