BRANCH: Royal Air Force in United Kingdom LOCATION: Williamtown, Australia TEAM: Boeing Defence Australia During his 23 years with the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom, Simon Ekins served as a crew member on Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft. That experience, he said, helped him become a mission crew instructor with Boeing Defence Australia, where he teaches Australian aircrew how to operate the country’s Wedgetail aircraft. Based on the 737 commercial platform, Boeing’s Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control, or AEW&C, aircraft is now fully operational and able to support ongoing operations of the Royal Australian Air Force. Australia has a fleet of six. “It’s a unique aircraft, both in combat and peacetime environments,” Ekins said. “I love my work and enjoy the camaraderie, which is often missing when military personnel leave the service. Luckily, I have an excellent team of like-minded working people from all walks of life.” After his air force career in the United Kingdom, which included service in Bosnia, both Gulf wars and Afghanistan, Ekins emigrated to Australia in 2008 and joined Boeing. As a veteran, November holds a special place for Ekins. “Remembrance Day in November means a lot to me,” he explained, “as my great-grandfather served in World War I in the first battle of the Somme, and my grandfather served in World War II as rear gunner on Lancaster bombers. My thoughts are with all those serving, and those who have served in the past, to fight for all our freedoms.” PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS Simon Ekins AEW&C mission crew instructor 38 BOEING FRONTIERS
Frontiers November 2015 Issue
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