Pearce Airbase Attachment 2009
Monday, January 4, 2010
Dear Aeromodellers:
This is going to be a long post about the Pearce Airbase Attachment(Perth, Western Australia) which Sir Raynor and I attended from 7-13 December 2009. I will highlight the more important parts in this post only.
Day 1 (7/12/09)
We assembled at Changi Airport Terminal 1 and took flight QF72 to Perth International Airport at 9am. Arrived at Perth International Airport at about 2.30pm (Singapore time). This trip consists of 9 cadets, 1 clt and 2 teacher officers.
Group picture of the participants at Changi Airport before departure.
After arriving at Perth International Airport, we took a chartered minibus to Pearce Airbase.
The journey took about 45mins - 1hour.
We were then allocated to our bunks after getting our own room key. (individual rooms)
This is the main entrance to our "building".
The room keys.
This is my room :D
After we were done with our bunk allocations, we had lunch and the rest of the day was quite slack. (It was summer in December and there are alot of irritating flies around. The sun rises early and sets quite late) One thing that was very significant during the meals is that we always have potatoes(no matter in what form). That's why we go to the gym every night :D
Day 2 (8/12/09)
Today is the start of the 4-day Pearce Airbase programme.(We have to wear our no.3 uniform everyday for the 4-day programme.) After breakfast, we took a tour around the airbase in a minibus. We got to see the planes that pilot trainees fly over there, like the PC-21 and the S211. We had lunch and headed to have a look at a PC-21 simulator
After that, we headed out of the airbase to Bullsbrook (nearest town) to buy some snacks back to bunks. We went to a supermarket to purchase them.
At Bullsbrook.
This is the supermarket.
We then returned to the airbase for dinner. (We usually have breakfast at 7.15am, lunch at 11am and dinner at 5.30pm) On the way back, we bought ourselves some shakes :D
We bought our shakes at this station called MuzzBuzz. The shakes were really nice, especially during summer.
Mr Azami, teacher officer of ACS(I)
Back to the airbase for EODD(end-of-day-debrief) with all the other pilot trainees before dinner.
Taken during dinner. (All the meals there are buffet-style)
This is the craziest guy i've seen in NCC so far.
"Hello, I am Theodore and I have 16 badges. Beat me."
Went to gym after dinner and had our own debrief. The picture below is our daily "night activity" because we're bored there.
Our daily "night activity" of "dai-dee" :D
Day 3 (9/12/09)
Today's programme was more interesting because we got to get up close and personal with the PC-21 at the hangar and the flight line. We also got to have a look at a real PC-21 cockpit at the flight line.
As usual, we woke up at about 6am and changed into our no.3 uniforms before heading for breakfast. And as usual, buffet-style meals are the best, and I personally like breakfast because there is apple juice :D After that, we marched for almost 2km to the Airmen's Nest. (We have to march from point to point in the airbase) We proceeded on to the hangar, where planes are sent for servicing or repair.
Marching to the venue...
"Left...,Left..., Left, right, left..."
At the hangar; this is the PC-21.
The 1st person from the left is a Singaporean pilot trainee there, his name is Sharma. He volunteered to take us around and ensured our programme ran smoothly. 3 cheers for him!
After visiting the hangar, we proceeded to the flight line and had a look at the cockpit of a real PC-21, guided by an experienced Singaporean fighter pilot (shown in previous picture) that answered our questions. We wore reflective vests, to ensure that we were clearly visible to the pilots taxiing there. The pilot reminded us to check our shoes, especially between the grooves for any FOD (foreign object debris) that may get sucked into the aircraft's engine. There are no photos for the flight line programme.
Following that, we had lunch and I think we went out to Bullsbrook again and bought stuff, and shakes again :D Dinner and gym after that.
Day 4 (10/12/09)
Today is the last day of the 4-day Pearce Airbase programme, and is also the best day! Oh, i forgot to mention, it is also the last day that we had to wear no.3 uniform XD
Woke up, had breakfast and Sharma brought us to the Main Briefing Room for a start of day briefing.
In the briefing room.
Today being the last day of the 4-day Pearce Airbase programme, we presented the plaque of appreciation to the CO of 130 Squadron, LTC Michael Tan.
After the briefing, we were separated into 2 groups and took turns to go to a room to view a hardtape of a pilot trainees's flying. The hardtape is a recording of a pilot's flying in the cockpit of the PC-21 that records every movement and word he says. Sharma showed us one of the best pilot trainee's hardtape. The hardtape gives a 3D view of the pilot's route in the sky and the maneuvers he has executed. It was a real experience for us to watch the hardtape as I saw how the pilot flew and how meticulous he was.
