Greg Combet, Acting Minister for Defence, announced yesterday the completion of the deeper maintenance contract for the Air Force F-111 fleet.

“Since the F-111 was introduced it has flown over 160,000 hours. To help it achieve this Air Force and Defence Industry collectively completed over 300 routine deeper maintenance servicings that have included removal of wings, engines, undercarriage and other major components for overhaul or replacement. The maintenance systems introduced with the F-111 aircraft have been a mainstay of Defence and industry’s high-tech support capabilities for well over 35 years,” said Mr Combet.

“Aircraft A8-135, which was handed back to 82 Wing today, was the final F-111 to undergo deeper maintenance servicing and the completion of this program will ensure that the F-111 fleet remains fully capable until the Super Hornets come on-line.”

“Through its involvement with the F-111, Boeing has made a significant contribution to the aircraft’s legacy.”

A ceremony was held at RAAF Amberley to mark the completion of the contract.

The US Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, Thunderbirds, left their home at Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, six weeks ago to embark on a whirlwind journey that took them halfway around the world.

The Thunderbirds typically travel from mid-March to mid-November in the continental United States. However, this year, the 2009 Far East Tour took the team to multiple locations in the Pacific. During the tour, the team traveled more than 22,000 miles.

With a final pass over the crowd in Seoul, Korea, the world famous Thunderbirds waved goodbye to their fans and completed the last performance of the tour.

Major Brian Henderson was the Pacific Air Forces project officer for the Thunderbirds‘ Far East Tour. He said the crowd reactions were highly energetic, especially when the team signed autographs after each performance.

Now the team is heading out once again for the “Wing’s Over Homestead” Air Show scheduled for Nov. 7-8, at Homestead Air Reserve Base in Florida. The team’s final air show this year will be at Nellis AFB, Nov. 14-15.

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – After more than 30 years of flying for the Air Force, the last C-130E Hercules aircraft here set forth destined for a new life.

This aircraft is in addition to the five C-130Es Poland is authorized to receive from the United States in an effort to help build up Poland’s airlift capability sooner and allow them to support their forces in Afghanistan.

The departure of the aircraft is also part of the transition to the new, more capable and cost effective C-130J aircraft, of which Ramstein will have 14. Part of the upgrade includes a new system onboard the aircraft.

“The C-130J is all computerized and automated,” said Master Sgt. Jay Mitchell, 37th Airlift Squadron flight engineer. “So, they’ve done away with the flight engineer and navigator positions.”

But, this is no loss for navigators and flight engineers as it opens up other opportunities. For example, Sergeant Mitchell will be heading to Hurlburt Field, Fla., to fly on the AC-130 Gunships.

“It’s a day in history we will never forget,” Sergeant Mitchell said. “This is an awesome aircraft. The C-130 has always been the workhorse of the Air Force and will continue that way with the J-model, but to see the last C-130E leaving here … we’re sad to see it go.”

Aircraft 1299 is the second C-130E to go to the Polish Air Force, as the first was delivered in March under a separate program and has flown more than 100 sorties since then.

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