Squadron Leader Alistair Smith, from 2 Operational Conversion Unit, has been in Victoria for the past two weeks for the Australian International Airshow held at Avalon as the AIA25 Detachment Commander and one of the F-35 Lightning II pilots.
In the lead up to the event, Alistair was one of two pilots participating in a 2OCU F-35A Lightning II Aircraft navigation training mission, performing circuits at Mildura Airport, and overflying Birchip township and the Birchip P-12 School before returning to Avalon.
Cruising at 1000 km/hr, the return flight from Avalon to Birchip took fifteen minutes. “Smithy” said, “climbing away I felt slightly emotional after flying over the Smith family farm, Tchum Lake and Birchip, where I was born and raised.”
Alistair is the son of former Birchip residents Eileen and Ian Smith and completed his primary and secondary schooling at Birchip P-12 School. Alistair and his wife Alexandra Liston (daughter of Angela Liston and Bobby Liston, also of Birchip) currently reside in Newcastle with their three sons.
Alistair said, “I’ve wanted to do this for a long time, to provide a small amount of joy and give back to the Birchip and broader Buloke community.”
And that he did! Cumming Avenue was lined with people, not just those who work in Birchip, but with farmers who had come into town and people had travelled from all over Buloke to witness the F-35 Lightning II fly over Birchip.
At Birchip P-12 School, excited students and teachers gathered on the school oval, with some calling it the highlight of their school experience and others declaring their dreams of becoming a fighter pilot when they grow up.
Social media exploded with photographs, videos, and praise, filling the town with a buzz of positivity. Community members also expressed their admiration for Alistair and were enamoured with what he has achieved, highlighting what our local students can achieve when they have determination, passion, and a strong support system.
SQNLDR Alistair “Smithy” Smith’s current role is to lead and manage F-35 Military Instructor Pilots, oversee F-35 Conversion Courses and instruct ab initio F-35 students. “Smithy” has been flying the F-35 for 3.5 years and instructing for the past 6 months.
During a 3.5 year posting to the USA, he was awarded an RAAF CAF Gold Commendation and RAF Dep Cdr Ops Commendation. He also earnt a CDR ATG Commendation while deployed on Operation OKRA – ADF’s contribution to the international coalition against ISIS – flying the F/A-18A.
“Smithy’s” path to become a fighter pilot lasted approximately 3.5 years, included attending Officer Training School and flying training on the CT-4B, PC-9, Hawk 127 and F/A-18A Classic Hornet.
Alistair said, “The ADF recruitment process was a long a frustrating 7 years. Candidates are relentlessly assessed for excess capacity, their learning curve and work ethic but it has all been worth it”.
As a farmer’s kid, “Smithy” has always loved driving or operating any type of machinery. This passion combined with curiosity for how things work, has steered “Smithy” towards his current occupation.
Fighter jets are the most complex and rewarding to operate. Alistair said, “Interestingly, there is a dis-proportionately high percentage of country kids who become fighter pilots in the ADF. Students who are good team players, calm and have a willingness to learn are most likely to succeed as fighter pilots and leaders.”
“Smithy” said, “I joined the ADF to fly, but it’s my passion for leading teams through complex and uncertain tasks that motivates me to stay.”
F-35A Lightning II
SQNLDR Smith led the F-35 contingent during the Avalon International Airshow 2025, which provided one of the few opportunities for Fighter Squadrons to engage with government, industry and the public for further recruiting, retention and awareness.
The F-35A Lightning II is the Australian Defence Force’s first fifth-generation air combat capability. It is a highly advanced multi-role, supersonic, stealth fighter which will meet Australia’s requirements to defeat current and emerging threats.
The F-35A is at the forefront of air combat technology. Advanced sensors and data fusion allow it to gather and share information faster than ever before.
Capable of supersonic flight while retaining stealth, the F-35A has extraordinary acceleration, agility and 9G manoeuvrability.
The F-35A also provides its pilots with significantly higher levels of lethality and survivability in combat.
Avalon airshow
The Australian International Airshow held at Avalon from March 25-30 is the fourth-largest airshow in the world and the biggest in the Southern hemisphere. It incorporates a public display, industry exhibition and key leadership engagement activities for Defence leaders to show the Australian public what they do.
This year the Avalon airshow featured historic warbirds like the Spitfire, CAC Winjeel, CT4A and CA-18 Mustang alongside their fifth-generation successors and for the very first time in Avalon history, a CAC-18 Mustang and Supermarine Mk VIII Spitfire flew in a formation with the next generation of air power.
The heritage aircraft from No. 100 squadron were joined by an F/A-18F Super Hornet and F-35A Lightning II over the Avalon airfield.
Alistair said, “Flying an F-35 alongside an early fighter was an incredible experience that highlighted the evolution of aviation and served as a reminder of Royal Australian Air Force history.”
“It’s not every day you are able to witness how the raw, hands-on flying of the early fighter contrasts with the advanced automation and sensor fusion of the modern fighter,” Squadron Leader Smith said.
Together, these fighters demonstrated how much the technology and performance of air combat capability has evolved over the past 80 years.
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 4 April 2025.
