From Australia’s iconic beach to the unforgiving skies of the Nevada desert in the United States, three aviators from the Gold Coast recently tested their skills and teamwork under pressure alongside fighter aircraft and personnel from the United States and United Kingdom.

The Royal Australian Air Force deployed about 200 aviators including Tactical Command and Control team, six F-35A Lightning II, an E-7A Wedgetail and support elements to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada on Exercises Red Flag Nellis 26-1 and Bamboo Eagle 26-1.

Remarkably, three fighter pilots from 75 Squadron who all hail from the Gold Coast, Squadron Leader Anthony, Flight Lieutenant Ryan and Flight Lieutenant Sam, were on these exercises.

Squadron Leader Anthony reflected on their shared background growing up on the Gold Coast.    

“Most fighter pilots can point to a moment in our childhood that inspired us to fly fighter aircraft,” Squadron Leader Anthony said.

“Many of us in 75 Squadron are from south-east Queensland so we saw F/A-18 Super Hornets flying past Main Beach on their way to RAAF Amberley, or the F-111’s iconic dump-and-burn at the Indy Car race on the Gold Coast.

“Seeing jets on regular basis put the goal in reach and kept you focused on the prize during high school.”

Squadron Leader Anthony and Flight Lieutenant Ryan both attended The Southport School, while Flight Lieutenant Sam attended Hillcrest Christian College at Reedy Creek.

'To perform well here shows the strength of our training back home.'

Flying F-35A Lightning II at 75 Squadron’s base at RAAF Tindal in the Northern Territory, the three men and their squadron mates conducted an intensive three-month workup program to hone their skills and prepare for the exercises.

“This year we have the opportunity to travel to Red Flag in Nevada to conduct high-level training that simulates a wartime environment,” Squadron Leader Anthony said.

“For our junior pilots, the focus is exposing them to scenarios that simulate combat as best we can, essential for improving their survivability in conflict.

“For the experienced pilots, the focus is on integration with United States and United Kingdom coalition assets that we do not normally get to work with given our austere basing in the Northern Territory. We learn to solve tactical problems and lead large-force packages within a realistic threat environment.

“To perform well here shows the strength of our training back home. A couple of us were invited to be mission commanders for three of the missions here and I can tell you it is a surreal feeling to be leading several billion dollars’ worth of assets and some highly competent people into a tough fight.

“I am incredibly proud of the work our maintenance and support personnel achieved to ensure our jets were ready to fly and fight.”

75 Squadron aviators flew their F-35As back to their base at Tindal in early March, making the long journey with the assistance of RAAF aerial refuelling aircraft based out of RAAF Amberley in Ipswich.

“It is a long way to fly but the training is absolutely worth it. I am looking forward to getting back to the Goldy with my family, seeing Mum, and getting some time at our amazing beaches,” Squadron Leader Anthony said.