No. 278 Squadron RAAF
Encyclopedia
No 278 Squadron formed on 1 July 2003. The squadron's formation removes day-to-day management responsibility of No. 78 Wing RAAF
Technical Training and Operational Flight Trainer support elements from the Wing Headquarters.
No 278 Squadron had a combined Air Force/Australian Public Service workforce of 80, serving in Technical Training Flights at Williamtown and Amberley, and in Hornet Operational Flight Trainers at Williamtown and Tindal.
No 278 Squadron's Amberley Technical Training Flight also provides F-111 technical training to ARDU
. The Williamtown Technical Training Flight maintains Computer-Based Training courseware and provides instructor training and certification for ARDU, No. 75 Squadron RAAF
, No. 79 Squadron RAAF
and for No. 21 Squadron RAAF
at Laverton. Its Aircraft Battle Damage Repair (ABDR) school provides ABDR training for Australian Army
, Royal Australian Navy
and Royal Australian Air Force
personnel. The Squadron also provides contractor liaison and engineering oversight for the Hawk Operational Flight Trainers at RAAF Base Williamtown
and RAAF Base Pearce
, and the F-111 Simulator located at RAAF Base Amberley
. The Squadron Headquarters is located at RAAF Base Williamtown
.
(ACG) personnel. ACG's mission – to deliver Australia's capability to Control the Air and to Conduct Precision Strike – is unachievable without highly trained aircrew and maintenance teams. With 89 permanent staff members supporting ACG training around Australia in RAAF Base Williamtown
, RAAF Base Amberley
, RAAF Base Tindal
and RAAF Base Pearce
, 278SQN is preparing ACG aircrew and maintainers to defend and strike.
Establishing highly trained personnel takes years of dedicated training commitment. 278SQN delivers this training through two main elements; Operational Flight Trainers (or simulators) for aircrew and Technical Training Flights for maintainers. Operational Flight Trainers (OFT's) are utilised to develop a pilot's basic flying skills and hone techniques as aircrew skills develop. ACG OFTs are located at all 278SQN locations – Williamtown, Amberley, Tindal and Pearce and have the capability to accurately simulate all operational aspects of the F-111, BAE Hawk
and F/A-18 Hornet
. Technical Training Flights provide training support through numerous methods and are contributing towards a healthy maintenance culture of professionalism, safety and pride in work.
No. 78 Wing RAAF
No. 78 Wing is the Royal Australian Air Force's operational training wing. It is headquartered at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, and operates the BAE Hawk 127 lead-in fighter. The wing was formed in 1943 and operated P-40 Kittyhawk fighters in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II...
Technical Training and Operational Flight Trainer support elements from the Wing Headquarters.
No 278 Squadron had a combined Air Force/Australian Public Service workforce of 80, serving in Technical Training Flights at Williamtown and Amberley, and in Hornet Operational Flight Trainers at Williamtown and Tindal.
No 278 Squadron's Amberley Technical Training Flight also provides F-111 technical training to ARDU
Aircraft Research and Development Unit RAAF
The Royal Australian Air Force's Aircraft Research and Development Unit was responsible for the test and evaluation of aircraft and weapons used by the RAAF. The ARDU was first established as the Special Duties and Performance Flight in 1941. ARDU also operated the Woomera Test Facility located...
. The Williamtown Technical Training Flight maintains Computer-Based Training courseware and provides instructor training and certification for ARDU, No. 75 Squadron RAAF
No. 75 Squadron RAAF
No. 75 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter unit based at RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory. The squadron was formed in 1942 and saw extensive action in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II, operating P-40 Kittyhawks. It was disbanded in 1948, but reformed the...
