Up, up and away

Volume 48, No. 17, Sepetember 21, 2006
By Barry Rollings

HIGH FLYERS: Face of the new balloon, LACW Amanda Campbell, with CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Shepherd at the official launch. Photo by WOFF Dave Pang

THE modern face of today’s Air Force literally received a big lift with the launch of its new hot-air balloon at Russell on September 13.

The foggy Canberra morning prevented the new craft making its maiden voyage from Blamey Square with CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Shepherd among its debut flight passengers.

“It’s good to see the new canopy up and it’s certainly a positive branding tool for the Air Force,” AIRMSHL Shepherd said.

“It’s all about promoting the Air Force and these [balloons] are a cost-effective way of doing that.

“They certainly get around and I think we have taken something like 12,000 people in tethered flights.”

After much huffing and puffing of hot air into the balloon canopies, the new balloon took pride of place beside its older, smaller brother. The new craft has an internal capacity of 105,000 cubic feet compared with the 90,000 capacity of the old one, and can carry up to five people.

The new-look balloon has replaced the Air Force’s badge and motto with some new images including the Defence/Air Force website address and a toll-free information number.

The most prominent images, however, are an F/A-18 and the face of LACW Amanda Campbell, a photographer from RAAF Base Richmond. Her image is cleverly presented with the left side showing her in Air Force blues and the right side in camouflage dress to portray both faces of the Air Force.

“It’s a powerful new image designed to depict the two faces of the Air Force – the representative and the operational,” SQNLDR David Worrall of Air Force Reputation Management said.

“In many situations we are dressed in Disruptive Pattern Combat Uniforms, or DPCUs, which often makes the public think we are from the Army,” he said.

“It’s now common to see us in DPCUs; we want to get the message across that it is Air Force.

“Using the face of LACW Campbell helps to portray the people side of Air Force and that it’s not just about the machinery and aircraft; our capability is built on people.

“The balloon is one of our highly successful promotional assets, along with the Roulettes, Air Force bands and the RAAF Museum at Point Cook.”

SQNLDR Worrall said the balloon had the advantage of going places where an aircraft couldn’t, such as into school grounds, an agricultural show or a festival, to get “right in the middle of ground zero where you can talk to the public. It is a very strong visual image”.

The new balloon’s first public airing is planned for the Richmond Air Show on October 21-22 as part of its regular touring program of more than 25 events annually.

LACW Amanda Campbell, who has been in the Air Force for five years, admitted being a little self-conscious about having her face on the balloon but agreed that it looked “pretty good”.

“It’s a bit embarrassing but my parents are very proud. Not everyone can say that they have their face on the Air Force balloon,” she said.

LACW Campbell has not been aloft in “her” new balloon yet but hopes to do so in the near future.

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