A Boeing E-7A Wedgetail, featuring what looks to be a giant surfboard on its top, flew over the Bundaberg Region today, giving local plane spotters a chance to capture some great photos.
Dan Beck Photography was camera ready when the impressive Royal Australian Air Force plane flew above him and said the aircraft was an “awesome sight”.
“The aircraft departed Williamstown RAAF base around 9.27am on its way towards Bundaberg then started its aerial training in the Bundaberg Airspace at about 11.26am,” he said.
“It performed a fly over the circuit over the airport before preforming a common training manoeuvre known as a missed approach, which in basic terms the aircraft comes into land and then lifts back up before touching down.
“The aircraft preformed training in Bundaberg for about two minutes before heading to Amberley RAAF base near Brisbane.”
An avid plane spotter, Dan said his main form of photography was aviation.
“I am currently studying my Recreational Pilots Certificate and aviation is a passion I have always had and dream of pursuing,” he said.
“I am Bundy based the moment but do travel down to Hervey Bay and Maryborough a lot for training.”
About the aircraft
According to the Royal Australian Air Force, the E-7A Wedgetail is based on a Boeing 737-700.
It has the addition of an advanced Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar and 10 state-of-the-art mission crew consoles which can track airborne and maritime targets simultaneously.
The highly advanced aircraft provides an airborne early warning and control platform that can gather information from a wide variety of sources, analyse it, and distribute it to other assets.
The E-7A Wedgetail can:
- control the tactical battle space;
- provide direction for assets in the air, at sea and on land; and
- support aircraft such as tankers and intelligence platforms.
