A crew from the Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF] visited Bathurst Airport on Saturday to observe a new stretch of road that has been named in the honour of a member of their fleet.
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Members of the No. 37 Squadron arrived in a C-130J Hercules, one of 12 medium-sized tactical air-lifter aircraft that operate from the RAAF base in Richmond.
RAAF personnel gave select members of the community the unique opportunity to tour the inside of the Hercules aircraft and gain an insight into how it operates.
No. 37 Squadron training flight commander Adrian Willey said it was a pleasure to introduce visitors to the aircraft, which has been in continuous use since 1999.
"A lot of people here have never been inside of a Hercules aircraft before, so they've enjoyed observing the flight deck and cargo compartment," Mr Willey said.
"The Hercules aircraft is primarily used to transport cargo and personnel to all corners of the world."
Last week, the No. 37 Squadron piloted the Hercules aircraft to to the Northern Territory to assist in the evacuation of residents as a precaution for Cyclone Trevor.
The aircraft has visited Bathurst Airport regularly over the years for the means of training exercises involving RAAF personnel.
This led to Bathurst Regional Council deciding in February to name a road within the airport complex 'Hercules Close' in honour of the relationship between the airport and the RAAF.
Mr Willey trained in Bathurst as an Australian Air Force cadet, and said the experience was influential in solidifying his career path.
"I learnt to fly in Bathurst, and my very first flight was in a glider plane," he said.
"I spent a lot of school holiday camps here as a cadet and Bathurst was the site where I conducted my first solo flight as a 16-year-old."
With Bathurst housing an aviation centre for Australian Air Force cadets, Mr Willey said a role in the RAAF is a very rewarding career.
"For me, it all started with a few phone calls and a desire to give it a go, and there are roles that cater for various types of people," he said.
The Royal Australian Air Force celebrated its 98th anniversary yesterday.