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SPRING 2020 WINGS NO.3 72 VOLUME SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY SR-71 BLACKBIRD FIGHTING THE COLD WAR FROM 80,000FT NOWHERE SEASAT OCEAN OBSERVATION TO HIDE FROM SPACE E-7A WEDGETAIL DEFENCE’S EYE IN THE SKY AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE defencebank.com.au 1800 033 139 1234 5678 1234 5678 Everything a cadet needs, and then some. Created especially for cadets - our Cadet Saver is fee free. • Your choice of camo Visa Debit card. • Visa payWave. • Apple Pay, Google Pay™, Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay and Garmin Pay. • Online banking. • Award-winning app. Then, on top of all that, a healthy interest rate on your savings. .75 p.a.% 1 Variable rate.* Talk to us today to find out more. *Terms and conditions, fees and charges may apply in certain situations. Interest rate is current as at 12 March 2020 and is subject to change without notice. Before acquiring any product please read the Products and Services – Conditions of Use (DPS) available from www.defencebank.com.au to consider whether any product is right for you. Defence Bank Limited ABN 57 087 651 385 AFSL / Australian Credit Licence 234582. CONTENTS. ON THE COVER Boeing E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft at RAAF Base Williamtown. 34 WINGS TEAM WINGS MANAGER Ron Haack CONTENTS EDITOR Sandy McPhie ART DIRECTOR Katie Monin wings SPRING volume 72 / NO.3 SENIOR ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Sue Guymer 4 WELCOME MESSAGE ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Phil Whiteman 6 FROM THE PRESIDENT ASSISTANT EDITORS 8 MILITARY AVIATION Mike Nelmes (history) 14 ASSOCIATION NEWS John Kindler, AO AFC (industry news) 16 INDUSTRY NEWS Bob Treloar, AO MiD (military aviation) 22 LOFTY AMBITIONS Newcastle Airport projects CONTACT 24 MARITIME SURVEILLANCE E [email protected] P-8A Poseidon W raafapublications.org.au 26 THE BIG PICTURE A RAAFANSW Publications Pty Ltd E-7A Wedgetail Salamander Bay LPO, PO Box 656 Salamander Bay 2317 28 NOWHERE TO HIDE Hyperspectral surveillance PRINTED BY: WHO Printing, Regional Printer 30 EARL Y EARTH OBSERVATIONS of the Year, National Print Awards 2020. 24 FROM SPACE Pioneering satellite oceanography DIGITAL EDITION 34 FIGHTING THE COLD WAR FROM To read this publication online, 85,000 FEET go to raafapublications.org.au/wings, SR-71 Blackbird or raafa.org.au/wings-archive 42 SKILLING UP FOR DEFENCE Hands-on education FACEBOOK 44 THE DRIVE THAT STARTED Wings is now on Facebook, go to facebook. AN AIRLINE com/WingsMagazineRAAFAPublications The beginnings of Qantas 52 THE POWER BEHIND DISCLAIMER FUTURE AVIATION Information in the articles in this magazine was current at time Rolls-Royce on aviation propulsion of publication but more recent developments should be checked 56 W ARHAWKS AGAINST THE with the relevant Defence and other authorities for currency and ONSLAUGHT any changes to conditions. Content appearing in this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or have the endorsement Fannie Bay dogfight part 2 of the Department of Defence or the publisher. While every effort 62 MOVING ON UP has been made to ensure accuracy and currency in the articles Women in the Air Force presented, reliance should not be placed on the information contained without reference to the relevant authorities. No part 64 THE LEGACY LIVES ON of this magazine may be reproduced without the written consent Open Arms of RAAFANSW Publications. No responsibility is accepted by the publisher for the accuracy of advertisements or information. 66 WARIES & STORIES An airman’s view of Ubon 69 CADETS NEWS 72 PERSONAL FINANCE 73 LAST FLIGHT AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION 74 BOOK REVIEWS 66 WINGS VOLUME 72 NO.3 | 03 WELCOME. COMMANDER SURVEILLANCE & RESPONSE GROUP MESSAGE FROM commander SRG OINING A DISTINGUISHED ready across multiple domains. line of Royal Australian Air I continue to be inspired by the Force Groups and Units, incredible talent and resilience of elements of Surveillance and our people – to see opportunities for JResponse Group (SRG) capabilities continuous improvement and to identify feature as part of a wider surveillance new ways of achieving operational theme in this edition of Wings – and effectiveness in response to the as Commander SRG I am delighted to changing environment. contribute to the introduction. To that end, SRG’s success, SRG has a long and proud service achievements and attainment of critical history and is one of the largest and milestones in 2020 have been as broad most diverse Force Element Groups as they are complex. in the Air Force. I am incredibly proud From coordination of major to be part of that history; to carry on construction projects for our new that legacy while forging a new path. systems, providing disaster relief, both It is a path that is both challenging from our aircraft