|
|
|
|
 |
 |
| |
|||||
| Home on the range By FLGOFF Skye Smith Edition 4909, 31 May, 2007 |
|||||
Parliamentary Secretary Peter Lindsay accepted the coveted award on behalf of the Department of Defence at Missile Park in Woomera on May 22. “This is a rare honour. Woomera is one of only four non-United States locations to be recognised by the AIAA, which is known as the foremost aerospace organisation in the world,” Mr Lindsay said. “This award highlights the wonderful partnership and ongoing relationship with the USA that is very important to Australia.” Mr Lindsay joined CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Shepherd and AIAA Executive Director MAJGEN Robert Dickman (USAF ret’d) at the dedication ceremony, which featured a four-ship formation fly-past by Hawk aircraft from ACG. “While this award recognises Woomera as a historic aerospace site, it also celebrates future capabilities and collaboration with our Australian friends,” MAJGEN Dickman said. The plaque reads: “For over 60 years to the present day, Woomera has been an integral part of the Defence and aerospace efforts in Australia and around the world.” The AIAA award represents a milestone for Woomera and complements local recognition of Woomera as a historic site by Engineers Australia. Based in Washington DC, AIAA advances the state of aerospace science, engineering and technological leadership around the world. AIAA have recognised 35 other sites around the world, including the first balloon launch in France, Tranquility Base on the moon and Kitty Hawk in North Carolina. Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2007, the Woomera Test Facility is an active and highly versatile test and evaluation facility. Under the command of CDR AOSG GPCAPT John Teager, the facility is the largest land-based range in the world. The site provides instrumented aerospace test and evaluation range support services to the ADF and the broader Defence community. Today, Woomera is used for a wide range of trials critical to the maintenance and development of Australia’s Defence capability. They include F/A-18, F-111 and Tiger Helicopter air-to-surface weapons testing, as well as projects from the USA, UK, Singapore and Japan. DSTO’s research into hypersonic flight is also being conducted at the range. “Woomera will become even more important in the future with the development of new platforms, including the Super Hornet, Unmanned Aerial System and Joint Strike Fighter aircraft,” AIRMSHL Shepherd said. Woomera Range was established in 1947 as a joint project between Britain and Australia, and has a long history of weapon testing and rocket launches, including Skylark, Black Knight and Europa. Some of its notable achievements include the first Australian satellite launch in 1967 and the tracking of the Mercury manned spacecraft. |
