A Proud Day for Wings

Seven graduates were presented with their ‘Wings’ at a ceremony on 13 December 2007. The award of the pilot’s brevet or ‘Wings’ represents a milestone in every military pilot’s career and is the culmination of a very demanding but rewarding period of training. The ceremony was reviewed by DCAF AIRCDRE Dick Newlands. All Wings graduates graduated after completing both the Airtrainer advance phase of the 06/2 Wings Course.

Image right: The young graduating pilots are as follows: L- R: PLTOFF Hamish Reichardt; PLTOFF Lachie Johnston; PLTOFF James Arnott-Steel; PLTOFF Nathan Barrack; PLTOFF Bradley Scott; FGOFF Tim McAlevey. OH-07-0861-43-fw.jpg.

Flying Officer McAlevey

FGOFF McAlevey is the eldest of four children and has two younger sisters and a younger brother. He was born in Dunedin, but moved to Palmerston North, where he attended Palmerston North Boys High School.

FGOFF McAlevey enlisted in the New Zealand Army in 2002 and after completing Infantry Corp training in Burnham was posted to Waiouru. He served as an armoured crewman before completing a conversion onto NZLAV and a posting to Linton.

Pilot Officer Arnott-Steel

PLTOFF Arnott-Steel is the eldest of three children and has a twin sister and a younger brother. He was born and raised in Christchurch where he attended Middleton Grange School and then later Canterbury University. In his first year of tertiary study he was accepted onto the RNZAF Undergraduate Scheme from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering with Honours.

Pilot Officer Barrack

PLTOFF Barrack comes from a family of four with one older sister and a younger brother and sister. As an Air Force child he grew up on various RNZAF bases, the last of which was RNZAF Base Auckland, at Whenuapai, where he attended Westlake Boys High School. PLTOFF Barrack joined the RNZAF Undergraduate Scheme as an Officer Cadet and attended Auckland University where he completed a BSc in computer science and information systems.

A keen basketball player PLTOFF Barrack represented the RNZAF at inter-base, inter-service and NZDF level, while still attending university.

Pilot Officer Familton

Image right: AIRCDR Dick Newlands presents PLTOFF Pete Familton with his Wings brevet. OH-07-0861-34-tn.jpg.

PLTOFF Familton is the youngest of two children and has an older sister. He grew up near Oamaru, where he attended St Kevin’s College and in his seventh form year transferred to St Bede’s College, in Christchurch. It was during this time that PLTOFF Familton obtained the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and his Private Pilots License.

Pilot Officer Johnston

PLTOFF Johnston is the eldest of three children and has two younger brothers. He grew up in Christchurch and attended Christchurch Boys High School where he was appointed a prefect in 2005.

Pilot Officer Reichardt

PLTOFF Reichardt is the eldest of two children and has a younger sister. He originates from a little known rural settlement south of Rotorua, called Rerewhakaaitu. PLTOFF Reichardt attended John Paul College and was appointed a prefect in 2005. While attending high school he competed in the National Secondary School Rowing Championships representing John Paul College and the North Island Rowing Championships representing the Rotorua Rowing Club.

Pilot Officer Scott

PLTOFF Scott, who is the eldest of five children, grew up in Taupiri a rural village north of Hamilton. He attended Hamilton Boys High School and enlisted in the RNZAF in January 2006.

PLTOFF Scott’s interests before enlisting in the RNZAF included completing a rugby referees training course and a passion for classic cars.