By
FLTLT Simon Webb
Volume 48, No. 10, June 15, 2006
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2FTS
flight instructors perform the 26 aircraft “Thunderbird”
formation to mark the 204 Pilots’ Course graduation.
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OFFCDT
Glenn Sullivan heads the graduates on parade.
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Photos
by LAC Allan Cooper
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THUNDERBIRDS
were go when Defence’s newest military aviators were saluted
by Air Force’s biggest fly-past on May 26.
Twenty-six PC9s, flown by 2FTS Qualified Flying Instructors, performed
the flypast at the graduation of 10 Air Force and Navy aviators
from the 38-week Advanced Pilots’ course at RAAF Base Pearce.
OC Training Command AIRCDRE Kevin Paule reviewed the parade.
The graduates were eight Air Force and two Navy pilots. The eight
will now begin conversion training on operational aircraft including
the AP-3C, Challenger and the Hawk. The Navy graduates will begin
conversion on the Navy’s Squirrel helicopter.
In his address, AIRCDRE Paule encouraged the graduates to continue
their hard work to achieve the highest levels of professional
excellence, leadership and teamwork in the operational environment.
OFFCDT Robbie Cousland spoke for the graduates. “It has been
an extremely challenging yet rewarding period of training,”
he said.
“It is quite an overwhelming feeling of pride knowing that
I have finally achieved my life-long dream of becoming a pilot
in the RAAF.”
OFFCDT Will Grady was awarded Dux of the Course, OFFCDT Steven
Andrews won the Instrument Flying award, OFFCDT Robbie Cousland
won the Aerobatics prize, OFFCDT Edward Borman was named the Most
Improved and OFFCDT Scott Horsfall won the Leadership prize.
2FTS evolved from the Australian Military Flying Training School,
which started training pilots on Bristol Box Kites at Point Cook
at the outbreak of World War I.
Today, the course at 2FTS provides training from general to advanced
instrument, night and formation flying, including navigation,
using the PC-9.
