RAAF Reserve Archives - CONTACT magazine

Two cranes return Neptune A89-280 back onto its plinth at the RAAF Base Townsville entrance. Story by Flight Lieutenant Julia Ravell.

Townsville’s iconic Neptune resumes duty

04/12/202407/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 807 Views 0 Comments Neptune, No. 10 Squadron, RAAF Reserve, RAAF Townsville

Reserve personnel used professionalism, pride and impressive trade skills to restore RAAF Base Townsville’s iconic Lockheed P2V-7 Neptune A89-280 gate

Squadron Leader Stephen Bihary exits a 79 Squadron Hawk 127. Story by Squadron Leader Stephen Bihary. Photos by Flying Officer Michael Thomas.

ADF People History Royal Australian Air Force

Longest-serving jet pilot leaves the cockpit

02/10/202405/10/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1334 Views 0 Comments Hawk 127 Lead-In Fighter, No 79 Squadron, RAAF Pearce, RAAF Reserve

The longest-serving Air Force fighter pilot and fast-jet instructor Squadron Leader Stephen Bihary has retired from the cockpit after 48

Squadron Leader Martin Copland at the end of the 155 Pilot’s Course in 1991. It was the last course to use the Macchi jet. Story by Flying Officer Wendy Pyper.

ADF People History

A career with altitude

28/06/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 565 Views 0 Comments No. 2 Expeditionary Health Squadron, RAAF Reserve

Fifty years ago, Squadron Leader Martin Copland was six years old and oblivious to the disaster about to unfold in

Participants endure the gruelling Special Forces Challenge to help troubled young Australians get their lives back on track. Story by John Noble. Photo by Terry Campese Foundation.

ADF People

Taking it to the limit

12/04/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 838 Views 0 Comments No. 34 Squadron, RAAF Reserve, Special Forces Challenge

Being fit and strong for service in the ADF can be physically demanding, but for one Air Force reservist it

Warrant Officer Ian 'Blue' Macgregor, Simulator Project Manager from 37 Squadron, RAAF Base Richmond, NSW. Story by Flying Officer Madeleine Magee. Photo by Corporal John Solomon.

ADF People Royal Australian Air Force

Retired after 50 years service

08/02/202409/02/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1126 Views 1 Comment RAAF Reserve

From rubbing shoulders with royalty and former prime ministers, to pioneering work on aircraft, Warrant Officer Ian ‘Blue’ Macgregor has

Leading Aircraftwoman Katie Smart is an Air Force Reservist and works within BHP as an emergency service officer. Story by Flight Lieutenant Claire Campbell.

ADF People

Learning and sharing history and culture

01/06/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1220 Views 0 Comments RAAF Base Pearce, RAAF Reserve, Reconciliation Week

When speaking about her time in the Air Force, Leading Aircraftwoman Katie Smart credits the people she has met and

News presenter and Air Force Reservist Wing Commander Peter Overton, centre, with Simon Hobbs, left, testing a flight simulator at Avalon Air Show. Photo by Alex Given.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Civilian bosses shown what Air Force has to offer

10/03/202312/03/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1747 Views 0 Comments ADF Reserve, Avalon Airshow, RAAF Reserve

Civilian employers of ADF reservists visited the Australian International Airshow, at Avalon, to see the best the Royal Australian Air

Air Force Specialist Reserve Forensic Doctor Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Wright with a sample for DNA testing. Story by John Noble. Photo by Corporal Colin Dadd.

ADF People

‘Australian of the Year’ for RAAF reservist

27/01/202305/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1897 Views 0 Comments RAAF Reserve

Forensic doctor Kirsty Wright – who is also a Royal Australian Air Force reservist – has been named The Australian newspaper’s

Flight Sergeant (retd) Michael Hartley, coordinator of volunteers at the RAAF Townsville Aviation Heritage Centre. Story by Flight Lieutenant Karyn Markwell. Photo by Mr Lindsay Gordon.

ADF People

To the moon and back with Air Force

27/01/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1024 Views 0 Comments RAAF Reserve, RAAF Townsville Aviation Heritage Centre (RTAHC)

As coordinator of volunteers at the RAAF Townsville Aviation Heritage Centre (RTAHC) since 2017, Flight Sergeant (retd) Michael Hartley is

Wing Commander Adrian Burge, from 32 Squadron, at the completion of 10,000 military flying hours, in front of a B350 King Air at RAAF Base East Sale. Story by Flying Officer Ellis Mitchell. Photo by Flying Officer Nathan Howarth.

ADF People History

10,000 hours in the sky

19/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1529 Views 0 Comments B-350 King Air, No. 32 Squadron, RAAF Reserve

32 Squadron recently celebrated a significant flying milestone by qualified flying instructor reservist Wing Commander Adrian “Boggy” Burge, who has

Warrant Officer Kevin ‘Skeet’ Parker, left, removing the dome nut from a propeller in the paint shop at the RAAF Townsville Aviation Heritage Centre. Story by Flight Lieutenant Karyn Markwell. Photo by Flight Sergeant Michael Hartley.

ADF People History

Half a century maintaining Australia’s aircraft

07/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 974 Views 0 Comments RAAF Reserve, RAAF Townsville, RAAF Townsville Aviation Heritage Centre (RTAHC)

After serving with Air Force for more than half a century, Warrant Officer Kevin ‘Skeet’ Parker now spends his retirement

Air Commodore Christopher "Noddy" Sawade, left, with Air Commodore Michael "Micka" Gray at the Air Show Team Handover Ceremony at RAAF Base Darwin. Story by Flight Lieutenant Marina Power. Photo by Sergeant Pete Gammie.

ADF People

There’s a new show in town

29/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2387 Views 0 Comments Air Show, RAAF Darwin, RAAF Reserve

After a long and successful stint as the Head of Air Shows, Air Commodore Christopher ‘Noddy’ Sawade handed over command

Flight Lieutenant Tracy Zordan at Murray Barracks in Port Moresby, where she has worked as a nurse on Operation Papua New Guinea Assist. Story and photo by Corporal Dustin Anderson.

ADF People

Nurse not afraid of a challenge

13/05/202220/05/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1217 Views 0 Comments Operation PNG Assist, RAAF Reserve

After saving lives in some of the poorest and most dangerous places on Earth in her civilian job, Flight Lieutenant

Chaplain Squadron Leader Sue Page conducts the prayer of dedication during the unveiling of the P-8A Poseidon at its new home at RAAF Base Edinburgh. Story by Flight Lieutenant Nick O’Connor. Photo by Corporal Craig Barrett.

ADF People

Air Force chaplain wins prestigious Defence award

15/04/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1171 Views 0 Comments No. 24 Squadron, RAAF Edinburgh, RAAF Reserve

Sitting in her Year 12 classroom at Mount Gravatt State High School on Brisbane’s south-side in the early 1990s, Sue

Major Ben Lanskey from Defence Reserves Support, left, Canterbury College's Flight Lieutenant Greg Wacker and Canterbury College principal Daniel Walker at the presentation of the Queensland Employer Support Award 2021. Story by Flight Lieutenant Nick O’Connor.

News Royal Australian Air Force Sovereign industry

College rewarded for Reserve support

31/10/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 1476 Views 0 Comments RAAF Reserve

Canterbury College at Waterford, Queensland, has won the not-for-profit category of the recently announced Queensland Defence Employer Support Awards. CAPTION: