Roulettes team members

ROULETTE Leader

Squadron Leader Stephen Baker

Squadron Leader Stephen Baker has 20 years of flying experience that began when he graduated from No. 161 Pilots’ Course December 1992. Stephen was posted to fly Caribou tactical transport aircraft with 38 Squadron, then in 1996, went on to instruct on the PC-9/A turbo-prop trainer. During his tenure at No. 2 Flying Training School, 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. 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 while completing his diploma in photography. Prior to returning to Central Flying School late in 2010 to take up his post as Roulette Leader, Stephen performed regular aerobatic displays in a number of Air Force’s historical warbirds at the RAAF Museum. Stephen has almost 5000 military flying hours.

This is his first season as Roulette Leader and his sixth season with the team.

ROULETTE Two

Flight Lieutenant Steve English

Steve, 29, was raised in Traralgon, Victoria. He joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 2002 and graduated from No. 196 Pilots’ Course. After graduation, he flew the C130J Hercules with No. 37 Squadron which saw him flying throughout the Asia Pacific region on exercises and humanitarian operations. Steve also completed several warlike operational tours in the Middle East Area of Operations.

Steve was then posted to Central Flying School as the Ground Training Officer before completing Flying Instructors Course in 2009. He was then posted to No. 2 Flying Training School in Pearce, Western Australia as a Qualified Flying Instructor. In 2011, Steve returned to Central Flying School to be an instructor before joining the Roulettes.

Steve has over 2500 flying hours with more than 1000 hours in the PC-9/A and this is his first season flying as Roulette Two.

ROULETTE Three

Flight Lieutenant Glenn Stegink

FLTLT Glenn Stegink, 39, was born and raised in Adelaide. He worked in the computer industry before joining the RAAF in 1998 and graduated from No. 180 Pilots’ Course in 1999. Following graduation he was posted to fly the AP-3C Orion with No. 11 Squadron during which time he was involved in numerous overseas deployments including warlike operations in the Middle East area of Operations.

In 2005, he was posted to No. 2 Flying Training School in Perth as an instructor on the PC-9/A. His next flying tour was with No. 292 Squadron in Adelaide as an AP-3C instructor in 2007, a job which he carried out for four years before returning to Central Flying School at RAAF East Sale in 2011.

Glenn has 4200 hours military flying experience, including over 1500 hours on the PC-9A. This is his first season with the Roulettes.

ROULETTE Four

Flight Lieutenant Cory Fischer

Cory, 29, grew up in Queensland before joining the Royal Australian Air Force in 2000. He graduated on No. 193 Pilots’ Course in 2002 before being posted to 38 Squadron. Cory spent nearly five years flying the DHC4 Caribou out of RAAF Base Amberley and Townsville, and participated in various exercises throughout the pacific region as well as operations in the Solomon Islands.

In 2008, Cory completed Flying Instructors’ Course and instructed on the CT4-B at the Australian Defence Force Basic Flying Training School in Tamworth, NSW. He was then posted to Central Flying School in 2010.

Cory has over 3000 military flying hours and this is his second season flying with the Roulettes.

ROULETTE Five

Squadron Leader Matt Plenty

Squadron Leader Matt Plenty, 41, was born in Canberra and grew up in Darwin. He joined the RAAF in 1989 completing flying training on the CT-4A and Macchi 326H and then went on to fly the DHC4 Caribou with Nos 35 and 38 Squadrons.

Matt had other postings to Air Operations at Headquarters Northern Command in Darwin, as Brigade Air Liaison Officer at No. 3 Brigade Headquarters. He has also deployed on various overseas operations.

In 2000, Matt completed Flying Instructors' Course and was posted to teach at the ADF Basic Flying Training School in Tamworth on the CT-4B, followed by an exchange posting to fly the Tucano T Mk1 in the UK for the Royal Air Force.

In 2006, Matt returned to Central Flying School, where he served as ‘A Flight’ Commander before moving to ‘B Flight’ and then progressing to the Roulettes in 2009. He flew five seasons in the team as Roulette 4, 6 then 5 before having a six month break from the team in 2011. Matt is now back for his sixth season in the Roulettes in a key position as Roulette 5.

Matt is one the most experienced pilots in the team with over 6200 military flying hours and 2100 hours instructing.

ROULETTE Six

Flight Lieutenant Bernie Gleeson

Bernie, 37, was born and raised in The Hunter Valley in NSW. He joined the Air Force in 1993 and graduated from No 173 Pilots’ Course (along with both Roulette Two and Three) in 1997. Following graduation, he was posted to fly the C130E Hercules in Richmond NSW and participated in various operations throughout the world including a deployment to the Middle East.

In 2003, Bernie completed Flying Instructor Course at CFS and instructed on the PC9 at No. 2 Flying Training school in Perth until 2005. He was then posted back to Richmond to fly the newer C130J Hercules and completed a second operational tour in the Middle East before instructing on the Tactical Pilot Conversion Course at No. 285 Squadron.

In 2009, Bernie was posted to Central Flying School in East Sale as an instructor. Bernie has over 4500 flying hours and this is his second season with the Roulettes having previously flown in the distinguished Roulette Two position.

ROULETTE Seven

Flying Officer Richard Morris

Richard, 26, was born in Gosford, NSW, and joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 2005. He conducted flying training on the CT-4B and PC-9/A aircraft and graduated from No. 210 Pilots’ Course in 2008. On completion of flying training he was posted to No. 32 Squadron in East Sale to fly the King Air 350. Richard has been involved in various tasks including flood relief support in the recent Queensland floods, VIP tasks and operations throughout South East Asia

Richard has over 1200 hours flying experience. This is his first season with the Roulettes.

Ground Crew