Page 23 - AirForces - Monthly (February 2020)

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Second Cayman Police H145 delivered RAAF receives 12th P-8A

Poseidon The 12th and most recent P-8A arrives at RAAF Base
Edinburgh. CPL Brenton Kwaterski/Commonwealth of Australia,
Department of Defence
THE LATEST P-8A on operational support to of an additional three
order for the Royal Australia, including a recent Poseidons is planned, as
Australian Air Force mission to the Middle announced in the Defence
F-35A serial A35-008 (AU-8, 15-5216) touches down at RAAF (RAAF) arrived at RAAF East Region on Operation White Paper on February
Base Williamtown on arrival in Australia. CPL Melina Young/ Base Edinburgh, South Manitou as part of the 26, 2016, but no contract
Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence Australia, on December International Maritime has yet been awarded.
Between them, the P-8A
Next seven F-35As 12, completing the fleet Security Construct.” and the MQ-4C Triton
for the resident No 11
The first P-8A for the
Squadron. Following
unmanned aircraft system
RAAF arrived in Canberra
arrive in Australia the arrival of the 12th on November 16, 2016. The (UAS) will replace the
service’s AP-3C Orion
Poseidon – A47-012 (c/n
penultimate aircraft from
SEVEN MORE F-35As mean that No 2 Operational 64168, line number 7603) the current order, A47-011 fleet. The AP-3C is in the
process of a graduated
– the country’s Minister for (c/n 64167, line number
arrived at RAAF Base Conversion Unit can begin a Defence Linda Reynolds 7427), was delivered to drawdown, with the
Williamtown, New South first Operational Conversion said: “The P-8A is already RAAF Base Edinburgh final aircraft planned for
Wales, on December 11, Course (OPCON) on providing significant last October 4. Purchase withdrawal in 2023.
bringing the locally stationed the type, scheduled for
Royal Australian Air Force late 2020/early 2021.
(RAAF) fleet to 13 aircraft. The Australian government
The aircraft departed Luke recently approved the
Air Force Base, Arizona, and purchase of the next 24
travelled to their new home aircraft – meaning all 72
with tanker support via Joint Australian F-35As in the
Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, current programme of record
Hawaii, and Anderson are secure. The defence
AFB, Guam. As well as the ministry will receive 45
13 Joint Strike Fighters Lightning IIs under the
assigned to No 3 Squadron international Block Buy
at Williamtown, another five Contract, valued at a total
Australian aircraft are based of US$34bn. Ultimately,
at Luke for international pilot Australia has a stated
training. The additional jets requirement for 100 aircraft.

No 2 OCU conducts final No 2 FTS PC-9/A serial A23-044 takes part in a formation flight as part of the graduation of
257 Advanced Pilots Course. POIS James Whittle/Commonwealth of Australia

‘classic’ Hornet flight
THE ROYAL Australian 18A/Bs are planned to be
Air Force’s (RAAF’s) No 2 withdrawn from service
Operational Conversion in December 2021.
Unit (OCU) conducted its The farewell flight involved
final F/A-18A/B flight at ten F/A-18A/Bs departing
RAAF Base Williamtown, Williamtown and then
New South Wales, on forming up in a ‘Number
December 11. The mission 2’ formation before flying
was a milestone in the north over Tomaree to the
service’s phased drawdown Sugarloaf Point coastal areas,
of No 2 OCU ‘classic’ Hornet and south to Redhead Beach.
operations, which ceased The aircraft conducted
the same month. In future, a low-level coastal run
the unit will conduct fast- north, before breaking into
jet aircrew training on the pairs for low-level initial RAAF bids farewell to PC-9/A
F-35A. The last RAAF F/A- and pitch-out to land.
THE ROYAL Australian Air role, PC-9/As were flown delivered, January, p28).
Force (RAAF) hosted a primarily by the Central A number of PC-9/
retirement ceremony for Flying School at RAAF As are being maintained
its PC-9/A at RAAF Base Base East Sale, Victoria, in airworthy condition
Pearce, Western Australia, and by No 2 Flying Training until the new training
on December 12. After School (FTS) at Pearce. programme is validated.
more than 30 years of According to Deputy Air So far, 16 of the surviving
operations, a final training Commander Australia, airworthy airframes have
course utilising the type Air Cdre Guy Wilson, been transferred to Avalon
– 257 Advanced Pilots the Pilatus turboprop in Victoria where they will
Course – graduated at successfully supported 103 be auctioned off in March.
Pearce on December 6. pilot training courses and Others have already been
The first two Swiss-built graduated more than 1,400 assigned as museum, gate
PC-9/As arrived in Australia pilots from the RAAF and guard and static training
in 1987 and pilot training Royal Australian Navy. aircraft, including eight
began two years later; The PC-9/A retirement already at RAAF Base
F/A-18A serials A21-012 and A21-035 from No 2 OCU conduct the remaining 67 aircraft follows receipt of the Wagga, New South Wales,
a formation flight, in the shape of a number 2, in the airspace were built under licence RAAF’s 49th and final where they will replace
around RAAF Base Williamtown. CPL Craig Barrett/Commonwealth by Hawker de Havilland PC-21 training aircraft (see MB-326s as ground
of Australia, Department of Defence in Sydney. In the training Last three RAAF PC-21s instructional airframes.

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