No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit Archives

An F-35A Lightning II aircraft from 2 Operational Conversion Unit takes to the sky for a mission during Exercise High Sierra, RAAF Base Townsville. Story by Flying Officer Madeleine Magee. Photos by Sergeant Andrew Eddie.

Up, up and away for new pilots

13/12/202421/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1347 Views 0 Comments Exercise Crimson Dawn, Exercise High Sierra, F-35A Lightning II, No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, RAAF Townsville

The Royal Australian Air Force welcomed its newest F-35A Lightning II trainee fast jet pilots to Townsville as 2 Operational

Indonesian military personnel and members of the public watch as an RAAF F-35A Lightning II starts up for a flying display at the Bali International Air Show. Story. y Squadron Leader Eamon Hamilton. Photo supplied by Indonesian Air Force Information Service.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF flies into Bali to show off

25/09/202405/10/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1370 Views 0 Comments Air Show, F-35A Lightning II, Indonesian Air Force, No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit

Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs made their first appearance in an overseas air show in Bali from September

An F-35A Lightning II arriving at RAAF Base Townsville ready to participate in Exercise High Sierra. Story by Flight Lieutenant Rob Hodgson. Photo by Corporal Brett Sherriff.

News Royal Australian Air Force

New pilots challenged on High Sierra

05/12/202311/12/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1413 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, Exercise High Sierra, F-35A Lightning II, No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, RAAF Townsville, RAAF Williamtown

RAAF personnel and aircraft were deployed to RAAF Base Townsville to conduct the final phase of Exercise High Sierra at

RAAF Sergeant Ryan Pedder travelled to the central coast to have his haircut by Instagram content maker Nick Senem. Story by Corporal Melina Young.

ADF People

Barber chair conversations for mental health

17/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1163 Views 0 Comments mental health, No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, RAAF Williamtown, Top Blokes Foundation

Sergeants Ryan Pedder and Connor O’Neill and Leading Aircraftman Liam Ramsay took a seat in the barber chair to have

RAAF Sergeants Connor O'Neill and Ryan Pedder, 7th and 8th from left, facilitated the Building Blokes program for aviators from 2 Operational Conversion Unit at RAAF Base Williamtown. Story and photo by Corporal Melina Young.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing

Vulnerability takes courage

11/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 754 Views 0 Comments F-35A Lightning II, No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, RAAF Williamtown, Top Blokes Foundation, World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day As an awkwardly tall and skinny teenager, Sergeant Ryan Pedder struggled with his masculinity. CAPTION: RAAF

Sergeant Andrew Summers in front of a F-35A Lightning II at 2 Operational Conversion Unit, RAAF Base Williamtown, NSW. Story by Squadron Leader Bruce Chalmers. Photo by Aircraftman Kurt Lewis.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing Thought provoking

Breaking the stigma of PTSD

10/10/202328/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1266 Views 0 Comments No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, PTSD, RAAF Williamtown, World Mental Health Day

Sergeant Andrew Summers, of 2 Operational Conversion Unit at RAAF Base Williamtown in NSW, is an example of how proactive

Corporal Hannah Graham winds in the earthing cable before heading out to refuel. Story b y Flying Officer Sharon Sebastian. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Ryan Howell.

ADF People

Refuelling fast jets in record time

19/07/202323/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1345 Views 0 Comments Exercise High Sierra, F-35A Lightning II, No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, No. 27 Squadron, RAAF Townsville

As a wave of eight fast jets land, Corporal Hannah Graham dispatches tankers to refuel the aircraft – enabling redeployment

An Air Force Hawk 127 and F-35A Lightning II prepare to take off during Exercise High Sierra at RAAF Base Townsville in Queensland. Story by Flying Officer Sharon Sebastian. All photos by LAC Ryan Howell.

News Royal Australian Air Force

New F-35 pilots graduate

04/07/202305/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1729 Views 0 Comments Exercise High Sierra, F-35A Lightning II, No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, RAAF Townsville

Exercise High Sierra is back gracing Townsville airspace once again, following a two-year hiatus, to graduate the latest cadre of

Gap Year personnel, from left, Aircraftman Jubal Tan, Aircraftman Jack Bridge, Aircraftwoman Layla Manser, Aircraftwoman Annalise Conibear, Aircraftman Jackson Pulbrook and Aircraftman Samuel Maharjan. Story by Flight Sergeant Josa Kohler. Photo by Sergeant Peter Borys.

ADF People

A fast-paced Gap Year with fast jets

23/12/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1398 Views 1 Comment Gap Year program, No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, No. 77 Squadron, RAAF Williamtown

ADF Gap Year program participants deployed to Air Force’s No 2 Operational Conversion Unit (2OCU) this year travelled around Australia

A Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning ll departs from RAAF Base Tindal during Exercise Diamond Storm 2022. Story by Squadron Leader Eamon Hamilton. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Samuel Miller.

News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF’s first fifth-generation fighter combat instructors

22/06/202230/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1953 Views 0 Comments Air Warfare Instructors Course, Exercise Diamond Storm, F-35A Lightning II, FCI, No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, RAAF Tindal

Each Air Warfare Instructor Course (AWIC) includes a Fighter Combat Instructor (FCI) course, which debuted for the RAAF’s F-35A Lightning II

Commander Air Combat Group Air Commodore Timothy Alsop (right) presents Squadron Leader Daniel Grealy with an oversized replica patch on attaining 4000 flying hours in F/A-18 type aircraft at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. Story by Flight Lieutenant Bronwyn Marchant. Photo by Sergeant Peter Borys.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Fighter pilot’s ‘huge achievement’ of 4000 hours

08/06/202222/10/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 3891 Views 0 Comments F/A-18A/B Hornets, F/A-18F Super Hornet, No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, No. 77 Squadron, No. 82 Wing Training Flight, RAAF Amberley, RAAF Williamtown

In a first for the Royal Australian Air Force, No. 82 Wing Training Flight fighter pilot Squadron Leader Daniel Grealy

Flight Lieutenant Ross Bowman at RAAF Base Williamtown. Story by Flight Lieutenant Nick O'Connor. Photo by Corporal Craig Barrett.

News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Air show pilot talks us through his F-35A display

26/05/202227/05/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2245 Views 0 Comments Air Show, F-35A Lightning II, No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit

Defence has a long and proud history of showcasing its cutting-edge assets and highly skilled personnel at public events throughout

Air Force aviators form a guard of honour for Air Commodore (retd) Lyall Klaffer at his funeral service in Adelaide. Story by Flight Lieutenant Nat Giles. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Sam Price.

ADF People History

Distinguished fighter pilot farewelled

10/12/202117/12/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 1692 Views 0 Comments Korean War, No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, No. 75 Squadron, No. 77 Squadron, Vietnam War

Former fighter pilot Air Commodore (retd) Lyall Klaffer, who achieved several firsts in the Royal Australian Air Force, was farewelled

Aircraft A21-02 flown by Group Captain Jason Easthope, Chief of Staff, Air Combat Group puts on the last handling display for a RAAF F/A-18 Hornet at RAAF Base Williamtown. Story by Flight Lieutenant Jessica Aldred. Photo by Corporal Craig Barrett.

History News Royal Australian Air Force

Hornets farewelled after more than 35 years of service

30/11/202130/11/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 2673 Views 3 Comments F/A-18A/B Hornets, No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, No. 75 Squadron, No. 77 Squadron, Williamtown

Air Force has farewelled the F/A-18A/B Hornets after more than 35 years of service, with an end of era event