, No. 79 Squadron RAAF
No. 79 Squadron RAAF
No. 79 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force flight training unit which has been formed on four occasions since 1943. The squadron was established in May 1943 as a fighter unit equipped with Supermarine Spitfires, and subsequently saw combat in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II...
and for No. 21 Squadron RAAF
No. 21 Squadron RAAF
No. 21 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force general reserve squadron. It saw action as a fighter, dive bomber and heavy bomber unit during World War II.-History:...
at Laverton. Its Aircraft Battle Damage Repair (ABDR) school provides ABDR training for Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
, Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
and Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
personnel. The Squadron also provides contractor liaison and engineering oversight for the Hawk Operational Flight Trainers at RAAF Base Williamtown
RAAF Base Williamtown
RAAF Base Williamtown is a Royal Australian Air Force base and headquarters to Australia's Tactical Fighter group. The base is located north of the coastal city of Newcastle, New South Wales in the Local Government Area of Port Stephens. The military base shares its runway facilities with...
and RAAF Base Pearce
RAAF Base Pearce
RAAF Base Pearce is the main RAAF base in Western Australia. The base is located in Bullsbrook, north of Perth. It is used for training by the Royal Australian Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Air Force...
, and the F-111 Simulator located at RAAF Base Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley is a Royal Australian Air Force base located southwest of Ipswich, Queensland and southwest of Brisbane. It is currently home to No. 1 Squadron and No. 6 Squadron , No. 33 Squadron and No. 36 Squadron...
. The Squadron Headquarters is located at RAAF Base Williamtown
RAAF Base Williamtown
RAAF Base Williamtown is a Royal Australian Air Force base and headquarters to Australia's Tactical Fighter group. The base is located north of the coastal city of Newcastle, New South Wales in the Local Government Area of Port Stephens. The military base shares its runway facilities with...
.
Purpose
To Provide Technical Training and Operational Flight Trainers in support of Air Combat Group Operations.History
On 1 July 2003 278 Squadron was born from a pressing need to standardise and achieve efficiencies in the training of Air Combat Group RAAFAir Combat Group RAAF
The Royal Australian Air Force's Air Combat Group is the group which administers the RAAF's fighter and bomber aircraft. ACG was formed on 7 February 2002 by merging the RAAF's Tactical Fighter Group and Strike Reconnaissance Group in an attempt to improve the speed with which the RAAF can deploy...
(ACG) personnel. ACG's mission – to deliver Australia's capability to Control the Air and to Conduct Precision Strike – is unachievable without highly trained aircrew and maintenance teams. With 89 permanent staff members supporting ACG training around Australia in RAAF Base Williamtown
RAAF Base Williamtown
RAAF Base Williamtown is a Royal Australian Air Force base and headquarters to Australia's Tactical Fighter group. The base is located north of the coastal city of Newcastle, New South Wales in the Local Government Area of Port Stephens. The military base shares its runway facilities with...
, RAAF Base Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley
RAAF Base Amberley is a Royal Australian Air Force base located southwest of Ipswich, Queensland and southwest of Brisbane. It is currently home to No. 1 Squadron and No. 6 Squadron , No. 33 Squadron and No. 36 Squadron...
, RAAF Base Tindal
RAAF Base Tindal
RAAF Base Tindal is a Royal Australian Air Force air base located near the town of Katherine in the Northern Territory. The base is currently home to No...
and RAAF Base Pearce
RAAF Base Pearce
RAAF Base Pearce is the main RAAF base in Western Australia. The base is located in Bullsbrook, north of Perth. It is used for training by the Royal Australian Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Air Force...
, 278SQN is preparing ACG aircrew and maintainers to defend and strike.
Establishing highly trained personnel takes years of dedicated training commitment. 278SQN delivers this training through two main elements; Operational Flight Trainers (or simulators) for aircrew and Technical Training Flights for maintainers. Operational Flight Trainers (OFT's) are utilised to develop a pilot's basic flying skills and hone techniques as aircrew skills develop. ACG OFTs are located at all 278SQN locations – Williamtown, Amberley, Tindal and Pearce and have the capability to accurately simulate all operational aspects of the F-111, BAE Hawk
BAE Hawk
The BAE Systems Hawk is a British single-engine, advanced jet trainer aircraft. It first flew in 1974 as the Hawker Siddeley Hawk. The Hawk is used by the Royal Air Force, and other air forces, as either a trainer or a low-cost combat aircraft...
and F/A-18 Hornet
F/A-18 Hornet
The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multirole fighter jet, designed to dogfight and attack ground targets . Designed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, the F/A-18 was derived from the latter's YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and...
. Technical Training Flights provide training support through numerous methods and are contributing towards a healthy maintenance culture of professionalism, safety and pride in work.