After the viewing of the hardtape, we marched back to have lunch and marched back again. An experienced female pilot welcomed us as we got to the simulator centre. We were then led into the room where there was a dome( the simulator). The female pilot first demonstrated how to fly the simulator as well as demonstrating a few aerobatics. E.g Aileron roll, Loop and 4-point turn. Soon it was our turn to try and scroll down to let the pictures do the talking! The simulator is very realistic and I really felt like I was in a real PC-21 because the simulated image was all around.
While we were at the simulator centre, Sir Raynor had the chance to get a joyride in a PC-21. Below are pictures taken before his flight.
Suiting up his custom-made G-suit.
"I'm ready to fly."
This was the pilot that piloted his plane. Sir Raynor had the chance to co-pilot the plane for awhile.
After the simulation session, we took some pictures in front of the flight training institute as that was the last day of the airbase programme.
Day 5 (11/12/09)
We woke up at the usual time and went for breakfast and then went back to our bunks to rest before going for our half-day city tour. We had a "marathon-daidee" session that lasted for about 3 hours plus. Went for lunch and boarded the bus to King's
Park.
This is our driver-cum-tour guide, Mr Alan.
"Perth Flyer". LOL.
After about an hour's ride. Reached King's Park.
Perth City and Swan River.
After King's Park visit, we headed for the RAAF Museum.
This museum has real decomissioned war planes from World War I and II.
A bomber plane used in World War I
After about an hour, we left the museum and went to the Margaret River Chocolate Factory! :D
Free samples of White chocolate, Milk chocolate and Dark chocolate. Want to see what happens when Singaporeans go there?
There! That was just a joke :X
Heaps of chocolate at the factory.
Chocolate making machine. Yummy :D
Left the chocolate factory and bought our own dinner along the way and headed back to airbase for consumption. Gym and lights out.
Day 6 (12/12/09)
Last day in Australia ):
Woke up as usual, breakfast, back to bunks for marathon dai-dee, lunch and boarded the bus again for half-day city tour.
Took about an hour's ride to Fremantle and headed for Fremantle Harbour.
Stopped for some pictures and left for Fremantle Market.
Fremantle Train Station
Bought some souvenirs for family and friends. Saw some of the SYFC people there too. Left the market after about an hour plus.
Was told by Mr Alan that this is the Indian Ocean. Looks magnificent though.
Stopped over at a beach for some pictures. Marvellous view ! (Don't think sick)
.JPG)
Crowded beach during the weekend
.JPG)
Continued our journey to a shopping mall to shop for souvenirs and buy our own dinner.
.JPG)
.JPG)
Subway, Eat Fresh! XD
.JPG)
Bought my Seafood Platter dinner here.
Brought dinner back to airbase and had dinner. Gym and lights out again.
Day 7 (13/12/09)
Going back to Singapore today! Wooooo!
Woke up as usual, breakfast, went pack to our bunks to pack our luggage and remove the bedsheets. Assembled downstairs with our luggage and waited for Mr Alan.
Goodbye!
.JPG)
Heading for Perth Internation Airport.
.JPG)
Arrived at Perth International Airport.
.JPG)
Flight information. We're on flight QF77 to Singapore.
While we were checking in, Theodore found out that he lost his AU$60+ bag of chocolates from the chocolate factory! Hahaha ! XD Jia Jun's chocolate moisturizer for his mum was confiscated at the airport too! LOL.
.JPG)
.JPG)
Enroute to Singapore. I think I was above Indonesia... O.o
.JPG)
Pathetic lunch.
.JPG)
Arrived at Singapore Changi Airport.
.JPG)
Arrived at 17.56.
.JPG)
Finally back in Singapore! That was a memorable and enriching experience in Perth. For those of you who want to know how to go to Pearce. This is what you have to do.
1)Download the AI for Pearce from the NCC website and print it out
2)Fill it up and hand it in to Mr Tong
3)Get shortlisted for the interview at HQ (The more badges/achievements u have, the higher your chances)
4)Pass the interview
5)Pay $150 and bon voyage! :D
I hope that this year some of the Charlies will go because this is a rare opportunity and this proves that overseas trips in NCC(Air) is really true. Hopefully, our unit will have people going every year. Continue this tradition! :D
1SG Loh Yin Onn
Aeromodelling IC
