PPRuNe Forums - FA/18's over Sydney

PPRuNe Forums (https://www.pprune.org/)

- Australia, New Zealand & the Pacific (https://www.pprune.org/australia-new-zealand-pacific-90/)

- - FA/18's over Sydney (https://www.pprune.org/australia-new-zealand-pacific/387365-fa-18s-over-sydney.html)

FA/18's over Sydney

Rumour has it Sydney is expecting a fly over by some FA18's today the 2nd Sept... any details?

Yeah... I think I read that on PPRune.

Any idea what time?

They're doing a flypast over the city as there's a ceremony on at the Cenotaph at Martin Place this afternoon, not sure what time.

All hush hush secret AFP charter looking for the lost integrity of a (former) NSW Government minister. Hope they are as successful as they were in finding the Victorian minister lost near Feathertop! But that's a secret as well.

Playing "chicken" with some tall buidings!:eek:
Any bets on the number of hysterical phone calls to radio/TV stations?:rolleyes:

Coorect answer was 11AM...

Yup,

Just gone over. Did cause quite a stir round here and among other places in the city. Not that I mind of course, but I think there might be some explaining to do....noise was rather loud for some poor souls here....

BP

Quote:

Did cause quite a stir round here and among other places in the city.

For real? Did you see how high it was?:zzz:

(Crazy loud roars)

Holy :mad:!!!

A few people round the office thought a building was collapsing, and one genius even suggested the following:

"Wow, if it's that loud in here, they must be passing supersonic!"
"Err, don't think so pal..."
"Yeah they must be!"
"Pretty sure the windows wouldn't be here right now if they were." ;)

Battle for Australia day.

Battle for Australia Council

N

F/A-18 flight commemorates war dead

AAP
September 2, 2009

A Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 fighter jet has soared through Sydney skies today to commemorate all who served and died in the defence of Australia in 1942 and 1943.

Curious onlookers saw the aircraft zoom over Garden Island and Woolloomooloo, in Sydney's east, just after 11am.

It then performed a maximum power vertical climb over the Cenotaph in Martin Place.

The Battle for Australia Day is each year acknowledged on the first Wednesday in September.

It commemorates all actions taken in the Pacific Region to defend Australia against the Japanese military force

Quote:

..noise was rather loud for some poor souls here...

Tell 'em it's the sound of freedom. :ok:

Quote:

Tell 'em it's the sound of freedom.

Good one groper :D :D .......... And what a great sound it is! :ok:

I was up in Darwin a few weeks ago while the major US/Aust. exercise was in full swing and some clown wrote in to the local rag complaining about the noise of the jets over the city and suggesting that they all should be moved far away from the civilian population centres while "they played their games". (He actually made some such put down comment, that it was all merely boys with toys etc.)

Someone, (I'd be guessing someone who wore a drab khaki uniform to work), wrote in the next day with that same comment - "It's the sound of freedom."

It's a pity Ronnie RAAF doesn't run a tour of the air base to show such clowns the cannon shell holes - not "ours"! - in the roof frame of one of the main hangars that was in situ in February 1942. (I assume they're still there.)

You can trust the Yanks to out-do any of us in dealing with complaints about their aircraft over 'sensitive' civilian spots (and 'sensitive' civilians). This I got in an email some time ago. It doesn't matter if it's factual or someone's creation, (e.g., I find the "21 gun salute" for a USAF captain a bit suss), the sentiments would strike a chord with many who wear the uniform for a largely unappreciative populace. (For those who don't know Luke AFB, it's more or less the USAF equivalent of Willy - i.e., fighter central.)

Quote:

Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by
civilization who complain about the noise from the base and its planes,
forgetting that it was there long before they were.

Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere near Luke AFB wrote the
local paper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed his/her
day at the mall.

When that individual read the response from a Luke AFB officer, it must
have stung quite a bit.

The complaint:

'Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base: Whom do we thank for the
morning air show? Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 A.M, a tight
formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall,
continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our
good fortune! Does the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up
call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns early bird
special? Any response would be appreciated.

The response:

Regarding 'A wake-up call from Luke's jets' On June 15, at precisely
9:12 A.M., a perfectly timed four- ship fly by of F-16s from the 63rd
Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt.
Jeremy Fresques.

Capt. Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at
Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day.

At 9 A.M. on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland
Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and
friend.

Based on the letter writer's recount of the fly by, and because of the
jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of
taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave
Them their son's flag on behalf of the President of the United States
and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the
sacrifices they have endured.

A four-ship flyby is a display of respect the Air Force gives to those
who give their lives in defense of freedom.

We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15
what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay
their ultimate respects.

The letter writer asks, 'Whom do we thank for the morning air show? The
56th Fighter Wing will make the call for you, and forward your thanks to
the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques, and thank them for you, for it
was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of
their lives.

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you . . . Jesus
Christ and the American Servicemen and Women of the U.S. armed services.

One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr.
USAF

A real noise complaint.....(MA 15+, Frequent Coarse Language, Adult Themes)

To LTCOL Rosensteel:

:ok: :D :ok: :D :ok: :D

[repeat until further notice]

You sound like you'd be a cracking CO to serve under.

To CAPT Fresques loved ones:

Thank you for your sacrifice.

To the complainer:

:mad: off you silly :mad: and find something real to whinge about. Enjoy the flying skill on show but pray you don't get to see it very often as means someone has paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Rant over

I was lucky enough to be making my way past the Opera House on the way to a late breakfast meeting when the F-18 came in yesterday.

He stuck it on its tail right over the city and scared the living **** out of every Chinese tourist in sight.

Good work that man.

This is all that exists on YouTube:

Hempy,

Thanks for the laugh. I haven't heard that one for a few years.

If you listen closely, you can hear a jet screaming past during his rant.

Classic stuff!:ok:

What about the goose who lived close to Williamtown NSW, and for entertainment he took potshots at both military and civilian aircraft with a 303 and upon a visit from both military and NSW wallopers, he declared that the noise caused him and his missus to miss part of his favorite TV shows, so stuff em! I think he now enjoys his TV as a guest of Her Majesty and will continue to do so for some time to come.