6 Sqn had their start as an Australian Flying Corps squadron in 1917. Their aircraft were attired in a broad red band with a white stylised kangaroo on top of it. These days the squadron flies the exceptionally powerful F111, a long way from the linen and wires of the SE5a, but in celebration of their 90th anniversary they have adorned A8-125 in the red stripe and white kangaroo of 6 Sqn AFC.
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Six F111s and two C130s
have been taking part in Red Flag 2007 at Nellis Air Force base in Nevada, USA.
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The
US Deputy Defence Secretary has written
Brendan Nelson to say that the F22 will not be offered as an export to Australia. The F22 is one of two fifth generation platforms, the JSF is the other, and more than a few in politics and policy have argued for the F22 instead of the JSF to be the RAAF's next platform.
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The F111 is being retired in just over three years. The question of
an interim solution was raised during question time in the Senate
.
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This is a video on youtube of an F111 flyby. There is not safe for work [NSFW] language on the video as the glass shatters, there is also NSFW language on the page in the comments; so be warned.
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The United States places its decommissioned aircraft in storage at David-Monthan Air Force Base, in the dry non-corrosive air of Tucson, Arizona. The locals call the row upon row of aircraft the Boneyard. Having a look at the site with Google Maps I could only spot three F111s in open storage. (more)
A nation's defence doctrine is defined by its vulnerabilities. In Australia's case our geographic vulnerability is the Air-Sea gap. This is the North-West shelf, the Timor Sea and the Coral Sea. In addition to protecting the approaches to Australia by projecting across this gap, there also natural assets such as oil, gas and fishing in these areas. With the retirement of the F111, Australia will be losing a large part of its projection across that area without anything to replace it. (more)
