2024 marks the 100th anniversary of Wing Commander Stanley Goble and Flight Lieutenant Ivor McIntyre’s flight around Australia in their Fairey IIID seaplane. Moreover, it marks the 50th anniversary of a 6 Squadron F-111, crewed by Wing Commander Ray Funnell and Squadron Leader John Miller who completed the same feat in 1974. The benefits of 6 Squadron reaching the jet age meant that the recreation in 1974 was completed in significantly less time that Goble and McIntyre, reducing the flight time from 93 hours to just over 12 hours.

2024 will provide the current 6 Squadron aviators the privilege to commemorate what was a historic event for both aviation in Australia, but also the Royal Australian Air Force. 6 Squadron now operates 12 EA-18G Growler aircraft. The EA-18G Growler is an Airborne Electronic Attack aircraft, designed to support air, land and sea forces by denying, degrading and disrupting a broad range of military electronic systems, including radars and communications. During the conduct of 6 Squadron’s commemorative flight, two aircraft will deploy through RAAF bases Townsville, Scherger, Darwin, Pearce and East Sale, replicating as close as possible to the previous events.

EA-18G incentive flights will also be given to students at both Number 1 and 2 Flying Training Schools and Air Mission Training School, with the intent to motivate the next generation of Air Force and Air Combat aviators.

EA-18G Growler Specifications

Crew 2 Pilot and Electronic Warfare Officer
Length 18.3 m
Height 4.9 m
Wing span 13.7 m
Weight 15,011 kg (empty)
Engines Two F414-GE-400 turbofans (44,000 lbs thrust each)
Range 1,570 km (fully armed with external fuel tanks)
Ceiling 50,000 feet
Max speed 1,960 km/h (Mach 1.6)
Capacity
• ALQ-99 Low and High band jamming pods
• Electro-magnetic spectrum dominance
• Enhanced Situational Awareness and Networking
Weapons
• AGM-88 Anti-Radiation Missiles
• AIM-120 Air-to-air missiles
• AIM-9X “Sidewinder” Short Range Air-to-Air Missile