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~ R I Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia I tt= 1 'The Quarterly Journal 1 ~~' AIR ..q~ ., _ «" ~ _ 1 ot the 1 1 1 ~ r I Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia I ~ i- Volume Numbe,2 April I LJ94 I An early morning captured in time ..... 'Flying Stations aboard HMAS Sydney' Photo courtesy Ian Ferguson Published by the Fleet Air Am1 Assoc iation of Australia fnc. - Print Post App rO\ed - PP201494 /00 022 Editor: John Arnold -PO Box 662- NOWRA NSW 2541. Australia - Phone (044) 2320 14 - Fax (044) 23241 2 Slipstream - April 1994 - Page 2 1 · I t I FOREWORD by Vice Admiral R.G.Taylor AO RAN Chief of Naval Staff I am delighted to have been asked to provide a Foreword to the April edition of Slipstream . Although not an aviator, I feel a great affinity for the Australian Fleet Air Arm having served as Navigating Officer in the carriers SYDNEY and MELBOURNE. During that experience I witnessed many acts of courage and some superb demonstrations of technical support and flying skill but what impressed me most was the team spirit of the 'birdies'. The spirit lives on in the Fleet Air Arm where our young men and women are showing that they have the necessary technical skills and expertise and enthusiasm to keep some of the world's most advanced naval aircraft in the air and operating . While aviation is just one important part of our Navy, the Fleet Air Arm will always enjoy a special place within our community . I commend the amalgamation of the previously separate Officer's Association with the general FAA Association . I believe the move can only enhance the hard work and efforts of the Association and its involvement with the Museum and historical flight. I also commend _Slipstream for the valuable contribution it makes in keeping the naval aviation spirit alive and well for both serving and retired members of the FAA. I know that FAAA members look forward to reading the journal to learn about upcoming events associated with the Naval Aviat ion Museum and to catch up with news of their former shipmates . It is-a first rate publication of which the Association can be proud. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff and volunteers of the Nav~I Aviation Museum for the work they have put into the enterprise . I have been particularly impressed also with the aircraft restoration projects I have seen both in the Museum and the Historic Flight. These restored naval aircraft provide the visitor with a tangible and exciting link with our past. I wish the Association the best of luck for the future . I look forward to a close association with the Museum and I hope to meet many serving and ex-serving members of the Fleet Air Arm. Slipstream - April 1994 - Page 3 EDITORIAL When the National Anthem debate CONTACTS FOR 1994 This edition of Slipstream is was ragingsome years ago , it was brought to you through the Phill ip Adams who suggested that the National Secretary: sponsorship of British Aerospace following words might be applicable : Ian Ferguson Australia, to whom the Association PO Box 105 offer their most sincere thanks. 'I love this ripper country Vincentia NSW 2540 I would like to take this opportunity Of funnel webs and sharks Phone/Fax : (044) 416771 to thank the stalwarts of the With blowies big as eagles Association who send in the Where your car gets booked by narks ; Slipstream & National PRO: contributions that make the production Where your team gets booked each John Arnold of this journal possible . Saturday , PO Box 662 As I have mentioned before , if your And the pub runs out of beer, Nowra NSW 2541 submission or photograph has not Where there's redbacks on the toilet Phone : (044)232014 been published to date , it has not been seat Fax: (044) 232412 disposed of . It is just sitting in the files And you 're nagged by Germaine awaiting the right moment , or for Greer.' NSW Secretary: someone with a better memory than I George Goddard have , to provide dates for the events It would appear that anytime a PO Box 28 and/or put names to faces . contentious issue arises , many Nowra NSW 2541 Please keep those letters , articles Australians have a great urge to burst Phone /Fax : (042) 563770 and photographs rolling in, each in its into verse . This medium obviously own way goes to complete the jig-saw being the best method for expressing ACT Secretary: which is the Fleet Air Arm history . their opinions . Brian Treloar As a result of the recent ethnic PO Box 3652 HOSPITAL CALL unrest in this country , the following Weston Creek ACT 2611 cautio nary tale by John Morr is of Phone : (06) 288 2730 Kevin Raddatz wishes to inform Tweed Heads , was forwarded as an old shipmates of Dick Coates (the entry in the Sydney Morning Herald WA Secretary: hypnotist), that Dick is seriously ill poetry competition : Theo Bushe-Jones in the Holy Sp irit Hospital, 259 PO Box 8336 Hotheads of Australia . Perth Stirling St.WA 6841 Wickham Terrace , Brisbane . Phone : (09) 527 9186 Dick has the telephone in his room Coves and coots and blokes . and can be contacted by phoning Cool yer bloody tempers . VIC Secretary: (07) 834 6111 and asking for his room Shed your ethnic jokes . number . which is - CW Room 27 . Read yer C. J. Dennis , Ron Christie Give him a call or send him a card Learn some bloody sense . 