Aerial training Operation Crimson Dawn wraps up in Townsville

The skies above the Townsville region have become the final aerial classroom for the next generation for RAAF personnel to qualify to fly and operate the F/A-18F Super Hornets.

RAAF pilots and weapon system officers takes off from RAAF Base Townsville in F/A-18F Super Hornets during Exercise Crimson Dawn. Picture: Evan Morgan

The skies above the Townsville region have become the final aerial classroom for the next generation for RAAF personnel to qualify to fly and operate F/A-18F Super Hornets.

Exercise Crimson Dawn took off above the city on June 17 and is the culmination of a six month Operational Conversion course to graduate Fast Jet Pilots and Weapon System Officers for the Super Hornet aircraft.

Number 1 Squadron training flight commander Squadron Leader Michael Bailes said they had already conducted several missions and progressed a long way towards achieving the graduation standard for the trainees.

“The strike missions that we’re doing here are basically a combination of air to air and air to ground missions, where our students are carrying high, high explosive bombs. Using the weapons range out to the West.

“The students will fight their way through an enemy air threat, before engaging a target on the ground with their air to surface weapons, and then fight their way back out.”

He said the graduation course was tough.

RAAF pilots and weapon system officers takes off from RAAF Base Townsville in F/A-18F Super Hornets during Exercise Crimson Dawn. Picture: Evan Morgan

“It’s important to note that we have two types of aircrew on this course, we have the pilots, obviously, and who are the front seaters in the Super Hornet.

“But the Super Hornet being a two seat aircraft, the back seater or our weapon systems officers are also on the course.

“So we’re putting both of those specialisations through the course here, and they’ve done very well.”

The squadron leader said there was a great sense of achievement when trainees graduated from the course.

“It is a it is a great achievement and the moment you come back from your final strike and realise that you’ve made the grade, that the instructors are now putting the new patches on your shoulder as a is a pretty big moment.

“I remember my own graduation 15 years ago, like it was yesterday.”

Before becoming RAAF pilot himself Squadron Leader Bailes was a Brisbane software engineer.

“I saw jets flying overhead back when I was a young fella. I grew up in Brisbane and the F111’s used to come over the top for river fire displays. I thought that was the most fantastic thing I’d ever seen.

“I look a little bit more into it and thought you know what flying fighters looks like fun.”

Exercise Crimson Dawn finishes on June 26.

Originally published as Aerial training Operation Crimson Dawn wraps up in Townsville