Air Combat Group's guest appearances

Air Combat Group

Defence Connect Podcast Network

Ad Astra Aviator Podcasts

Peter Layton

Craig Williams

Patrick Stewart

Steve Robinson

Gareth Evans

Rod Drury

Will Davies

David Harvey

Tom Moore

Matthew Williams

Rob Parker

Michael Oliver

Chris Dixon

David Coleman

Frank Walker

OwlTail

Tim Alsop

Introducing Air Commodore Tim Alsop  Air Commodore Tim Alsop currently serves as Commander Air Combat Group, based at RAAF Williamtown, near Newcastle, NSW. Air Combat Group is responsible for the development and preparation of Australia’s Air Combat force for operations. It encompasses some 2000 personnel, six aircraft types and a special operations Combat Control capability. Tim joined the RAAF in 1993, after completing a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne. He trained as a pilot and has served at all three operational F/A-18A squadrons, as well as instructing on PC-9/A, Macchi and Hawk 127 training aircraft. He currently flies the F-35A Lightning II. In 2009, he deployed to Afghanistan with the Australian Special Operations Task Group as the Offensive Air Support Planner. Later that year, he moved to the United Kingdom and completed the Advanced Command and Staff Course and a Masters of Arts with Kings College London. As the embedded Director of the 609th Combined Air and Space Operations Centre, in 2018, Tim oversaw the planning and execution of all Coalition air power in the US Central Command area of responsibility, encompassing Syria, Iraq, the Arabian Gulf and Afghanistan. The geostrategic landscape during that period can best be described as ‘quite complex.’ In 2019, he completed another 12 months of study at the Australian War College and became a Fellow of the Defence Strategic Studies Course. AIRCDRE Alsop is the Patron of both the Air Force Nordic Biathlon Association and the Royal Victorian Aero Club’s Young Eagles program – a volunteer organisation that encourages youth to pursue a career in aviation through regular presentations and free introductory flying.

Introducing Air Commodore Tim Alsop Air Commodore Tim Alsop currently serves as Commander Air Combat Group, based at RAAF Williamtown, near Newcastle, NSW. Air Combat Group is responsible for the development and preparation of Australia’s Air Combat force for operations. It encompasses some 2000 personnel, six aircraft types and a special operations Combat Control capability. Tim joined the RAAF in 1993, after completing a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne. He trained as a pilot and has served at all three operational F/A-18A squadrons, as well as instructing on PC-9/A, Macchi and Hawk 127 training aircraft. He currently flies the F-35A Lightning II. In 2009, he deployed to Afghanistan with the Australian Special Operations Task Group as the Offensive Air Support Planner. Later that year, he moved to the United Kingdom and completed the Advanced Command and Staff Course and a Masters of Arts with Kings College London. As the embedded Director of the 609th Combined Air and Space Operations Centre, in 2018, Tim oversaw the planning and execution of all Coalition air power in the US Central Command area of responsibility, encompassing Syria, Iraq, the Arabian Gulf and Afghanistan. The geostrategic landscape during that period can best be described as ‘quite complex.’ In 2019, he completed another 12 months of study at the Australian War College and became a Fellow of the Defence Strategic Studies Course. AIRCDRE Alsop is the Patron of both the Air Force Nordic Biathlon Association and the Royal Victorian Aero Club’s Young Eagles program – a volunteer organisation that encourages youth to pursue a career in aviation through regular presentations and free introductory flying.

Air Commodore Tim Alsop - Reflections on the Air Combat Group and on Combat Flying in the Air Force

Mike Kitcher

In this episode of the Defence Connect podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Air Commodore  Mike Kitcher,  Commander Air Combat Group to discuss their position in the development of the future of the Royal Australian Air Force. Kitcher will share his thoughts surrounding the arrival of the F35 fighter jets, and discuss how better connectivity across the ADF will lead to a stronger collective joint war fighting capability. Kitcher will discuss his history within the services, the direction that his position takes in the greater defence landscape, and reveal his plan for training in the drive toward IOC. Reflecting on his time in the industry Kitcher will discuss how quality standards have shifted over the years, provide an update on the roll-out of Plan Jericho and discuss the role of defence professionals in the creation of a united defence force. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

In this episode of the Defence Connect podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Air Commodore  Mike Kitcher,  Commander Air Combat Group to discuss their position in the development of the future of the Royal Australian Air Force. Kitcher will share his thoughts surrounding the arrival of the F35 fighter jets, and discuss how better connectivity across the ADF will lead to a stronger collective joint war fighting capability. Kitcher will discuss his history within the services, the direction that his position takes in the greater defence landscape, and reveal his plan for training in the drive toward IOC. Reflecting on his time in the industry Kitcher will discuss how quality standards have shifted over the years, provide an update on the roll-out of Plan Jericho and discuss the role of defence professionals in the creation of a united defence force. Enjoy the podcast, The Defence Connect team

How a changing Australian Defence Force will shape the benchmarks that Air Combat Group strive to achieve, Mike Kitcher, Air Combat Group – RAAF