Ad Astra Aviator Podcasts

An initiative by AFA and AFA NSW to capture the recollections and experiences of both retired and serving Air Force personnel.

Per Ardua Ad Astra – One Team Through Life

About the project

Recollections of the Air Force family, in their own voices

Recorded over more than a hundred episodes, the Ad Astra Aviator series gathers first-hand accounts from across the Royal Australian Air Force — Chiefs of Air Force and Warrant Officers, fighter pilots and technicians, wartime nursing sisters and serving aviators. Each conversation is preserved as an oral history for the Association’s archive and offered freely to members and the public.

Project Manager: Peter Ring — adastraprojects@raafansw.org.au

The team

Interviewer

Gareth McCray OAM

Sound Engineer

Peter Kukura

The Archive

All Episodes

Showing 9 of 95 episodes

Remembrance Day 2026 Gareth McCray Oratory

Episode 115

Gareth McCray OAM is an acknowledged orator for ADF commemorations. Listen to his oratory addressing Remembrance Day 2026 and be reminded about and inspired by the great deeds of ADF veterans at war.

ANZAC Day 2026 Oratory – Gareth McCray OAM

Episode 114

Gareth McCray OAM invites all of us to remember our Veterans on ANZAC Day 2026.

Air Chief Marshal Mark (Binny) Binskin AC : Reflections

Episode 107

Air Chief Marshal (retired) Mark Binskin AC is a highly decorated and respected senior executive and leader in the national security, defence and aerospace sectors. Most recently he was Chief of the Defence Force of Australia from 2014-2018, and earlier […]

Reflections of AVM Glen Braz. AM CSC DSM. Air Commander Australia 2023:

Episode 106

Air Vice Marshal Glen Braz AM, CSC, DSM, Air Commander Australia, is responsible to the Chief of Air Force for effectively preparing air combat forces. Glen joined the Australian Air Force in 1987 and went on to complete pilot training […]

Reflections of Air Marshal Ray Funnell AC. Chief of Air Staff 1987 -92

Episode 105

Air Marshal Ray Funnell, AC is a retired senior commander of the Royal Australian Air Force. He served as Chief of the Air Staff from 1987 until 1992. A graduate of RAAF College, he began his career flying Sabre jet fighters in Australia and South East Asia […]

Henry Young: WW2 Naval Seafire and Sea Fury Pilot. “I’m a fighter pilot. I’m competitive.

Episode 104

Introducing Henry Young, a former Naval Seafire and Sea Fury pilot. Henry served with both the Fleet Air Arms of the British and Australian navies during the last days of and after World War 2. Born in Glenelg near Adelaide, […]

Vern Roberts WW 2. Witnessed signing of the Surrender in Morotai

Episode 103

Vern Roberts reaches 100 in October! He is possibly the oldest living person who witnessed the signing of the Surrender in Morotai with General Sir Thomas Blamey and the Japanese Generals on September 9th 1945 . He was born 25th October 1924 […]

Air Commodore (ret) John Oddie AM, CSC – Operations in War, Border Protection, Peace Keeping, Humanitarian Disaster Relief

Episode 102

Introducing AIR COMMODORE (ret) JOHN ODDIE AM, CSC During over 38 years’ service with the Army Reserve and the Royal Australian Air Force, John accrued substantial experience flying helicopters, heavy transport and training jets. He was a qualified flying instructor […]

Greg Hood, AO. A Wealth of Experience in Aviation and Aviation Accidents

Episode 101

Air Force Association welcomes Mr Greg Hood AO to our Podcast Program. Greg has more than 41 years’ experience in Aviation, beginning his career with almost a decade of service with the Royal Australian Air Force. Post his Air Force […]

Have a story worth recording?

We are always looking for serving and ex-serving members willing to sit down with us. Get in touch with the project team.

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