Dave Soderstrom, Mark Pourzenic and Richard Pourzenic coverage of the Australian Grand Prix.
Melbourne has been the host of the Formula 1 Grand Prix Championship since it won the rights to hold it from 1992, and will continue to until the contract finishes in 2023. The Australian Grand Prix is the first round of the Championship, having been the first race of each year, excluding 2006 and 2010, since the event moved to Melbourne. As with each year the ADF are strong supporters of the event. Friday the RAAF arrived in style, first to arrive into Essendon was the Royal Australian Air Force’s Aerobatic display team the Roulettes. Flying the Pilatus PC-9A turboprop two seat training aircraft the team has flown this aircraft since transferring from the CAC built MB-326 Macchi. Flying the PC-9 the team will fly their routines at speeds up to 590 kilometres per hour, using only hand-eye coordination.
RAAF Roulettes approach the track
The team for the 2016 consists of, ROULETTE Leader Squadron Leader Daniel Kehoe, ROULETTE Two Flight Lieutenant Charles ‘Chuck’ Manning, ROULETTE Three Flight Lieutenant Andrew Robinson, ROULETTE Four Flight Lieutenant Dion Courtney, ROULETTE Five Flight Lieutenant Lachine Hazeldine, ROULETTE Six Flight Lieutenant Jonathan Morgan and ROULETTE Seven Flight Lieutenant Thomas Sawade. All have considerable flight hours and are highly experienced and accomplished pilots.
Roulette 1 starts the peel away.
The team arrived after a display over the Grand Prix circuit with a smoke on approach into the airport. and what a sight it was!
After a the initial pass the team lined up again for the circuit and landed.
RAAF PC-9 A23-051 Roulette
RAAF PC-9 A23-060 Roulette
RAAF PC-9 A23-012 Roulette
RAAF PC-9 A23-037 Roulette
RAAF PC-9 A23-067 Roulette
RAAF PC-9 A23-052 Roulette
RAAF PC9 Roulettes
Next to Arrive was the Fast Jet element from 2 Operational Conversion Unit based at Williamtown NSW. Royal Australian Air Force McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A (Classic) Hornets A21-4 and A21-29 arrived at Tullamarine after performing a brief display over Mount Lilydale Mercy College . The pilot conducting the flying display at the F1GP is a graduate of the Mt Lilydale Primary School and the squadron will be conducting a visit to the school to talk to the students about flying careers in the Royal Australian Air Force.
RAAF F/A-18A Hornets A21-4 77SQN & A21-29 75SQN about to land
RAAF F/A-18A Hornets A21-4 77SQN & A21-29 75SQN
Over the weekend the RAAF displays above the Grand Prix with the following aircraft were scheduled at the following times:
Friday 18th March
RAAF Roulettes 12:00 – 12:15pm
RAAF Hornet 16:00 – 16:10pm
Saturday 19th March
RAAF Roulettes 13:30 – 13:45pm
RAAF Hornet 16:30 – 16:40pm
Sunday 20th March
RAAF Roulettes 14:35 – 14:50pm
RAAF Hornet 15:10 – 15:20 pm
RAAF C-17A 15:47pm
F/A-18A A21-4 preformed for the GP crowd on Saturday and Sunday
RAAF F/A-18A Hornet A21-4 takes back after its display on the Friday
The team swing into gear in support of the pilot
RAAF F/A-18A Hornets A21-4 77SQN head on
RAAF F/A-18A Hornet A21-49 77 SQN was also on the ground at Tullamarine
RAAF F/A-18A Hornet A21-29 was the third Hornet parked at Tullamarine over the weekend
RAAF F/A-18A Hornet A21-29 75SQN
RAAF F/A-18A Hornet A21-4 77SQN
RAAF F/A-18A Hornet A21-4 77SQN
RAAF F/A-18A Hornet A21-4 77SQN
RAAF F/A-18A Hornet A21-4 77SQN
RAAF F/A-18A Hornet A21-4 returns after its display on Sunday
RAAF F/A-18A Hornet A21-4 returns after its display on Sunday
Saturday’s F/A-18A Hornet Display.
Sunday’s F/A-18A Hornet Display.
The Sunday display of the C-17A Globemaster, was preformed by A41-206. And what a display it was. The display was flown by the very experienced crews based at Amberley with 36 Squadron.
RAAF C-17A A41-206
RAAF C-17A A41-206
RAAF C-17A A41-206
RAAF C-17A A41-206
So who will be at the next one now ?
Hello! Just letting you know it was Mount Lilydale Mercy College not a primary school. The RAAF mucked it up too!
Cheers,
Luke
Thanks for that Luke we will fix that now. Mark