Timaru's Tent City
The Richard Pearse airport at Timaru was transformed from quiet provincial air field to a bustling tent city recently with the arrival of Air Force personnel for Exercise Wiseowl.
Timaru Aerodrome. OH-08-0132-22-tn.jpg.
The camp, complete with washing machines, a bar, swimming pool and TV room was home away from home for nearly 100 personnel from 25 February to 6 March.
The exercise fulfils the requirement for pilots on wings course to operate aircraft from deployed facilities and to train in formation flying techniques. Of course the Air Force is not just about the pilots and the camp also gives personnel such as air security, administration, plumbers and wirers the opportunity to hone their skills and experience life on a deployed operating base.
For camp mother, otherwise known as Camp Warrant Officer Greg Backhouse, this is the first of two Wiseowl exercises he organises each year.
Planning begins six months out and includes identifying a site, talking with local councils, local airport operators and anyone else who may be involved in supplying facilities to the camp. Once the camp is up and running W/O Backhouse is kept busy ensuring everything runs smoothly.
‘It’s making sure the camp is running and the general day-to-day jobs are organised – the rubbish is being collected, the toilets and grey water is serviced daily, that kind of thing.’
In addition to organising the camp, W/O Backhouse is also responsible for organising the logistics around the camp’s open day which this year saw only 200 people attend.
Camp set up – Day one. OH-08-0111-31-tn.jpg.
‘It was the smallest number we've seen! Maybe because of the V8 Super cars drawing the crowds.’ With over 100 personnel with keen appetites from camping out in the fresh air, food is another area that needs to be taken into careful consideration.
PTE Duncan Roxburgh is one of the four Army chefs who attended the exercise and while slicing onions for lunch said he was having a good time.
‘I’m loving it. Everyone here is having a good time, we can chill out when there is time to chill out and it is great.’
With meals ranging from nachos to stir-fry beef and noodles to pork and salad with many yummy sweet treats in between, one wonders how much time the army lads have to “chill out”!
PTE Roxburgh takes pride in his work and says one of his challenges is keeping everyone happy.
‘You want to get a nice feed out continuously, from the first person to the last,’ he says.
Back outside in the late summer sun, the bright yellow CT-4E Airtrainers can be seen returning to camp signalling the pilot officers are back from another round of training. This year there are eight young pilots getting to grips with being away from the familiar airfield of Ohakea and learning to fly in formation.
‘It is definitely a bit of work,’ says PLTOFF Craig Graham. ‘You learn something new on every flight.’
FLTLT Michelle Christie hosts Timaru school children. OH-08-0115-27-tn.jpg.
The formation flying aspect of the wings course is a skill that needs to be mastered by every pilot of military aircraft. Flying at an optimal distance of eight feet between aircraft, it can make for some close encounters.
‘The first time you see a guy eight feet away staring back at you, you can’t help but smile,’ said PLTOFF Alex Booth. Despite the hard work, there is an enormous sense of satisfaction, which culminates in the first solo experience.
‘Formation has been the best part of Wings,’ said PLTOFF Bezuidenhout between flights.
Of course the skill that these young pilots acquire is in no small part due to the team of dedicated instructors who each morning and afternoon take their charges through their paces.
Instructor FLTLT Charlie Beetham of Central Flying School who also did part of his training at Timaru when he was a pilot officer says it is a busy time.
‘I’ve flown three times in five and a half hours and because it is formation you can’t afford to relax too much. You’ve got to be watching the whole time because things happen so quickly.’
On his third Wiseowl as an instructor FLTLT Beetham says each student reacts differently and part of his job is to figure out how to get the best out of each student.
‘It is really gratifying to see them succeed,’ he says.