SKY’S THE LIMIT FOR TOP GUN

GROWING up, Ryan Griffin always dreamt of flying. Nowadays, he pilots what might just be one of the coolest planes you’ve ever seen.

A Flying Officer with the Royal Australian Air Force, the F/A-18F Super Hornet pilot is based out of RAAF Base Amberley but grew up in North Ward and Annandale.

But now, the real-life top gun, who still calls Townsville home, has brought his shiny new toy back to inspire the next generation.

In Townsville for a fortnight as part of exercise Nigrum Pugio, Flying Officer Griffin took time off to give students from Cowboys House a rare glimpse of his $57m flying machine.

“It’s something not a lot of the public see, they see us and hear us making a lot of noise but to come up close and figure out why we’re here, what we do and what we provide to Australia is a very good thing,” he said.

“Generally a kid in a candy store type reaction is what we get, seeing

Flying Officer Ryan Griffin, who grew up in Townsville, shows students from Cowboys House around the cockpit (inset).

a fast jet up close, seeing fighter pilots around is great. It’s awesome, it’s been a great experience so far (to come home and fly).”

Thirteen students from Cowboys House visited the RAAF Base

Townsville hangar, where they could get up close to the Super Hornet, take a look inside the cockpit and speak with air force personnel.

With a strong interest in the Australian Defence Force shared

among the students, it was exciting just to be able to walk on base.

The commander of 383

Squadron, Wing Commander Alan Brown, said it was a rare opportunity to see high-end aircraft.

Picture: MATT TAYLOR

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