27 June 2025
Mechanics from RAAF Base Darwin and Red Bull Ampol Racing Australia took turns showcasing their workshops and skills, highlighting how similar their abilities are – even though their workplaces are very different.
Prior to the Triple Crown Supercars Race in Darwin, aviators from 13 Squadron Mechanical Equipment Operations and Maintenance Section (MEOMS) and 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit Ground Support Equipment section hosted pit crew from Red Bull Ampol Racing Australia.
The MEOMS team took the pit crew through its workshop, highlighting the work and equipment needed to maintain ground support capabilities to ensure the squadron remains operationally ready.
After the tour of MEOMS, Red Bull Ampol Racing Australia invited the RAAF Base Darwin aviators to its garage in pit lane at the Hidden Valley Raceway.
The Red Bull Ampol Racing team had its supercars on display, and showcased all the equipment and engineering technology that goes into ensuring the supercars are operating at peak performance.
'Being able to bring our two teams together has been an amazing opportunity.'
Over two days, each team developed an appreciation for the levels and similarity of work involved in maintaining two different capability needs.
Flight Sergeant Anthony Ahchow, a ground support equipment technician from 13 Squadron MEOMS, said it had been a great chance to visit a premier motorsports garage and compare the two workplaces.
“Being able to bring our two teams together has been an amazing opportunity,” Flight Sergeant Ahchow said.
This created an understanding of how the workshops operate and the logistics behind moving the team between race locations.
“We have been able to see and discuss the differences, but also similarities, of two professional organisations working to maintain and support their team’s capabilities,” he said.
