Ben Price - Flying high for a childhood dream
Flight Lieutenant Ben Price, 34, grew up on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. From a young age, Ben had dreamed of being a pilot. However in the years following Year 12, he started and completed an apprenticeship as an electrician. After seven years in the electrical industry, Ben decided to chase his long-term dream of becoming a pilot in the Air Force. With no aviation experience, Ben was accepted into the Air Force and began his new career as a Pilot in 2015.
Ben graduated on 246 Pilots Course in 2017 on the Pilatus PC-9/A and was posted to No. 33 Squadron to fly the KC-30A out of RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland. During his time on the tanker aircraft, Ben was involved in two Middle East region deployments, VIP tasking and various operations and exercises both domestically and internationally.
This is Ben’s first season with the Roulettes and first posting to Central Flying School. Away from work Ben enjoys time with his fiancé, young son, family and friends. Ben enjoys everything AFL, the beach, the snow and a good laugh with friends.
Air Force Roulettes
The Roulettes are the Royal Australian Air Force's aerobatic display team. They were established in 1970 following the success of earlier teams, the Red Sales and Telstars.
The Roulettes had their first public display at RAAF Base Point Cook in 1970. The team flew a Macchi MB-326 aircraft, which was replaced by the Pilatus PC-9/A (the Air Force's new pilot training aircraft) in 1989. Since then, the Roulettes have become a six aircraft, seven member team which completes two display seasons each year (a season runs for six months).
The Pilatus PC-9/A retired from Roulettes operations in March 2019 and was replaced by Pilatus PC-21 – one of the most advanced training aircraft in the world.
Roulette displays are flown all around Australia and consist of a number of manoeuvres flown in various formations at low level. They are an extension of formation, aerobatics, low level flying, and airmanship skills, taught to Air Force pilots and developed throughout their career.
The Roulettes fly as low as 250 feet (80 m) at speeds of up to 370 knots to 685km/h and pilots can experience up to 6 ‘G', or 6 times, the force of gravity during a display. Flying as close as three metres apart, the team showcases the level of visual judgement and hand-eye coordination that pilots in the Air Force are able to achieve.
Roulette pilots are Qualified Flying Instructors who work at the Central Flying School, based at RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria. Between displays, they teach other Air Force pilots to become instructors.
Socials:
About Ben Price: https://www.airforce.gov.au/displays/roulette-seven
Roulettes: https://www.airforce.gov.au/roulettes
FB: Airforce Roulettes https://www.facebook.com/AirForceRoulettes
Insta: Airforce Roulettes @airforceroulettes https://www.instagram.com/airforceroulettes/
Mentions:
https://www.defencejobs.gov.au
Enjoy the visual here on Youtube
