Hornets fly flag

FLGOFF Mikolaj Romanowski and FLTLT Darren Smith, of No. 1 Squadron, conduct a simulator sortie as preparation for Exercise Red Flag.

Photo by LACW Elizabeth Ginn

CPL Peter Mollet and LAC Craig Krause, of No.1 Squadron Equipment Section, pack cargo containers on to a pallet for Red Flag.

Photo by LAC Rob Mitchell

CPL Todd Blachford, of No. 77 Squadron Supply Section, connects the top and side nets on a flyaway kit for transport to Nevada.

Photo by LACW Veronica McKenna

HORNETS are being used for the first time in Exercise Red Flag, which gets under way this week at the Nellis Air Force Base in the US.

A composite Air Combat Group force of 250 personnel, four F-111s from No. 1 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley and six F/A-18s from No. 77 Squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown have deployed to the exercise near Las Vegas, which runs from October 19 to November 12.

Preparations had been made for several months, including moving specialist equipment to the US and identifying critical issues for the deployment’s success.

SQNLDR James Heading, senior engineering officer at 1SQN and the lead engineering planner for the exercise, said aircrew had trained in the F-111 simulator where they were able to “fly” within the Nellis Range airspace that will be used in Exercise Red Flag.

“Actual flying in multi-aircraft packages, including support from other platforms such as F/A-18s and Hawks, is also now regular event as the crews hone their skills operating in a complex air environment, much as expected at Red Flag,” SQNLDR Heading said.

He said maintenance personnel had cleared major servicings at home “rather than waiting for them to be done during the exercise, maximising the availability of the aircraft while overseas”.

The exercise, held since 1975, is part of the regular training cycle of Australia’s air combat assets.

It allows personnel to conduct air combat training in a simulated high threat coalition environment, practise precision strike procedures and tactics and enhance interoperability and partnership with US and UK forces.

Air Combat Group is aiming to exercise a composite command, control and logistics element for both F-111 and F/A-18 assets under Group Captain Bill Henman, OC No. 81 Wing.

Red Flag facts

• Red Flag is conducted at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Nellis and its restricted ranges cover about 12,950 square kilometres.
• NATO and 27 other countries have joined the US in the exercises since 1975.
• Red Flag exercises have provided training for more than 400,000 military personnel, including more than 132,000 aircrew members flying more than 350,000 sorties and logging more than 600,000 hours flying time.

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