Located approximately 25 km north of the beautiful city of Adelaide, South Australia is the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base Edinburgh. This important base was first established in 1954 as headquarters for the joint Australian/UK Woomera Rocket range and named in honour of the Duke of Edinburgh. Today RAAF base Edinburgh plays a key role within the Australian Defence Forces (ADF) while employing over 2,000 service and civilian personnel. Recently, it was RAAF Edinburgh’s turn to host the latest in the Defence air show series. This show provided the general public with an excellent insight into the capabilities of the ADF through a wide range of flying and static displays and demonstrations. 
One of the principal units based at RAAF Edinburgh is the RAAF Surveillance and Response Group (SRG). The role of SRG is “to prepare its people and equipment to conduct surveillance, control and maritime response operations, either deployed or at home base, in an effective, timely and integrated manner”. Within the SRG is 93 Wing which incorporates Nos 10 and 11 Squadrons, their prime mission is to conduct and sustain maritime air operations in support of Australia’s national interests. To carry out this mission Nos 10 and 11 Squadrons are equipped with the venerable Lockheed/Martin AP-3C Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft. This reliable platform first entered RAAF service in 1968 and has provided sterling service within the Maritime Patrol, Anti-Submarine/Surface Warfare and Search and Rescue (SAR) roles. The current variant, the AP-3C, entered RAAF service in 2002 and is equipped with an extensive range of updated sensors, including digital multi-mode radar, electronic support measures, electro-optics detectors (infra-red and visual), Magnetic Anomaly Detectors (MAD) and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems.

Also based at RAAF Edinburgh is the Aerospace Operational Support Group (AOSG), formally known as ARDU (Aeronautical Research and Development Unit). AOSG is part of Force Element Group (FEG) of Air Force Command (AFC) and possess a primary mission to “Inform the warfighter to enhance battleworthiness, mission success and survivability.” To fulfil its important role ASOG carries out a wide variety of aviation research and development related tasks including flight testing, stores compatibility, avionics integration and testing and aviation medicine. Aircraft utilised by ASOG include the Pilatus PC-9/A, Boring F/A-18 Hornet, Sikorsky S-70A-9 Black Hawk, Bell UH-IH Iroquois and more recently the EADS Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) with most of these aircraft being permanently assigned to the group. AOSG staff presently consists of approximately 700 personnel based at both RAAF Edinburgh and the Woomera Test Facility (WTF) which is also located within South Australia.

On static display was one of the older types operated by the RAAF and ARDU in the form of a Government Aircraft Factories (GAF) built Mirage IIID (two-seat trainer) complete with bright orange and white ARDU livery. These very capable fighters were operated by the RAAF (116 in service) from 1966 to 1988 with this particular aircraft being utilised for research and test evaluation by ARDU. RAAF Mirages were powered by a single SNECMA Atar 9C turbofan engine generating 6,200kg of thrust (interesting to compared with a single C-17 engine!) providing a maximum air speed of mach 2.2. Armament consisted of a single Matra R530 Air to Air Missile (AAM) and either two Sidewinder AIM-9B or Matra Magic R550 AAM and twin 30mm DEFA canon. Mk 82 series of 500 lb or GBU12 Laser Guided Bombs (LGB) could also be carried. Another important task carried out at RAAF Edinburgh is that of Recruit training. RAAF Edinburgh is also home of No 1 Recruit Training Unit (RTU) which conducts initial military training for new air force recruits and as such provides many new members with their first contact with service life in their new found careers.

Fast jets were in strong attendance at this years show with static displays and high and low speed demonstrations of the General Dynamics F-111 C/G strike aircraft or the “Pig” as it has become affectionately known. These displays included the spectacular “Dump and Burn” which although has no real tactical significance always provides a thrilling spectacle for the crowd. Until very recently the RAAF fleet of F-111 C/G aircraft were to be replaced by the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet as an interim measure until the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) enters RAAF service. This decision is however currently under review by the newly elected Labor Government who has expressed a strong preference for the superlative Lockheed/Martin F-22 Raptor. It’s interesting to note however that the F-111 is utilised primarily as a strike/interdiction platform, while the F-22 is purely an air dominance fighter. As such if the Raptor can be procured, the RAAF will still need to be procure a platform to perform the strike or ground attack role, this is also on the provision that the US Government is willing to sell these potent fighter aircraft to Australia, something which yet remains to be seen.

RAAF Boeing F/A-18 Hornets also proved a stunning demonstration of high and low speed formation and single passes including demonstrations of simulated air-to-air refueling (not actually connected) with Boeing B707 tanker aircraft, an impressive and relatively rare at Australian air shows. Sadly though Edinburgh was the swansong for this particular B707 as these reliable workhorses are due to be replaced by the new EADS KC-30B Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) from 2009. The KC-30B like the P-3 Orion is also a military adaptation of a commercial airframe. Notably most of the Hornets in attendance were two seat variants, presumably in an effort to slow the wear and tear on the single seat airframes while also notably absent from this years show were BAe Hawk 127 Lead in Fighters (LIFT)?

Demonstrations of the RAAF’s recently acquired strategic heavy lift capability was provided by one of the newest additions to the RAAF inventory in the form of the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III. These extremely versatile aircraft provide the RAAF with a true global reach capability encompassing everything from ADF troop and heavy vehicle lift and resupply to casualty evacuation and civilian humanitarian relief. The RAAF fleet of five C-17’s are operated by 36 Sqn (Heavy Airlift) based at RAAF based at Amberley Queensland. C-17 crew consists of three, pilot, co-pilot and a loadmaster and powered by four Pratt and Whitney PW2040 turbofan engines each generating 40,440 lbs of thrust providing a cruising speed of 800 k/ph. The C-17 is capable if lifting 72,500 kg of cargo or 132 fully equipped troops or 90 stretcher patents.

Some older types from yesteryear (the Korean War in particular) were also part of the static and flying displays at Edinburgh including the Temora (NSW) collections magnificent Gloster Meteor F.8 depicted in RAAF Korean War markings and the Point Cook (Victoria) museums CAC built P-51 D/CA-18 Mustang. Both performing several simulated gun and bomb runs all helped along with a good quantity of pyrotechnic explosives. Over all the Edinburgh Defence Force Air Show provided all who attended with a unique opportunity to witness demonstrations and displays of the diverse range of tasks and capabilities performed by the RAAF including impressive displays of aircraft handling, speed and agility. The staff at RAAF base Edinburgh should be congratulated for providing a well balanced flying line up while also providing a diverse range of interesting static displays.  More good news was recently announced in that the next Defence Force Air Show is scheduled to be held on the weekend of 4-5 October 2008 at Amberley Queensland. Mark that date in your calendars as it is something to really look forward to!

Rob Hynes / CHK6 editor

Release 4.0/2008

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