By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Some of Nossal High School’s ‘top guns’ lived the dream as they took the controls of an F/A-18F Super Hornet simulator on 24 February.
The students, under the guidance of visiting Royal Australian Air Force members, took turns in the replica strike-fighter cockpit and as support crew on a simulated flight mission.
Year 11 student Jordan said he’d forever remember his time in the 11-metre, 2500-kilogram simulator.
He said there was a unanimous thumbs-up from students who had successfully applied for an experience which included dressing up in RAAF flight suits and life-support equipment.
The students also experienced an F-35’s barrel rolls and other extreme manoeuvres through virtual-reality headsets.
They also cleared take-offs and landings – with several near-misses – in a simulated joint-battlefield airspace control room.
“I would like to greatly thank the (RAAF) members for their willingness to inform us of the realities of their jobs,” Jordan said.
Assistant principal Keith Butler said the event went “gang-busters” even though the dedicated students didn’t usually like to miss class.
“They were queuing up to have a go in the end.”
RAAF’s team leader Ellie Gray said the simulator gave students an experience close to the real thing.
“It really is good fun and you get a good feel of what it is like to fly the plane.”
The simulator experience has toured several Victorian schools, and will land at Avalon International Air Show this month.
