JUPITER AND ROULETTES |
YOGYAKARTA - Following on from a successful visit by four Indonesian Jupiter Aerobatic Team (JAT) members to the Central Flying School (CFS) at RAAF Base East Sale in 2016, two CFS instructors conducted a visit to the Indonesian Flying School (Wingdikterbang), Adi Sucipto Air Base, Yogyakarta on 22 – 26 May. The CFS Commanding Officer, WGCDR Roland Morscheck “Arnie”, who was conducting his third visit to Wingdikterbang, was accompanied by CFS flying instructor, FLTLT Steven English “Aladdin 53”, both of whom have previously flown with the elite RAAF Aerobatics Team, the Roulettes. This is the first of the planned joint CFS/Wingdikterbang activities in 2017. During the four day Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE), hosted by the Wingdikterbang Commanding Officer, LTCOL H.M. Kisha “Razor”, WGCDR Morscheck and FLTLT English discussed formation aerobatics and worked towards progressing the CFS/Wingdikterbang relationship, as well as exchanging instructional techniques and ideas between the two units. On the third day of the visit, WGCDR Morscheck and FLTLT English had the opportunity to fly with Wingdikterbang instructors, who are either current or former JAT members, to further develop cooperation and understanding between the two units. During the two sorties, the RAAF members were able to experience the performance differences between the KT 1B Wong Bee, which is used by the JAT, and the Roulettes PC-9. “Experiencing the similarities between these aircraft, the flying format of the display, and the skills required to conduct these intricate manoeuvres, was a particular highlight. I knew where to look as the more difficult portions of the display were very similar to the Roulettes”, explained FLTLT English. The visit was assessed as a success by all those involved and will go a long way to strengthening what are already strong military relations, not only between CFS and Wingdikterbang but between both the Indonesian Air Force and the RAAF. |