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2OCU high on Sierra
By FLTLT Robyn Murtagh
Volume 49, No. 12, July 12, 2007 |
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JET STARS: 2OCU’s CPL Collin Mann shows Air Force Cadet FSGT Michael Chisholm the basics of an F/A-18 during an open day for Exercise High Sierra at RAAF Base Darwin.
Main photo by PTE Shannon Joyce |
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| Inset: The newly qualified pilots, from left, FLGOFF Duncan Glover, FLGOFF Peter Tippner, FLGOFF Todd Brown, FLGOFF Chris Chmiel and FLGOFF Craig Gee. |
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An Intensive six-month training program over the Hunter region in NSW and the Northern Territory has paid off for five pilots who have just received their qualifications on the F/A-18 aircraft.
FLGOFF Duncan Glover, FLGOFF Peter Tippner, FLGOFF Todd Brown, FLGOFF Chris Chmiel and FLGOFF Craig Gee returned to RAAF Base Williamtown in mid-June after they successfully completed Exercise High Sierra.
More than 150 Air Force personnel, up to 10 F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets and three PC-9 forward air control aircraft deployed on the exercise, which was held from May 25-June 15.
The exercise took them to the skies over Darwin, RAAF Base Tindal and the Delamere Range Facility.
Conducted by 2OCU, the exercise was the final phase in their Hornet conversion training. The gruelling conversion course, 1/07 OPCON, ran from January 8-June 15.
Two intelligence officers, FLGOFF Rod Barton and FLGOFF Mark MacLellan, also participated in the exercise and completed the Fighter Intelligence Qualification course. They will now be posted to intelligence duties at RAAF Bases Williamtown and Tindal.
Under increasingly complex exercise scenarios, the students flew as wingmen in two or four-ship formations.
They attacked ground targets in the face of enemy aircraft defenders and carried out bombing attacks on the Delamere range with live weapons.
The students worked hard planning and executing the missions, and displayed all the necessary skills and qualities expected of a fighter pilot.
Previously, High Sierra was conducted in the Townsville military training area. However, with the Hornet upgrade and subsequent changes to the course, the exercise was moved to RAAF Base Darwin to take advantage of Delamere and the extensive military training airspace that surrounds it.
Additionally, operations from Darwin allowed 2OCU to team up with 75SQN, who provided both friendly and enemy fighters to enhance the complexity and quality of training.
The exercise also provided important training for non-student aircrew and unit/squadron ground crew in deployed operations with live weapons.
CO 2OCU WGCDR Phil Gordon thanked RAAF Base Darwin for the excellent support and service it provided, and said he was looking forward to future deployments to the base.
He stressed the importance of 2OCU in providing Australia with its fighter pilots.
“The training that 2OCU conducts is the life blood of fighter operations,” WGCDR Gordon said.
“Without a steady stream of new highly-trained young fighter pilots, we cannot sustain our air combat capability.”
Air Force’s newest fighter pilots will now be posted to Hornet squadrons at Williamtown and Tindal. |
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