AIR FORCE cadets from Dubbo were treated to the highlight of their careers with a ride on a Hercules C-130J aircraft to the Temora Warbirds Downunder airshow on Saturday.
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The 33 students aged between 13 and 20 flew out from Dubbo on Saturday morning at 9.20am and arrived back at 5pm, after a long but exciting day of watching a variety of historic aircraft in action.
The Hercules flight was a milestone, not only for the cadets but also for Dubbo.
Despite a long history of service in the Royal Australian Air Force and a RAAF presence in the city, a Hercules has never landed in Dubbo before.
Squadron Leader Michael White, acting commanding officer for the Dubbo Air Force Cadets, said the cadets were extremely excited to be part of the airshow and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of being on a Hercules.
"None of these cadets have been in a Hercules before,"?he said.
"Flights in service aircraft are scarce these days so it's a one-off for cadets and particularly for the 313 squadron City of Dubbo.
"It is one of the pinnacles of their time in the Air Force Cadets."
The Warbirds Downunder show involved demonstrations from culturally significant and rare aircraft including Spitfires, Hawks, Tiger Moths and Mustangs as well RAAF F/A-18 Hornets and the ever-popular Roulettes acrobatic team.
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