Military

German Air Force Airbus A400M visits Perth

54+37 Airbus A400M-180 (MSN 113) of LTG 62 (German: Lufttransportgeschwader 62 = Air Transport Wing 62) of the Luftwaffe (German Air Force), at Perth Airport, Western Australia - 6 March 2023. On approach to runway 24 at 4:44pm as 'GERMAN AIR FORCE 062', arriving from Avalon, Victoria after participating in the Australian International Air Show 2023. The aircraft departed on 8 March 2023 to Subang, Malaysia, again using the callsign 'GERMAN AIR FORCE 062'. Photo © David Eyre.

German Air Force Airbus A400M visits Perth

David Eyre 8 March 2023

8 March 2023 A rare visitor today was a German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Airbus A400M-180 Atlas transport aircraft, serial 54+37 (MSN 113) of LTG 62 (German: Lufttransportgeschwader 62 =...

63-8879 Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker of 6th Air Refuelling Wing, US Air Force, at Perth Airport, Western Australia - 26 January 2023. 'BOLT 01' taxying in at 3:24pm. Based at MacDill AFB, Florida, USA. Originally delivered to the USAF as a KC-135A on 31 July 1964 and converted to KC-135R in February 1993. Arrived with another KC-135R 57-1483 'KNIGHT 01' from the 92nd Air Refuelling Wing, based at Fairchild AFB, Washington State, USA. The two aircraft circumnavigated the Southern Hemisphere in an endurance mission covering roughly 20,000 miles over seven days, to demonstrate their global reach capability. They flew MacDill Air Force Base (Florida, USA) - Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) - Cape Town (South Africa) - Perth. They departed on 27 January 2023 to Christchurch (New Zealand), then on 28 January to Papeete (Tahiti). 57-1483 then flew direct to Fairchild AFB in Washington State, USA, while 63-8879 instead flew to MacDill AFB. Photo © David Eyre

US Air Force Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers visit Perth Airport on world circumnavigation exercise

David Eyre 26 January 2023

26 January 2023 A pair of US Air Force Boeing KC-135R Statotankers passed through Perth Airport on 26-27 January 2023 as part of an exercise to demonstrate their global...

RAAF retires the Pilatus PC-9/A

Flight Lieutenant Raymond Werndly brings A23-011 Pilatus PC-9/A of 2 Flying Training School (2 FTS), RAAF in to park at hangar 1, at RAAF Base Pearce - 12 December 2019. After ceremonial flypasts to commemorate the final flights of the PC-9/A in RAAF service. Photo POIS Yuri Ramsey © Commonwealth of Australia.

RAAF retires the Pilatus PC-9/A

David Eyre 12 December 2019

12 December 2019 © David Eyre The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) farewelled the Pilatus PC-9/A on 12 December 2019, completing over 30 years of operations and more than...

RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornets return home

A44-202 Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet (MSN AF-2, ex 167958) of 1 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, at RAAF Base Pearce - 22 January 2018. Photo © David Eyre. One of six RAAF Super Hornets returning to Australia after concluding their deployment to Al Minhad Air Base, UAE, following the end of combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. This was the RAAF's second Super Hornet, and was delivered to 1 Squadron at RAAF Amberley on 26 March 2010.

RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornets return home

David Eyre 24 January 2018

24 January 2018 © David Eyre Six Royal Australian Air Force Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jets of 1 Squadron returned to Australia from the the Middle East, following...

HB-HWL/A54-012 Pilatus PC-21 (MSN 245) of the Royal Australian Air Force, in 2 Flying Training School markings, at Stans, Switzerland – 12 January 2018. Departing the Pilatus Aircraft facility at Stans, Switzerland on the delivery flight to Australia. Photo © Stephan Widmer

11th and 12th RAAF Pilatus PC-21s commence delivery flight to Australia

David Eyre 12 January 2018

12 January 2018 © David Eyre (photos © Stephan Widmer) Another two Pilatus PC-21 turboprop training aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) today commenced their delivery flight...

HB-HWH/A54-010 Pilatus PC-21 (MSN 243) of the Royal Australian Air Force, in 2 Flying Training School markings, at Stans, Switzerland – Fri 4 August 2017. Departing the Pilatus Aircraft facility at Stans, Switzerland on the delivery flight to Australia. Photo © Stephan Widmer

9th and 10th RAAF Pilatus PC-21s commence delivery flight to Australia

David Eyre 4 August 2017

4 August 2017 © David Eyre (Photo © Stephan Widmer) Another two Pilatus PC-21 turboprop training aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) today commenced their delivery flight...