15 Bianca Court please . Learn the bloody art of Rowville VIC 3178 Mutual tolerance . Phone : (03) 764 5542 URGENTLY REQUIRED To chuck bombs cos Of what yer called SA Secretary: It is in-bloody-sane . Dinsley Cooper Barry Simpson , Tasmanian Remember bloody Romeo ! 17 Athol Avenue Division President , has asked for the What's in a bloody name! Blair Athol SA 5084 donation of an eye patch and a Don't talk of Alexander, Phone : (08) 344 8812 parrot . Alex the bloody great ! This was his way of gently breaking He died in BC, mate! T AS Secretary: the news that surgery to improve the John Nobes Good on ya , watch yerfootie ! circulation in his leg had not been PO Box 686 But take no bloody flags! success ful and he has had the lim b Devon port T AS 731 O Flag-waving's bloody bonkers , removed. Phone : (004)352473 I'm sure that all members would They're only bloody rags. wish Barry a speedy recov ery and Be like our micks and prodd ies. QLD Secretary: sincerely hope that his run of bad luck Here most get on quite well. Paul Woods is now over . While back in the old country PO Box 1212 Their feuds cause bloody hell. Milton QLD 4064 C:A~~T l!HtHtl3H? Tti~ And Kennetts of Australia Phone : (07) 341 8212 ~ '0l!l)S ••••• 13UT Ttil: Show some bloody sense . Fax: (07) 3716750 To fan the ffames to win the votes MUSIC: SOUNl)S Is very bloody dense . I' A.MILIAl?? Let other blo_ody nations FAREWELL SHIPMATES Have bloody racial strife . Bob Proud (Hobday) A recent Donahue show on Lets make Oz an oasis Geoffrey Francis (Digger) Dunn Channel 10 featured transsexuals . Let's all be mates - for life. David H. Thomas (POE AC) The climax being the crowning of It sure makes yer think . Don't it someone called 'Sweet Savage ' as ? Miss Gay America for 1993 . Disclaimer - All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or whole is forbidden The regal music accompany ing the without the express permiss ion of the Editor in writing. 'coronation ' was our National anthem , The views and opinions expressed in this publicat irm do not necessarily reflect Advance Australia Fair. the views and opinions of the Association or Committee of Management . Slipstream - April 1994 - Page 4 BAe Austr alia also prov ides operat ion and maintena nce support services for the Royal Australian Navy's Sea King helicopter simulator complex in New South Wal es. This contract encomp asses maintenance services for the helic opter flight and anti-submarine warfare systems in support of RAN training missions. It also includes the data base modellin g imagery to support both the RAN and The role of Australian Defence It is a company with its sights set the Royal Australian Air Force Image electronics organisations has firm ly on the future and plans to 11 Visual Systems. changed considerably in the 40 continue to play a prominent role in the Recently British Aerospace years since British Aerospace development and growth of the Australia was successful in winning the Australia first entered the market . Austral ian Defence industry . contract to provide aircraft compon ent The trials teams wh ich maintenance support for all Navy frequented the Woomera rocket range COMMERC IAL SUPPORT aircraft at the Nowra Naval Air Station. in the eariy 1950s helped pave the way PROGRAM AT RANAS NOWRA The contract which is part of the for the company which now designs , Commercial Support program , will manufactures , manages and supports , Austral ia's Commercial Support save th e Navy $15m during the fou r multi-million dollar procurement Program has made it possible for year term. contracts for the Australian Defence industry and the Defence Forces to Trained pers onnel , experi ence, Force and a range of internationa l work closely on some of the support and good working relationship with the customers . services required to manage the customer, are just some of the The company has grown from country 's Defence operations more requirements cited by BAeA as being what was a branch office support ing effectively .
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