January

NT Air Force pilot is our top gun

ANNIE SANSON - NTnews.com.au

A YOUNG Territorian received a special Christmas present when he was recently awarded dux of the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra.

John-Paul Thorbjornsen, 20, of Weddell near Berry Springs, said the award was the result of hard work.

Mr Thorbjornsen achieved the highest score for academic studies and was named best leader and best military cadet.

"My nine siblings and I were homeschooled and our parents gave us a hard working attitude on the way,'' he said.

"In a big family I learned a lot of skills, how to work with people and treat them, how to look after my mates - that all helped me during my time at the academy.

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14 Jan 2010 02:43:04 GMT

New Wedgetail agreement

A new five-year, $800 million contract has been signed to support the Air Force’s new fleet of Wedgetail aircraft.

Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science Greg Combet said the contract with Boeing would create more than 100 jobs in the Newcastle area.

“It will also provide continued and new employment for more than 100 personnel at Amberley over the next 12 months, which will have positive flow-on effects for local businesses,” Mr Combet said.

Mr Combet said Boeing would also receive maintenance, engineering and training support from Boeing Defence Australia.

“…the industry team will deliver services including logistics, training, spares management, aircraft deeper maintenance, engineering and supply chain management,” Mr Combet said.
When fully operational, Wedgetail aircraft will enhance surveillance, air defence, fleet support and coordination operations.

Defence will eventually acquire six Wedgetail aircraft at a cost of more than $4 billion Australian dollars.

Wedgetail fan page

19 Jan 2010 23:01:56 GMT

Stephen Domagalski - Fom Racing Cas to the speed of sound

Parafield Gardens man Stephen Domagalski, 20, didn’t realise he would set a trend when he left CMI Toyota to join the Air Force in 2008.

But soon three more specialist Toyota techos had joined him in Latchford Barracks, and his sister had decided to join the Army.

“I wanted to get more out of life, so I stepped out of the box,” said Stephen. “Then my sister realised she could do anything too.”

Former Tyndale Christian School student Stephen had already completed his automotive vehicle apprenticeship and was working for Toyota’s Racing Development Branch in Portside. It was valuable specialist knowledge that the Defence Force soon picked up on.

For 14 months Aircraftman Stephen was working on the Defence Force’s own event vehicle called ‘Army-geddon’, and travelled with it to Clipsail 500, Hidden Valley in Darwin, and the Summernats in Canberra.

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Australia Day Flyovers!

Get ready Australia - the Air Force is incredibly proud to be able to thank the Australian people for their ongoing and loyal support by providing the following flyovers on Australia Day*

Charge your camera batteries and look for the excitement in the eyes of those around you!!

Sydney
3 x F/A-18 Hornet - E to W over Harbour Bridge
1 x C-130 Hercules - Heads - Fort Dennison - Bridge - Parramatta
1 x F-111 - Heads - Fort Dennison - Bridge - Parramatta

Nelson Bay
1 x F/A-18 Hornet - 540 degree orbit over water in front of Fly Point

Adelaide
1 x F/A-18 Hornet or PC-9 - S to N over CBD

Brisbane
1 x F-111 - S to N along W bank of Southbank

Darwin
3 x F/A-18 Hornet - slow and low single pass

Katherine
3 x F/A-18 Hornet - slow and low single pass

Canberra
3 x F/A-18 Hornet - SE to NW over Lake Burley Griffin, bomb burst over Canadian Flagpole

Gosford, Erina, Tea Gardens
3 x F/A-18 Hornet - S to N over Gosford, W to E over Erina, NE to SW over Tea Gardens

Melbourne, Hampton Park, Dandenong Park, Kings Domain Park, Flemington Park
The Roulettes

Melbourne
1 x F/A-18 Hornet - two slow and low passes of Town Hall, Shrine, orbit of PPB, and docklands

Perth, Bull Creek, Mitchell Reserve, Langley Park, Perth Water
4 x PC-9

No timings will be confirmed for the above mentioned flyovers.

* Subject to change without notice. The Air Force will do everything in its power to make these flyovers happen. However, if operational commitments surface then our number one priority will be to provide air and space power for Australia's security and that may mean that the aircraft may have to be redirected or re-tasked at no notice.