Flt Lt Mark Swinn, from Port Kennedy, at the sensor panel of an E-7A Wedgetail aircraft.
Camera IconFlt Lt Mark Swinn, from Port Kennedy, at the sensor panel of an E-7A Wedgetail aircraft. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Former Port Kennedy resident an eagle eye in the sky

Tim SlaterWeekend Kwinana Courier

Flight Lieutenant Swinn has been serving in the Royal Australian Air Force since 2007. He has spent the past two-and-a-half years with Number Two Squadron that operates the E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft.

He is a senior surveillance and control officer and he manages personnel who control and track airborne and maritime targets with the Wedgetail’s electronic radar.

Flt Lt Swinn has recently participated in an exercise in Malaysia called Exercise Bersama Lima 16, flying out of the Butterworth air base.

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He said the exercise was a great training opportunity for the early warning team.

“There are so many moving parts to this exercise,” he said.

“It takes the whole team working together on the aircraft to keep it operating smoothly with air, maritime and ground assets.

“We are the asset that brings it all together.

“I work with a great group of people and I’m passionate about travel.

“Having a job where I fly both within Australia and internationally with 13 of my closest mates is fantastic.”