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A modern expeditionary air force, it is the youngest of the three armed Services in the Australian Defence Force but the second-oldest air force in the world. Learn more about Air Force

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Royal Australian Air Force Air Combat Officer

What do Royal Australian Air Force Air Combat Officers do?

A maritime strike mission, then eight Air Combat Officers talk about their role in the Royal Australian Air Force.

The Air Force YouTube channel can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/user/AirForceHQ

9 Aug 2010 06:07:17 GMT

Defence Force Air Show 2010

Defence Force Air Show 2010

Defence Force Air Show 2010 RAAF Base Williamtown

18-19th September

RAAF Base Williamtown

See the Australian Defence Force’s biggest and most exciting air and ground displays ever in the Newcastle region.

The event will feature the latest in technology, demonstrating the range of stimulating and different careers on offer in the Australian Defence Force.

"It’s a family day with something for all ages".

For the latest update go to: http://www.airforce.gov.au/AirShows

28 Jul 2010 22:11:18 GMT

Pitch Black 2010 photos are now on Facebook.

Pitch Black 2010

Photos from Pitch black 2010 are available on Facebook. This collection will be updated as new photos are released.

To view Pitch Black 2010 album 1 go to: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=193666&id=88014372638

To view Pitch Black 2010 album 2 go to: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=193909&id=88014372638

28 Jul 2010 05:49:22 GMT

Mission Accomplished - RAAF claims victory at RIMPAC

RIMPAC 2010

The Royal Australian Air Force contribution to the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC 10) has been hailed as an overwhelming success, with both AP-3C Orion crews earning high praise from their Australian commander.

11 Squadron (RAAF Edinburgh) deployed two Orions and 93 personnel to RIMPAC which is the largest maritime military exercise of its kind in the world. Based at Kaneohe Bay on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, they were among 1200 ADF personnel from RAAF, Navy and the Army participating in RIMPAC. Commander, Australia National Command Element, CDRE Stuart Mayer said 11 Squadron’s role was critical to the overall success of RIMPAC.

“The highlight for the RAAF was firing of a Harpoon missile,” CDRE Mayer said. Planning for this evolution was intense and the result was overwhelmingly positive for all involved. 11 Squadron spent long periods preparing with exercise planners and the Navy’s Anzac Class Frigate HMAS Warramunga which was also involved in the MISSILEX. That cooperation continued right up until the missile hit its target.

According to CO 11 Squadron, WGCDR Phillip Champion, the execution was flawless. “It came off the wing, skidded along the surface and popped up to hit the target, which was the former US Amphibious carrier New Orleans. It was a great event for us from a coordination point of view with Warramunga and from a high end warfare fighting perspective,” WGCDR Champion said. “We got the chance to practise our crew and heighten awareness by carrying a live weapon as well.”

CDRE Mayer said cooperation by the RAAF and Navy was critical to the outcome. “The theme of RIMPAC 10 is Combined Agility, Synergy and Support. That’s definitely what we saw during the Harpoon evolution, from our own forces as well as with our allies here for this exercise.”

The AP-3C Orion missions during RIMPAC 10 also included Undersea Warfare (USW), Surface Warfare (SUW) and Maritime Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (MISR). Both aircraft held up incredibly well. During the Schedule of Events phase the crews completed 11 out of 12 flights. They also managed to notch up about 90 percent of their Anti Submarine warfare contact time. WGCDR Champion said the entire team could be very proud of their efforts. “Our work was integrated into a combined air, surface and sub-surface environment and everyone contributes to that end game. For any weapon to impact the target, on time, there’s a lot of moving parts.”

Overall, WGCDR Champion said RIMPAC 10 had provided his crews with vital one-on-one time with the Australian Navy. “We’re currently doing a lot of tasking in the Middle East but that’s all over land. We are also involved in Operation Resolute to our north. But RIMPAC has provided us with the opportunity to practice high end war fighting skills in anti submarine warfare and anti surface unit warfare. It’s great to be working with the Navy again. We had to come all the way to Hawaii to do it! “ WGCDR Champion also acknowledged the opportunity to operate alongside Australia’s allies, 13 of whom are attending RIMPAC this year.

