ROULETTE Leader

Squadron Leader Stephen Baker

Squadron Leader Stephen Baker, 39, has over 20 years of flying experience that began when he graduated from No 161 Pilots’ Course in December 1992.

Stephen was posted to fly Caribou tactical transport aircraft with No 38 Squadron, then in 1996 became quite possibly the youngest instructor in the RAAF since WWII at the tender age of 23, when he went on to instruct on the PC9/A turbo-prop trainer at No 2 Flying Training School (2FTS).

During his tenure at 2FTS, he was selected for an exchange tour with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, where he instructed on the advanced jet Macchi 339. Whilst in New Zealand, Stephen was a member of the low-level formation aerobatic team, The Black Falcons, flying as Black 3. Stephen has some of his fondest flying memories from New Zealand which saw him fly jets through the Alps of the South Island.  

Upon his return to Australia, Stephen instructed on the brand new Hawk 127 jet trainer, prior to displaying the aircraft. Stephen was subsequently selected to join the RAAF Roulette aerobatic team from 2004 – 2007.

In late 2007 Stephen took a sabbatical travelling the world for seven months as well as completing his diploma in photography.

Prior to returning to Central Flying School in 2010 to take over as Roulette Leader, Stephen also displayed some of the Air Force’s warbirds at the RAAF Museum.

Stephen can usually be found riding his Ducati Streetfighter, fishing (often with Roulette 4), taking photos or playing golf.

Stephen has over 5000 military flying hours. This is his eighth season with the team and his third as Roulette Leader.

Click here to read the article Roulette Leader: getting the show right

ROULETTE Two

Flight Lieutenant Andreas Jacobs

Flight Lieutenant Andreas Jacobs, 51, joined the RAAF in 1985 on No 135 Pilots’ Course where he trained on the CT4A at No 1 Flying Training School at RAAF Point Cook and then the MB326H Macchi at No 2 Flying Training School (2FTS) at RAAF Pearce.

Upon graduation Andreas was posted to No 5 Squadron for basic helicopter conversion on the AS350B Squirrel, and then an operational conversion on the UH-1H Huey. Andreas’ helicopter experience primarily consisted of Army support flying and Search and Rescue (SAR) duties at Canberra, Townsville and Darwin. Highlights of his helicopter flying included float operations with the Huey in support of the Special Air Services Regiment at East Sale, and supporting the Federal Police during anti-drug operations in the Northern Territory

Once all the Australian Defence Force (ADF) helicopter assets moved to the Army, he was posted to RAAF East Sale to fly the HS748 “Draggie”.  Andreas’ duties consisted of Navigator training, general ADF tasking and VIP tasking. He flew the HS748 all around Australia, and to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and through South East Asia travelling as far as Bangkok.

In 1993 he was posted on Flying Instructors Course, and then to instruct at 2FTS. In 1996 Andreas resigned from the RAAF to work for BAe Systems as a contracted PC9 instructor to the Royal Saudi Air Force in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

In 2003 he rejoined the RAAF and served at 2FTS for 18 months. This was followed by 7 ½ years at the ADF Basic Flying Training School in Tamworth, and then Central Flying School at the start of 2012.

Andreas has over 9,300 hours in military aircraft. Andreas’ interests include music and motorbikes.

At 51 years of age, Andreas likely holds the record for the oldest pilot to join the Roulettes. This is his first season with the team.

ROULETTE Three

Flight Lieutenant Andrew Lynch

Flight Lieutenant Andrew Lynch, 32, joined the RAAF in 1999 on No 188 Pilots’ Course where he trained on the CT4B at the Basic Flying Training School in Tamworth and the PC9/A at No 2 Flying Training School (2FTS) at RAAF Pearce. Upon graduation Andrew was posted to No 34 Squadron (34 SQN) to fly the CL604 Challenger VIP aircraft. While at 34 SQN he transported several notable passengers including the Governor General and the Prime Minister and flew to destinations throughout South East Asia. In 2005 he was posted to No 10 Squadron (10 SQN) to fly the AP-3C Orion where he was involved in Operations Relex and Resolute to help secure Australia's Northern Borders. He was also deployed to the Middle East Area of Operations on Operations Catalyst and Slipper supporting the Australian Army over Iraq and Afghanistan and the Australian Navy in the Northern Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

On completion of his tour at 10 SQN, he was posted to Flying Instructors Course and then to instruct at 2FTS in Western Australia. After 2 years at 2FTS he was posted to Central Flying School, the Standardisation Squadron for all flying units in the Australian Defence Force. After a 6 months teaching the Flying Instructors Course he was selected to join the Roulettes.

Andrew’s interests include paragliding and riding his road bike around Sale. Andrew has over 4000 hours military flying experience. This is his second season with the Roulettes.

ROULETTE Four

Flight Lieutenant Jay Tuffley

Flight Lieutenant Jay Tuffley, 34, was born in Albany and grew up in Geraldton WA before joining the RAAF in 2001. Growing up near the beach meant that from an early age Jay developed a strong association with water sports, fishing, diving and boating. At times when the weather is perfect he is sometimes torn between whether he would prefer to be out flying or fishing. So after graduating from No 194 Pilots’ Course in 2003, a posting to No 10 Squadron as a Maritime pilot was quite fitting. Jay spent over five years flying the AP3-C Orion aircraft at RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia, culminating in two years as a fully operational maritime captain. He participated in numerous local and overseas operations and exercises, including three operational tours of the Middle East.

