Brian Hartigan, Author at CONTACT magazine

AAFC releases flying training videos for Diamond DA40 NG

06/06/202006/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 134 Views 0 Comments

AAFC aviation staff have been busy putting the finishing touches to some aviation training videos while Defence Cadet activities are in an operational pause

Squadron Leader Chris Myles, left, the Australian Participant Maintenance Lead at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, and pilot Flight Lieutenant Adrian Herenda, with the F-35A A35-001 after the aircraft reached 1000 flying hours. Story by Alisha Welch.

First Aussie F-35 clocks up 1000 hours

05/06/202005/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 303 Views 0 Comments

The first Australian F-35A to roll off Lockheed Martin’s Texas production line back in 2014 has completed 1000 flying hours over the skies of Arizona.

Editor's Vlog

I made a rock-solid bench for less than $40

05/06/202005/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 183 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

Using scraps and scrounges, I made myself a rock-solid wood-working bench that will serve me well for a long time to come.

Australian soldiers and Iraqi forward air controllers wave to the crew of an Iraqi Army helicopter as it departs at the conclusion of training at Taji Military Complex, Iraq. Photo by Corporal David Said.

ADF Australian Middle East News Operations

Australia ends training mission at Taji Military Complex

05/06/202005/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 367 Views 0 Comments

Australia has successfully completed its training mission at Taji Military Complex in Iraq where, since 2015, they have trained more than 47,000 Iraqis.

Australian News Technology

BlueScope wins steel contract for Hunter-class prototype

05/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 641 Views 0 Comments Hunter-class

BlueScope has signed a contract to deliver 1500 tonnes of steel plate to construct five ship blocks in the prototyping phase of the Hunter-class frigates.

The submarine rescue vessel LR5 is recovered on to the work deck of MV Stoker from the basin at Fleet Base - West after a systems test run during Ex Black Carillon 2016. Photo by Leading Seaman Bradley Darvill.

Australian News Royal Australian Navy Technology

Work starts to house submarine rescue system

04/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 310 Views 0 Comments

Work has begun on a new purpose-built facility at Henderson in Western Australia to house the Royal Australian Navy’s submarine rescue system.

A Royal Australian Navy sailor is lowered to the casing of HMAS Collins from an MRH-90 helicopter in the Bay of Bengal during AUSINDEX 2019. Photo by Leading Seaman Jake Badior.

ADF Asia Australian News Overseas

Australia-India agree Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in virtual summit

04/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 341 Views 0 Comments

PMs Scott Morrison and Narendra Modi ‘met’ earlier today in a virtual summit, which the Indian PM said “covered the entire expanse of our relationship”.

No. 82 Wing Training Flight is a trial to deliver aircrew operational conversion training in the Super Hornet aircraft in Australia. Photo by Corporal Colin Dadd.

Australian News Royal Australian Air Force

Super Hornet training being trialled in Australia

04/06/202004/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 514 Views 0 Comments

No. 82 Wing Training Flight at RAAF Base Amberley is a trial to deliver aircrew operational conversion training in Super Hornets in Australia.

ADF Australian News

Defence hit with more COVID-19 cases

04/06/202004/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 297 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

Defence has been hit with another three confirmed cases of COVID-19, after an encouraging lapse of more than a week with no new cases.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force C130H Hercules prepares to deliver cyclone relief supplies to Vanuatu. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Overseas Pacific

NZDF continues to deliver Cyclone Harold relief

04/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 234 Views 0 Comments COVID-19

NZDF is returning citizens and continuing to deliver aid to Vanuatu this week, following widespread devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Harold in April.

Editor's Vlog

Starting a new vlog series called Make-n-Do

03/06/202005/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 201 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

I’m starting a new vlog series from the editor’s wood shed called Make-n-Do, which = making do with limited cheapass tools and because doing makes better.

The first plane-load of Marine Rotational Force-Darwin marines are greeted by biosecurity officers at RAAF Base Darwin. The marines were tested for COVID-19 and placed in a 14-day quarantine facility. US Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Natalie Greenwood.

Australian MRF-D News

First batch of Marine rotation 2020 arrives in Darwin

02/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 391 Views 0 Comments MRF-D

The first group of around 200 US Marines have arrived at RAAF Base Darwin as part of the ninth Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D).

Australian News Veterans

Veteran and Community Grants – June 2020

02/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 352 Views 0 Comments

Veterans and their families from across Australia will benefit from projects funded under the Veteran and Community Grants (V&CG) program aimed

Australian News Veterans

75-day countdown to Victory in the Pacific Day 75th anniversary

01/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 341 Views 0 Comments

Tomorrow marks the 75-day countdown to when Australia will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII, with 75 days of WWIII 75 stories.

Two Australian Mirage fighters from 79 Squadron over land near Butterworth. RAAF photo.

ADF Australian CONTACT BLOG SPOT History Letters to the Editor News Personal stories Veterans

RCB denied Warlike Service appeal

01/06/202001/06/2020 Steven McCulloch 721 Views 0 Comments

Our appeal [that AASM be awarded for ‘warlike service’ with Rifle Company Butterworth from September 1974 to December 1980] was

Health and Wellbeing Letters to the Editor

Agent Orange issue still not fully resolved

01/06/202001/06/2020 John Carroll 428 Views 0 Comments

Good morning, I am writing in the hope that you can give support to a cause which has yet to

Mates4Mates offer five-day equine therapy programs, facilitated by Equine Encounters Australia, for both individual Mates and couples who have service-related physical injuries or mental illness.

Australian News Veterans

Mental health grants veteran organisations

01/06/2020 Brian Hartigan 304 Views 0 Comments

Support for mental-health needs of younger veterans was boosted $1million in grants for eight projects to be delivered by veteran-community organisations.