HB-HWG/A54-007 (MSN 240) and HB-HWH/A54-008 (MSN 241) Pilatus PC-21 of the Royal Australian Air Force, in 2 Flying Training School markings, at Stans, Switzerland – Fri 29 June 2017. The day prior to departing the Pilatus Aircraft facility at Stans, Switzerland on their delivery flight to Australia. Photo © Stephan Widmer

7th and 8th RAAF Pilatus PC-21s commence delivery flight to Australia

David Eyre 30 June 2017

30 June 2017 © David Eyre (Photo © Stephan Widmer) Another two Pilatus PC-21 turboprop training aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) today commenced their delivery flight...

Centre part of a 'Diamond Nine' formation of Pilatus PC-9/A aircraft of 2 Flying Training School (2 FTS), RAAF, at RAAF Pearce - Fri 9 June 2017. Flypast over the graduation ceremony for No.247 Pilots Course. Leading the formation is A23-041; followed by A23-019 (left) and A23-009 (right); then A23-053 (centre) and A23-047 (right).; A23-015 (left) and A23-008 (right), then A23-040 at the rear. Photo © David Eyre

Military

RAAF Base Pearce – visit to 2 Flying Training School and No. 247 Pilots Course graduation

David Eyre 9 June 2017

9 June 2017 © David Eyre The author was invited to visit Number 2 Flying Training School at RAAF Base Pearce, north of Perth, Western Australia, to witness the...

HB-HWF/A54-006 Pilatus PC-21 (MSN 239) of the Royal Australian Air Force, in 2 Flying Training School markings, at Stans, Switzerland - Fri 2 June 2017. Departing the Pilatus Aircraft facility at Stans, Switzerland on its delivery flight to Australia, in company with HB-HWE/A54-005 (MSN 238). Photo © Stephan Widmer

5th and 6th RAAF Pilatus PC-21s commence delivery flight to Australia

David Eyre 2 June 2017

2 June 2017 © David Eyre (Photos © Stephan Widmer) Another two Pilatus PC-21 turboprop training aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) today commenced their delivery flight...

Pilatus PC-21 A54-004/HB-HWD (MSN 237) and A54-003/HB-HWC (MSN 236) of the Royal Australian Air Force, in 2 Flying Training School markings, at Stans, Switzerland - Sat 29 April 2017. Shortly before departing the Pilatus Aircraft facility at Stans, Switzerland on its delivery flight to Australia. Photo © Stephan Widmer

Military

3rd and 4th RAAF Pilatus PC-21s commence delivery flight to Australia

David Eyre 29 April 2017

29 April 2017 © David Eyre (Photos © Stephan Widmer) The next two of 49 Pilatus PC-21 turboprop training aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) today commenced...

Exercise Ocean Explorer 2017

A21-14 McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18A Hornet (MSN 353/AF-14) of 75 Squadron (wearing 3 Squadron markings), Royal Australian Air Force at RAAF Pearce - 9 March 2017. One of 9 F/A-18A and 1 F/A-18B Hornets deployed from RAAF Tindal, takes off from RAAF Pearce for a Navy anti-aircraft mission during Exercise Ocean Explorer 17, off the Western Australian coast. Photo © Commonwealth of Australia, LSIS Lee-Anne Cooper.

Military

Exercise Ocean Explorer 2017

David Eyre 11 April 2017

11 April 2017 © David Eyre More photos under the Aircraft Photos section of our website Warships from Australia, New Zealand, Spain and Italy, together with Royal Australian Air...

A54-001/HB-HWA Pilatus PC-21 (MSN 234) of the Royal Australian Air Force, in 2 FTS markings, departing Stans, Switzerland - Fri 10 February 2017. Departing the Pilatus Aircraft facility at Stans, Switzerland on its delivery flight to Australia, in company with A54-002/HB-HWB. Photo © Stephan Widmer

First two RAAF Pilatus PC-21s commence delivery flight to Australia

David Eyre 10 February 2017

10 February 2017 © David Eyre (Photo © Stephan Widmer) (UPDATED 20 February 2017 with delivery route) The first two of 49 Pilatus PC-21 turboprop training aircraft for the...

MM81584/3-08 NHIndustries SH-90A (NH90 NFH) (MSN 1104/HITN08) of GRUPELICOT 5 (5° Gruppo Elicotteri), Italian Navy, aboard ITS Carabiniere (F593), a Bergamini-class anti-submarine frigate of the Italian Navy, at Victoria Quay, Fremantle - Thu 26 January 2017. The ship was visiting as part of a promotional and cooperation tour of Australia and Southeast Asia. Photo © David Eyre

Italian Navy frigate ITS Carabiniere (F593) visits Fremantle

David Eyre 26 January 2017

The Italian Navy anti-submarine warfare frigate ITS Carabiniere (F593) docked in Fremantle Port on the morning of 25 January 2017, as part of a world promotional and cooperation tour....