Top Stories
Trackside action
By FLGOFF Skye Smith

Volume 49, No. 5, April 05, 2007
 
NEW RECRUIT: Adelaide local Joel Tilley tries an aircrew helmet on for size with the help of 10SQN AEA SGT Charlie Tomlinson during the Clipsal 500 V8 Supercar Race.
Photo by CPL Shane Gidall
 
Inset: An F/A-18 from 75SQN flies over the track before the start of the Clipsal 500 race.
Photo by LAC Casey Smith
 
MOTOR racing fans were drawn from the track to the sky during this year’s Clipsal 500 V8 Supercar Championship Series in Adelaide.

A record-breaking crowd of 276,000 spectators at Australia’s largest domestic motor sport event got to see some of Air Force’s awesome capabilities over the four-day rally from March 1 - 4.

FLTLT Tim Ireland and FLGOFF Rory Houston, both pilots from 75SQN, awed onlookers with their deafening F/A-18 display over the track.

The favourite for many ‘rev heads’ was seeing the two Hornets screaming down Pit Straight in a salute during the national anthem, just before the final race.

“The displays were planned to show the strengths of the Hornet as an aircraft – power, agility and turning ability,” FLTLT Ireland said.

“The manoeuvres chosen are ones we use every day in tactical scenarios. Because of our training, we are comfortable handling the jet at low level.”

FLGOFF Houston’s view was a little different to what he is used to up at RAAF Base Tindal. “Usually the view is sand and 30-foot trees, but at Clipsal it was grandstands and thousands of people,” he said.

“It was great to be flying for the benefit of the crowd. It was something extremely different for us, but that’s what made it so much fun.”

FLGOFF Houston was amazed at how much crowd support there was for the fast jets. “You can’t go past flying in front of such a large crowd. I was continually impressed by the number of people who told us the jets were the highlight of the day,” he said.

The Roulettes six-man display team, led by SQNLDR Steve Bekker, showcased their aerobatic skills with a special passenger onboard the PC-9 aircraft.

Nova 91.9’s Lisa Fernandez wasn’t feeling her best after experiencing 4.5Gs during the aerobatic display, but told listeners she still loved the thrill ride.

Spectators stood in their seats to watch the Roulettes’ formation display, consisting of intricate crossover manoeuvres, barrel rolls, synchronised loops and much more.

An AP-3C aircraft, flown by 292SQN, completed the aerial program with a fly-past over the track.

1AFDS and 92WG ground displays also kept the crowd entertained on the ADF oval trackside.

1AFDS displayed their armoured vehicles and weapons, with their Bushmaster infantry mobility vehicle drawing in the crowds.

The race provided an excellent opportunity for the ADF to showcase its assets with a myriad of visual stimulation in the air and on the ground.