Posted by Mike Hughes, Author at CONTACT magazine

Flying Officer James Madden in his role as Air Traffic Controller at Darwin Airport. Story by Flight Lieutenant Dion Isaacson.

Childhood dream realised

07/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 106 Views 0 Comments No. 452 Squadron, RAAF Darwin

James Madden has dreamed of controlling the skies since childhood. CAPTION: Flying Officer James Madden in his role as Air

Outgoing Commanding Officer HMAS Hobart Captain Andrew Pepper, front left, hands the “weight of command” to the incoming Commanding Officer Commander Tina Brown. Story by Lieutenant Stacey Butters. Photo by Petty Officer Christopher Szumlanski.

ADF People

Hobart enters exciting new era

07/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 121 Views 0 Comments Fleet Base East, HMAS Hobart

After a busy year of achievements in 2022, HMAS Hobart personnel are ready to welcome the challenges of 2023 under

Flight Lieutenant Brittany Knowles in her role as air traffic controller in Darwin. Story by John Noble.

ADF People

Landing her perfect job

07/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 122 Views 0 Comments No. 452 Squadron, RAAF Darwin

“The best job in the world” is how Flight Lieutenant Brittany Knowles describes her role as an air traffic controller

Australian Army soldiers and officers receive their first rotation of Ukrainian recruits during Operation Kudu in the UK. Story by Captain Annie Richardson. Photo by Corporal Jonathan Goedhart.

Australian Army News Overseas

Diggers train first Ukrainian recruits

07/02/202307/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 129 Views 0 Comments 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Operation Kudu, Ukraine

The Australian contingent deployed on Operation Kudu has taken responsibility for its first company of Ukrainian recruits, as part of

Proud recruits march onto the parade ground at 1 Recruit Training Unit at RAAF Base Wagga Wagga. Story by Squadron Leader Matt Kelly. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Katharine Pearson.

News Royal Australian Air Force

A fresh start for aviator training

07/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 126 Views 0 Comments 1RTU, Initial Military Training (IMT), Officer Training School (OTS), RAAF Wagga Wagga

Our newest aviators will receive a modernised and streamlined introduction to Air Force starting this year, with both 1 Recruit

Air Force's Growler electronic attack aircraft is to be upgraded. Photo by Corporal Jesse Kane.

News Royal Australian Air Force Sovereign industry

More grunt for Growlers

07/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 150 Views 0 Comments CEA Technologies, EA-18G Growler, US Navy

Vital upgrades to Air Force’s fleet of electronic aircraft and associated ranges will strengthen Australia’s electronic attack capability. CAPTION: Air

Washington Naval Attaché Commodore Darren Grogan, left, congratulates Warrant Officer Luke Brewer on his promotion on board USS Canberra. Story by Lieutenant Commander Steven Witzand. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Vance Ha (US Navy).

ADF People

A fitting place for promotion

07/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 97 Views 0 Comments US Navy

After completing a three-year posting with the United States Navy (USN), Chief Petty Officer Luke Brewer was promoted to Warrant

Flying Officer Kevin Pfitzner, a C-130J pilot with 37SQN at RAAF Base Richmond. Story by Tegan Smith.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Base services to be transformed

07/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 115 Views 0 Comments

Services to Defence bases and establishments around the country are set to improve through the next generation of contracts. CAPTION:

Traditional owners from the Fitzroy Valley region visit the Air Force mobile air operations team at Fitzroy Crossing airport. Story by Flight Lieutenant Dean Squire. All photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Kate Czerny.

News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Flood devastated community praises Defence support

03/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 685 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, No. 77 Squadron, Operation Flood Assist 2023-1

A small group of Fitzroy Crossing residents evacuated to Broome for their safety returned to their homes for the first

Army Signaller Katlyn Eldridge crossing the finish line after taking part in Run Army for the first time last year. Story by Major Mark Beretta.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Signaller discovers her inner runner

03/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 470 Views 0 Comments Run Army

Signaller Katlyn Eldridge never looked forward to her biannual basic fitness assessment. CAPTION: Army Signaller Katlyn Eldridge crossing the finish

Navy Clearance Diving Team One and NSW Maritime Police conduct diving operations to recover unexploded ordnance off the South Coast of NSW. Story by Lieutenant Emily Tinker. Photo by Petty Officer Christopher Szumlanski.

News Police Royal Australian Navy Videos

Navy divers safeguard popular site

03/02/202303/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 520 Views 0 Comments HMAS Creswell, Navy Clearance Diving Team One, UXO

Navy clearance divers have protected a marine park in the Jervis Bay area after removing and disposing of unexploded ordnance

Incoming Commander Air Warfare Centre Air Commodore Adrian Maso, signs the transfer of command certificate witnessed by the outgoing Commander Air Commodore Ross Bender. Story by Flight Lieutenant Rob Hodgson. Photo by Corporal David Cotton.

ADF People

New Air Warfare Centre Commander takes the reins

03/02/202303/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 449 Views 0 Comments Edinburgh Defence Precinct

A ceremony at the Edinburgh Defence Precinct marked the transfer of command for the Air Warfare Centre. CAPTION: Incoming Commander

An Air Force C-27J Spartan transported 41 teachers from Fitzroy Valley High School and Bayulu School from Broome to Fitzroy Crossing for the start of the 2023 school year. Story by Flight Lieutenant Dean Squire. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Kate Czerny.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Teachers flown home in time for school

03/02/202303/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 468 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, Operation Flood Assist 2023-1

Teachers from flood-affected Fitzroy Crossing were airlifted home from Broome to open the school gates for the new school year.

An Australian soldier inspects the barrel of the Amiens Gun located at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Story and photo by Private Nicholas Marquis.

Australian Army History News

Big gun with an even bigger story

03/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 376 Views 0 Comments AWM, WWI

Firing 300kg shells more than 25km, this astonishing piece of hardware is described as the finest trophy captured by any

Colonel Clare Kellaway presents Lieutenant Colonel Scottie Morris with a painting by Anneke Jamieson. Story by Captain Krysten Clifton. Photo by Major Mark Robinson.

ADF People

Battle of lockdown painting a farewell gift

03/02/202305/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 535 Views 0 Comments

As the now former Commandant of Army Training and Logistics Centre (ALTC) Colonel Clare Kellaway said farewell at the end

33 Squadron Maintenance Manager Sergeant Jason Bahadur on board a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport during Exercise Cope North 20 in Guam. Story by Warrant Officer Class Two Max Bree. Photo by Sergeant David Said.

ADF People

Aviator’s legacy of improving effectiveness

03/02/202303/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 612 Views 0 Comments Exercise Cope North, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 33 Squadron, Order of Australia

Increasing aircraft availability, streamlining safety processes, saving in excess of 6000 hours in labour resources, capability enhancements and driving positive

Major Vivian Blycha, right, working on her laptop with daughters beside her. Story by Jon Kroiter. Photo by Corporal Nakia Chapman.

ADF People

Cartwheeling through flexible service

03/02/202305/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 183 Views 0 Comments Army Reserve

When Major Viv Blycha’s youngest daughter Alex travels across the country to compete and train for gymnastics, Major Blycha packs

Workers at BAE Systems Maritime Australia use the Hunter digital simulation tool to help optimise the Hunter-class frigate program schedule at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia. Story by Emma Taylor.

News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology Sovereign industry

Digital shipyard tool boosts program

03/02/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 236 Views 0 Comments BAE Systems Maritime, Hunter-class frigate

BAE Systems Maritime Australia, who will deliver nine state-of-the-art Hunter-class frigates for Navy, have further enhanced the shipbuilding process by