I spotted 12 Hornets on the Ground plus a Herc or 2 at East Sale on Sunday. They have been swapping and changing over, based on fuel requirements. I heard that there are 2 on stand-by at Avalon, but I can't guarantee that.

Constantly in the air, on rotation. I was surprised to see so many there at once. Perhaps they need that many to keep the maintenance hours down to actually keep them flying constantly, not sure. With only 2 in the air at once with about a 10 minute flight from Sale to the MCG, I wonder why there is so many.

Good friend in RAAF is flying Hornets at a few days younger than 21... he's done very well and has his head screwed on right. Had commercial lic prior to entry with MECIR too.

But that being said though, for everyone like him there's hundreds that wanted to get in at that age; luck was partially involved with his success; that and pilot dropouts from the job to airlines etc.

Heard the same about an aircraft straying into the wrong areas during CHOGM. Will probably hear the same about Melbourne in a few weeks. Possibly crewroom tales. ;)

"Good friend in RAAF is flying Hornets at a few days younger than 21... he's done very well and has his head screwed on right. Had commercial lic prior to entry with MECIR too."

...neither of which are useful in the world of military aviation.

I assume that he's still on the conversion course and not checked out at a SQN? To have completed the CPL at minimum age (18) and then tick all the other boxes required for the OTS, BFTS, 2FTS, etc in under three years would suggest that not only is the kid an ace but the stars all lined up perfectly to ensure zero delays on any courses!

Seem to remember a story published around 1980 in the now defunct 'Australasian Post' magazine about a 19 year old who was an F111 Pilot. If memory serves correctly the poor bloke was killed on a night flying excercise a few years later. May he RIP.

Usual signature deleted. In this case irrelevant.

"I assume that he's still on the conversion course and not checked out at a SQN? To have completed the CPL at minimum age (18) and then tick all the other boxes required for the OTS, BFTS, 2FTS, etc in under three years would suggest that not only is the kid an ace but the stars all lined up perfectly to ensure zero delays on any courses!"

- Easy. I'll just ask him how he did it at his 21st party on Saturday and whether or not he's actually combat ready; possibly not, he would have said so otherwise I suspect.

I would suggest that East Sale would be the base.

Maybe the real heroes at Gellibrand aren’t the chicken-stranglers but the cut-lunch commandos who only have time for action on the weekends.

5 years to become a Hornet driver? *Cough* Bullsh!t!

I know guys who joined up at 18-18.5, got wings at 20 or so and were on the Hornet by 21-22. Big deal.

As for “Worth every penny…”:

I beg to differ. I got pretty good at F-15E Strike Eagle PC computer game and it had a flight-manual about as fat as my whatsit got whenever I played it.

It had functioning radar with all the modes (I can’t remember what they were called now) and all the missile-lock modes for swatting the bad guys. The strike eagle is a 2-seater but I did both jobs myself and it wasn’t that hard.

What a bunch of nerds, getting all juiced up over a Hornet flying endless boring laps around Melbourne and p!ssing into a empty choc-milk bottle.

FLTLT Fallon - I remember him being on the cover of RAAF News when he went onto the line. Indeed RIP.

Hornets flying circles over Melbourne! Hey I'm frightened, I bet those nasty terrorists are quaking in their shoes.

The greatest over kill of all time.

Nice wind up Lord Snot. If this thread is still running when the games are over I have something to share.

Found another joystick to play with I guess.:rolleyes:

Ahhhh....but were they upgraded to HUG Phase 2?

http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/jla0051l.jpg

Getting 'juiced up' Lord Snot? It is possible to admire the fiery hoops that people have to jump through in order to get where the ride they currently enjoy. Whilst the job at the moment may be as boring as all get out, I do have an inkling about what is required to get there and in that respect I still reckon that our air force pilots are worth every penny. I happen to know a few of them- both former and serving- and think they're under paid for what they put up with.

Sorry if that offends your sensibilities! :rolleyes: :* :yuk:

Sunfish, please please share what you have to tell us. Don't wait until after the games!

This is a "rumour" network after all.

Do you have a good idea on how in infultrate game security or something?

Nup, but you wouldn't believe the depths the security services have gone to for the games.

:* The word idiot immediately springs to mind when I read this cr@p, along with several others I shant repeat in this august forum.

So, what would you prefer? No security presence at all except the plods and then have something like Munich happen. :eek: Then we'd look pretty freakin stupid huh? Sure, it's highly unlikely, but why risk it if you don't have to? It's not like we've had to employ temp pilots, crews and army types and had to rent the aircraft, ships, RHIBs, guns and bullets for the fortnight - they're being paid anyway, so why not use them for the cost of a few thousand pounds of fuel and some hotel rooms for the brass.

Geesh! A million :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: to you 'king oath'.

Magoo

Well, I was out n about in Niddrie last night. Nowhere near any venues or games facilities being in the North/West suburbs but there were Police stationed on a bridge over the Calder Freeway. Two officers standing on the bridge...overkill to some here, but I'm very happy that it appears that no stone is being left unturned. Remember, 6 years ago you wouldn't have considered commercial aircraft as a weapon!

Credit where credit is due.

Some Answers:

They are flying out of Sale

They are armed, the above mentioned load out is not far from the truth

19 years old is a bit ambitious but 20-21 is not out of the question.
It takes 3 years to become a Hornet driver not 5-6 as quoted.

The strict rules of engagement and the ultra-professional nature of the boys up there means that NO we do not have "trigger happy 19 year olds up there". Think yourselves lucky that we have these guys that slave for 12-14 hours a day for bugger all cash in order to keep our skies safe.