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| Our desert duellers By Paul Lineham and FLGOFF Eamon Hamilton Volume 49, No. 1, February 8, 2007 |
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AIR Force fast jet crews, supported by mates from the Air Lift Group, are testing their skills against their American and British counterparts in the desert skies of Nevada, USA. Six 1SQN F-111s from RAAF Base Amberley took off for exercise Red Flag 07, the latest in the US Air Force’s annual ‘Top Gun’ exercise series, on January 29. The exercise started on February 5 and runs for two weeks. ALG has two squadrons participating. The jets were joined by two 37SQN C-130s and 260 personnel from RAAF Base Richmond. One of the C-130s accompanied the jets on their long haul to Nellis Air Force Base via Hawaii; the other departed on the same day but transited direct to Nellis. Meanwhile, another chapter in Air Force history was written when 36SQN’s new C-17 departed on its first overseas activity in support of the detachment. The Globemaster transported spare parts and other equipment. The aircraft is not participating in the exercise and returned to Australia after delivering the equipment. However, it will return to support the detachment on its return flight. CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Shepherd said the C-17 flights will train aircrews and maintenance personnel on C-17 operations. “The C-17’s long haul flight in support of Exercise Red Flag is an early demonstration of its important role in Defence’s developing responsive global airlift capability,” he said. Other ALG personnel are also working at the ‘sharp end’ of Red Flag’s high-intensity missions. Approximately 70 personnel from 37SQN deployed to Red Flag to support the C-130, including squadron CO WGCDR Paul Nicholas. Most of the 37SQN personnel are participating in their first Red Flag. Deputy detachment commander SQNLDR Dave Holder, an Air Combat Officer with 37SQN, said: “We’re looking at generating experience and letting it flow down to other members of the squadron. “This deployment provides a rare chance for Hercules crews to participate in a live exercise on such a massive scale. “Red Flag has large forces, with up to 100 aircraft per mission, inside a range with an integrated air defence system. There are not many places where you get that sort of exposure.” SQNLDR Holder isn’t expecting any concessions for the C-130 in the exercise area, which is heavily defended by aggressor fighter aircraft and simulated surface-to-air missiles. “We’ll have fighters trying to chase us around and people trying to shoot us down,” he said. “There’s usually a small transport element within these exercises – it’s a small component within the whole package.” The transport missions in Red Flag include airborne delivery of heliboxes and paratroops, as well as tactical landings to insert and extract troops in the exercise area by day and night. Aircrew may even be ‘abducted’ during the exercise by Red Flag directing staff, and required to spend a night in the wilderness to simulate having been shot down. During the exercise, the Australian jets will pit their skills against American B-2 and B-1 bombers, F-15E fighters, F-117 Nighthawk strike aircraft and AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, and RAF GR-4 Tornadoes. A USAF HC-130 specialising in Combat SAR duties and an RAF C-130K are also participating. |