“We had some Koreans ride with us the other day and we’ve had some Australians ride with the US Navy, as well the Canadians. We’ve had some great opportunities to see how other people do business and pick up some good ideas here and there along the way,” he said.

“That to me is what RIMPAC is all about.”

More at: http://www.defence.gov.au/opEx/exercises/rimpac10/index.htm

20100722ran8116382_001 Flight Crew conduct a pre-flight briefing for an Anti Submarine Warfare exercise onboard a 11 Squadron AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft.

28 Jul 2010 04:52:38 GMT

Pitch Black 2010 videos are now on YouTube.

Pitch Black 2010

Videos from Pitch black 2010 are available on YouTube. This collection will be updated as new videos are released.

To view the Pitch Black 2010 Playlist go to: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=F0F639EF7587F963

28 Jul 2010 00:50:54 GMT

Pigs' Tales: Official F-111 Retirement Events

Pigs Tales banner containing a picture of an F-111

Pigs' Tales
Thursday 2 & Friday 3 December 2010
RAAF Base Amberley
Queensland, Australia


The retirement of the Royal Australian Air Force F-111 fleet on 3 December 2010 will mark a significant milestone in the history of military aviation in Australia. We are delighted to be able to showcase and celebrate the life and service of the F-111 aircraft through Pigs' Tales, the official F-111 retirement ceremonies.

Pigs' Tales will not only provide a forum to commemorate the history of these amazing aircraft, but will also provide an avenue to honour all of the men and women who flew, maintained and supported the F-111 during its service to the Royal Australian Air Force.

I do hope that you will be able join in the farewell to this icon of the Australian skies.

Air Marshal Mark Binskin, AO

Chief of Air Force

More at: http://www.pigstales.com.au

15 Jul 2010 03:17:23 GMT

News Archive

Latest Air Force events

Roulettes

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Roulettes Jul - Dec 2010 Calendar

Air Force Roulettes website

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Balloon Jul - Dec 2010 Calendar

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Band

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Band Jul - Dec 2010 Calendar

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RAAF Museum

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RAAF Museum Interactive Flying Displays web page

Air Shows

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Air Force Operations

There are dedicated Air Force personnel serving in operations around the globe, lending a hand and protecting Australia's national interests. They also work tirelessly, on a daily basis, behind the scenes, to protect our borders and provide releif to those in need.

The Department of Defence operations website provides a comprehensive list of current operations and exercises.

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Air Force in the MEAO

Hercules

If there is one crucial element to Australia's contribution to the international campaigns in the Middle East, it has to be the Hercules C-130J.

Major General John Cantwell, AO commands all Australian Defence Force units deployed in the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) assigned to Operation Slipper, as well as those forces assigned to Operation Kruger in Iraq and says that the aircraft has a vital role to play.

"We couldn't do our mission without them," he says.

Based in the United Arab Emirates, the ADF has three Hercules C-130J aircraft currently in operation and have been continuously part of the action in the Middle East since early 2003. In fact, the airborne workhorses recently exceeded 20,000 flying hours supporting Australian and Coalition troops. The significant milestone was reached during a mission to aero-medically evacuate Australian soldiers wounded in an Improvised Explosive Device strike in late March.

"In the time that the C-130s have been operating here, they've flown more than 11,300 missions," Major General Cantwell explains. "They've moved more than 140,000 troops – that's like 6500 footy teams and they've moved more than 31,000,000 kilograms of stores and equipment which is the same as moving 30,000 Holden Commodores or Ford Falcons... it's a fantastic achievement."

Hercules Fact Sheet

Hercules Website

AP-3C Orion

AP-3C Orion Fact Sheet

AP-3C Orion Website

More fact sheets coming soon!

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