17 Pilatus PC-9/A aircraft of 2 FTS, RAAF in ‘Thunderbird’ formation over Perth area for No.235 Pilots Course Graduation

17 Pilatus PC-9/A aircraft of 2 Flying Training School (2FTS), RAAF, based at Pearce, WA, in Thunderbird formation over the northern suburbs of Perth – Wed 4 June 2014. Photo © David Eyre — 17 Pilatus PC-9/A aircraft of 2 Flying Training School (2FTS), RAAF, based at Pearce, WA, in Thunderbird formation over the northern suburbs of Perth – Wed 4 June 2014.
Aircraft in the formation are A23-004, A23-005, A23-009, A23-015, A23-018, A23-019, A23-021, A23-023, A23-034, A23-040, A23-041, A23-044, A23-048, A23-053, A23-054, A23-056, A23-065. The ‘Thunderbird’ formation was performed as a salute to the ten Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) students and two Royal Australian Navy (RAN) students of number 235 Pilots Course who graduated as military aviators in a ceremony held the next day, on Thursday 5 June 2014 at RAAF Base Pearce, after their 38-week course with 2 Flying Training School (2FTS). The Thunderbird formation is also treated as a formation flying training activity for the student pilots. After taking off from RAAF Pearce, the aircraft gathered into their formation to the west of Gingin, before heading south west to pass over Rottnest Island at approximately 3.54pm, heading east over Fremantle at approximately 3.57pm, the follow the Swan River to pass in front of Perth city at approximately 4.00pm. They are seen here over the north eastern suburbs at 4.14pm before passing over RAAF Pearce for a flypast at 4:16pm.
Photo © David Eyre

5 June 2014 © David Eyre

17 Pilatus PC-9/A aircraft of the RAAF 2 Flying Training School (2 FTS) were flown in ‘Thunderbird’ formation over Perth and surrounding areas today to celebrate the graduation of pilots on number 235 Pilots Course.

Ten Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) students and two Royal Australian Navy (RAN) students of number 235 Pilots Course graduated as military aviators in a ceremony held on Thursday 5 June 2014 at RAAF Base Pearce after their 38-week course with 2 Flying Training School (2FTS).

The Thunderbird formation is also treated as a formation training activity for the student pilots.

After taking off from RAAF Pearce, the aircraft gathered into their formation to the west of Gingin, before heading south west to pass over Rottnest Island at approximately 3.54pm, heading east over Fremantle at approximately 3.57pm, the follow the Swan River to pass in front of Perth city at approximately 4.00pm, and over Upper Swan (as seen here at 4.14pm) before passing over RAAF Pearce for a flypast at 4:16pm.

The 17 PC-9s in the formation were: