Squadrons work together

FLGOFF Ken Van Raay, an air traffic controller with 44WG Detachment Amberley, with his Malaysian colleagues Lieutenants Marini and Hafizyl, seated, and Majors Azam and Zuliufli at Butterworth Tower. This photo has been digitally enhanced.

Photos by LAC Andrew Eddie

IN ADDITION to Bersama Lima, No. 6 Squadron participated in Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) training with Republic of Singapore Air Force KC-135s.

The F-111s operated from Butterworth and transited down the Malaysian Peninsula to conduct the AAR training in Singaporean training airspace.

This invaluable training opportunity was used to refresh several pilots’ AAR currency and was also used to provide several new navigators with their initial AAR qualification.

No. 6 Squadron also conducted combined operations with No. 3 Squadron’s Hornets, as the Hornets flew escort duties for the F-111 strike missions.

Squadron Leader Holt said the deployment included a lot of people who hadn’t been to South East Asia before.

“It was great to see the old hands helping them embrace all that Malaysia has to offer from the high operational tempo to the multitude of shopping and eating experiences,” he said.

“It was also enlightening working side-by-side with the Hornet guys, and they displayed more than a passing interest in the F-111’s newer capabilities.”

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