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Thunderbirds have landed
By Rachel Irving

Edition 4909, 31 May, 2007
 
SPECIAL SUCCESS: Reviewing Officer AIRMSHL Ian Gration (ret’d) stops to chat with PLTOFF Owen Rose during the No. 207 Pilots’ course graduation parade at RAAF Base Pearce.
Photo by CPL Shane Gidall
 
Inset: Pilot instructors of the graduating course fly the PC-9/A Thunderbird Formation near RAAF Base Pearce as a tribute to their successful students.
Photo by CPL Shane Gidall
 
“Know your limitations. Strive for situational awareness. Learn new things every time you fly.”

Those were the words of encouragement from former CAF, AIRMSHL Ian Gration (ret’d), to the Air Force’s newest pilots when they graduated at RAAF Base Pearce recently.

After 34 weeks of hard work, eight Air Force and four Navy pilots from No. 207 Pilots’ course received their wings from AIRMSHL Gration.

CO 2FTS WGCDR Jason Waller said seeing the pilots develop through the course to graduation was “fantastic”.

“I’m very lucky in this unit to be rewarded by seeing the progress of our students on a regular basis throughout the year,” WGCDR Waller said.

“Meeting the parents and meeting the friends of the graduates, you get a real sense of accomplishment at the end.”

The course, which clocked up some 150 flying hours in the PC-9/A aircraft, covered advanced general, instrument, night and formation flying, as well as navigation and readying the pilots for the transition to operational aircraft.

WGCDR Waller said the students had become part of the 2FTS family.

“You feel like you are working with them towards their goals as much as they are,” he said. “I’ve seen students I’ve trained come back as instructors and I’ve been out in the squadrons with them as well. So the bond doesn’t break after graduation – it continues right through their Air Force career.”

Among the graduates was the sole female pilot, OFFCDT Belinda Beatty.

She described the course as “challenging, rewarding and everything I thought it would be.”

She said the most difficult aspect of the course was the psychological aspect.

“It’s about your belief in yourself. There are moments on course that will shake that belief because you will make mistakes and you will have bad flights.

“But it’s about getting back up and learning what you can from it and having the courage to go back in the air at the risk of screwing up again or daring to be brilliant.”

Taking out top honours for the course was OFFCDT Steven Hall, who was awarded dux, as well as the title of most proficient pilot and most proficient pilot at instrument flying.

Wishing them well, WGCDR Waller had this advice for his newest pilots: “Remember what we’ve taught – it works. Apply it well. And stay safe.”