HOW far would you drive to ride for 30 minutes in a $489 million military aircraft?
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That's a questions Australian Army Cadets and staff from Leeton and Cootamundra answered recently when they drove more than 14 hours to have the experience of a lifetime.
Captain Tracey Bullivant, Lieutenant Robert Bunbury and training officer of Cadets Julie Birrer from Leeton, along with Second Lieutenant Roy Elmes from Cootamundra and their Cadets, grabbed their pillows for the long bus ride, but were filled with excitement at what was ahead.
They were among more than 300 other Cadets and Army Cadet Staff at HMAS Albatross Nowra, to undertake a familiarisation flight in one of the RAAF's eight C17 Globemaster military transport planes.
Captain Bullivant said she and her 25 Cadets stayed at their unit hall overnight in Leeton ready for the trip next day.
"The Cadets were up at 2.30am and on the bus by 3am before we picked up Second Lieutenant Roy Elmes and his 19 Cadets from Cootamundra to head to Nowra," she said.
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"This is the first time the Cadets had been on a military plane.
"It gives the country children the experience of a lifetime.
"This is the best military experience I have had so far."
The C17A Globemaster III provides the Australian Air Force with an unprecedented capacity for strategic airlift.
It allows Australia to rapidly deploy troops, supplies, combat vehicles, heavy equipment, and helicopters anywhere in the world.
The plane used at Nowra was from RAAF Base Amberley.
All eight C17As are operated by the No. 36 Squadron and provide a logistics backbone for Australian Defence Force operations overseas.
This has included operations in the Middle East, as well as East Timor.
The RAAF familiarisation flights gave the Cadets a unique military experience with nine Army Cadet Units taking part.
Cadet Kristian Miller from 256 ACU Cootamundra said the C17 ride was "cool".
"The ride felt like it only went for two minutes - it went so fast," Cadet Miller said.
"I was up at 4.30 am to get to Nowra, but it was well worth it."
When the Globemaster landed after its first sortie, all the Cadets and other passengers broke out in spontaneous applause for the RAAF crew.
If you would like to find out more information about the Leeton Army Cadet Unit and joining up, contact Captain Bullivant for more information.
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