Defence Update

Originally the first 707 in the conversion program was to have been taken back by the RAAF about mid 1990, with work on the second 707 completed before the end of the year. However flight testing of the first aircraft was held up because the hydraulic controller provided by its US manufacturer, J C Carter, was found to be undergoing pressure surges. The controller went back to the United States for modification. Then a rig failed when the redesigned controller was under test, and a further delay became inevitable.

The first 707 from No. 33 Squadron at Richmond air base, west of Sydney, went in for conversion in November, 1988, so the modification has taken about two years, six months longer than originally planned. The second 707 entered the Tullamarine hangar late in 1989, and the third is now due to go in early in 1991 after the second plane is accepted.

The first 707 has been subjected to stringent ground and flight tests, which include refuelling Hornet fighters. The tests also have covered checking out the avionics modifications, and the hydrauliccontrollerswhich’sense’ the fuel demand from each of the four pumps in the centre wing tanks.

The acceptance of the modified 707s back to the squadron will enable the RAAF to develop an operational air-to-air refuelling capability. The objective is to enhance the performance of the Hornets, based at Williamtown, near Newcastle, and Tindal in the Northern Territory, by extending their range and time on patrol. The normal combat radius of a fully loaded F-18 with three external fuel tanks is around 550 nautical miles. lnflight refuelling by the 707s is expected to increase this radius of action to over 800nm.

Earlier this year, Mr Peter Lister, Hawker de Havilland’s Manager Corporate Business Development, said the IAI modification was different to that used in the USA. He said the US used an extra crew member to monitor TV cameras in the wing tip and handle the control consoles. The IAI system installed in the RAAF 707s will see the Flight Engineer control the panel of consoles. The system therefore had to be engineered to meet this requirement. Once the first installation was completed and tested, the work on the other aircraft should be plain sailing, Lister said. However the avionics integration was a major task.

Extension for Caskeeps Cdf H at in the Ring?

A 12 months extension in the appointment of the RAAF’s Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Ray Funnell, 55, could now put him back in the running to become the next Chief of the Defence Force (GDF) after General Peter Gration.

When the Defence Minister, Senator Robert Ray, announced in June that General Gration, 59, would have his appointment as GDF further extended by two years from April, 1991 to April, 1993, it was accepted in many Defence quarters that the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Michael Hudson, and Air Marshal Funnell, were out of the running for the higher post, and would retire in the first half of 1991.

The retirement of Admiral Hudson has now been confirmed. His successor as CNS is Rear Admiral Ian MacDougall, who takes over on March 9. However, along with the appointment of Admiral MacDougall, Senator Ray announced that the appointments of Air Marshal Funnell, and the Vice-Chief of the Defence Force, Vice-Admiral-Alan Beaumont, would be extended to mid 1992.

Even though there is about a 10 month gap between when General Gration and Air Marshal Funnell are now scheduled to step down, it is still conceivable that Funnell could be the next GDF. Only time will tell.

Raymond George Funnell was born in Brisbane on March 1, 1935 and educated at Brisbane State High School and the RAAF College. He graduated as a pilot in December, 1956. Funnell then served in a number of flying and instructional postings on Vampire, Meteor and Sabre aircraft, attended the RAAF Staff College, and served in staff positions in the Department of Air. He also did exchange duty with the United States Air Force, and in 1971-72 attended the USAFAir War College.

Back in Australia in August, 1972, he was chosen to command No. 6 Squadron at Amberley air base, southern Queensland, during the unit’s conversion to the F-111 strike aircraft. Since 1975 Funnell has held numerous senior staff positions. He was head of the Military Planning Staff of the Australian Defence Force Academy project in Canberra in 1975-78, Chief of Staff, Headquarters, RAAF Operational Command, Glenbrook, NSW in 1979-80, and Chief of Air Force Operations and Plans in Canberra in 1983-85.

He was Assistant Chief of the Defence Force (Policy) in 1985-86 and was promoted to Air Marshal and became Vice-Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF) in June, 1986. Air Marshal Funnell, a graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies, London, was appointed Chief of the Air Staff on July 3, 1987.

He holds a Masters Degree in Political Science and a Graduate Diploma in Administration, and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in mid 1986 and elevated to a Companion of the Order in 1989. He and his wife, Suzanne, have two sons.