and on the ground, and evolutionary as SRG capitalises playing a role in the COVID response, on high technology systems in support search and rescue, exercises and of achieving air superiority as part of operations at home and abroad – as a fifth-generation fighting force. well as support to an international Under the motto 'Foremost Sentinel', space mission – our activities are SRG is the organisation that provides certainly diverse. I firmly believe it is consider it the greatest privilege of my the ‘Know, Understand and Respond’ the sum of individual efforts that makes career to be given the opportunity to line of effort, delivering situational SRG so effective and our personnel lead such a capable and effective team. awareness to commanders wherever should take pride in the critical role they Best wishes and please enjoy this the battle may be. SRG's increasing play in that success. edition of Wings. focus and support to cyber and space I could not be more proud to be Air Commodore Barbara Courtney AM capabilities ensures Air Force and the Commander SRG during this exciting Commander Surveillance and ADF is suitably equipped and mission time of unprecedented change and Response Group THE AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION AND WINGS GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE SUPPORT OF VIRGIN AUSTRALIA SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE 04 | SPRING 2020 PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP MilCIS Conference Delegate MilCIS is the only Australian conference that focuses strategically on the crucial technologies, products, systems and services associated with military communications and information systems. MILITARY COMMUNICATION AND MilCIS INFORMATION SYSTEMS CONFERENCE AND EXPO proceeding 10–13 November 2020 as virtual conference www.milcis.com.au and expo MilCIS Conference delegates pay the relevant conference registration fee and have full access to all conference presentations (five parallel streams including the Expo presentations), daily breakfast and lunch product brief sessions and the Virtual Exhibition Hall. WELCOME. NATIONAL PRESIDENT AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT’S CORNER PRESIDENT Carl Schiller OAM CSM VICE PRESIDENT Sharon Bown Carl Schiller OAM, CSM, National President Air Force Association SECRETARY Peter Colliver, [email protected] AT THE TIME OF support, and employment TREASURER Bob Robertson WRITING, COVID-19 and vocational advice are is undergoing a second now likely to be in demand. wave of infections There are many ESOs JOIN THE AIR FORCE in Victoria with New in the country. Although ASSOCIATION South Wales coming they differ in the services Membership is open to serving and former dangerously close they provide, support to members of the Australian Defence Force to another significant veterans and their families and Allied Armed Forces, their family outbreak. Closure of state is a common theme. Go to dva. members, current and former Air Force borders and police checkpoints gov.au/civilian-life/find-ex-service- Cadets, Air League Cadets and members to contain people who reside in high- organisation to view a list of ESOs of the public who have an interest in aviation and who support the mission and infection areas are creating anxiety and their contact details. objectives of the Air Force Association. in the wider community. Air Force is planning its 100th The use of ADF personnel to assist Anniversary Celebration to be held in safeguarding the community is on 31 March 2021. It has sought the DIVISION CONTACTS: reassuring. I have received numerous Association’s assistance to arrange NSW: 02 9393 3485 comments commending our Service men the attendance of retired Air Force [email protected]; raafansw.org.au and women for their efforts. These are veterans and their partners at the VIC: 03 9813 4600 unsettling times which is why we need to commemoration in Canberra. Air Force, [email protected];raafavic.org.au support our friends and their families, and like the general community, is hoping ACT: 0428 622 105 reassure them Australians are resilient the current COVID-19 crisis will be [email protected]; raafaact.org.au and will get through this epidemic. over by the end of 2020 to enable TAS: 03 6200 9221 Ex-Service Organisations (ESO), like the inclusion of a veteran attendance [email protected]; raafatas.com the Air Force Association (AFA), have an component in the celebration. AFA will SA: 08 8227 0980 important role to play in troubling times. advertise the event and will be seeking [email protected]; raafasa.org.au These organisations provide support to expressions of interest from those WA: 08 9288 8400 the veteran community, including current wishing to attend. Watch for the flyer. [email protected]; raafawa.org.au and former ADF members. Advocacy for In the meantime, be mindful of your QLD: 0419 688 014 those seeking support and services from health