In 2009 Jay completed Flying Instructors Course and went on to instruct advanced pilot training on the PC9/A at No 2 Flying Training School (2FTS) at RAAF Base Pearce in Western Australia. Jay thoroughly enjoyed teaching and took a lot of pride in assisting to develop his students as best he could.  In mid 2011 he was posted to Central Flying School to train RAAF flying instructors.

Jay has over 3600 military flying hours, well over 1000 in the PC9/A, and has caught a large variety of trophy fish including marlin. This is his second season flying with the Roulettes.

ROULETTE Five

Flight Lieutenant Colin Burrows

Flight Lieutenant Colin Burrows, 41, grew up in Melbourne.  After finishing school he worked as a motorcycle courier for about three years developing a thirst for action and 'living on the edge', much to his mother’s horror. When not quietly riding around the Melbourne suburbs, Colin could be found flying aerobatics in Pitts Specials. Colin was instructed in the art of aerobatics by Ken McKechnie, a WW2 Mustang Pilot and member of the famous formation aerobatic team the ‘Skydancers’. Ken’s coaching saw Colin win the ‘Sportsman’ category of the Victorian Aerobatic Championships in 1994 and then go on to compete at Intermediate level in the National Aerobatic Championships later that year. Colin still pays much tribute for his aerobatic skills to Ken.                                                                        

Colin joined the RAAF in 1995 and graduated from No 173 Pilots’ Course in 1997. Following Pilots’ Course he was posted to No 76 Squadron (76 SQN), flying the Macchi and then to No 2 Operational Conversion Unit flying the F/A-18. In 2001 Colin was posted to No 36 Squadron flying the C-130H, during which time he was involved in numerous overseas deployments including operations in Iraq. In 2005 he returned to 76 SQN flying the BAe Hawk-127 in support of RAAF, Navy and Army operations; which he enjoyed as one of the best jobs of his career in the RAAF.

After completing Instructors course at the end of 2008, Colin was posted to No 2 Flying Training School as an instructor on the PC9/A, before being posted to Central Flying School at RAAF Base East Sale in late 2010. Colin is now kept busy teaching new Air Force flying instructors their trade on the PC-9 and CT-4, he also does regular trips up to Williamtown to check the F/A-18 and Hawk-127 instructors. This is Colin’s fourth season with the Team having previously flown as Roulette 3 and 6. Colin has over 3400 hours military flying experience, including over 1400 hours on the PC9/A.

ROULETTE Six

Flight Lieutenant Steve English

Flight Lieutenant Steve English, 30, joined the RAAF in 2002 on No 196 Pilots’ Course where he trained on the CT4B at the Basic Flying Training School in Tamworth and the PC9/A at No 2 Flying Training School (2FTS) at RAAF Pearce. Upon graduation Steve was posted to No 37 Squadron to fly the C-130J. This saw Steve flying throughout the Asia Pacific region, the North America and the Middle East where Steve completed several tours in Operation Catalyst and Slipper. Being able to put all his military training into practise and being a part of a large multi national military force in both Iraq and Afghanistan was both very rewarding and a career highlight for Steve.

Steve was then posted to Central Flying School (CFS) where he was the Ground Training Officer, instructing ground based subjects on Flying Instructors Course (FIC). He then completed FIC himself and was posted to 2FTS. After a brief tour Steve was posted back to CFS where he instructed on FIC before joining the Roulettes in January 2012 as Roulette 2. After 12 months, Steve moved to the Roulette 6 position, in which he flies the bottom half of the world famous Roulette Mirror along with Roulette 5.

Steve’s interests include motorcycle riding, running, and building scale model aircraft. Steve has over 2500 flying hours and this is his third season with the Roulettes.

ROULETTE Seven

Flight Lieutenant Shaun Rajzbaum

Flight Lieutenant Shaun Rajzbaum, 27, was born in Melbourne, Victoria, and joined the RAAF in 2004. Shaun completed a degree in Aeronautical Technology at the Australian Defence Force Academy prior to undergoing  flying training on the CT-4B and PC-9/A aircraft and graduated from No 213 Pilots’ Course in 2008. On completion of flying training he was posted to No 34 Squadron (34 SQN) at RAAF Base Fairbairn, Canberra, to fly the CL604 Challenger VIP aircraft. Shaun has been involved in various VIP tasking carrying the Prime Minister, Governor General and more notably Princess Mary of Denmark on her tour of the Royal Flying Doctors remote bases in Australia. Shaun’s time with 34 SQN took him to Dallas, Montreal and Amsterdam for simulator training. In the two and a half years at the Squadron Shaun carried out a wide range of VIP tasking throughout all of Australia, the Pacific Islands and Asia. Shaun’s most enjoyable trips were to places like Palau, Marshall Islands and the Cocos and Christmas Islands. Shaun’s other interests outside work includes skiing and bike riding.

Shaun has over 1500 hours flying experience. This is his first season with the Roulettes as Roulette 7