Pilot Officer Harrison Bell is not one to shy away from adventure, no matter the challenge, setting his sights on a fast-paced career as an Air Force pilot.
Graduating as one of Air Force's newest pilots from the ADF Intermediate Pilots Course at 1 Flying Training School as the course dux, he is well on his way to achieving that dream.
Flying was a goal he established growing up in rural NSW, studying at St Joseph's Regional College, Port Macquarie.
"I always knew that I wanted to be a pilot," Pilot Officer Bell said.
"When I was young, growing up on a farm, I learned to drive a car at a young age, then it was 'what is the next challenge'? I started to ride motorbikes, drive tractors, have a go at driving a truck and then I wanted to know if I could fly a plane."
At the beginning of 2021, he obtained his commercial pilot's licence. While looking for work in commercial aviation during the height of COVID-19, he discovered opportunities in the ADF. The idea of a new challenge in the Air Force sparked what he describes as a "quarter-life crisis". As a result, he packed up his life in preparation for a military aviation career.
"Looking up in the sky and seeing the RAAF aircraft, there was still something in me that wasn't quite fulfilled by commercial aviation," Pilot Officer Bell said.
"I realised Defence was where I wanted to be - I knew I would love to fly a military platform. I decided it was time to try it.
"I was nervous to take that leap, in case I couldn't hack it. I knew how difficult the training pipeline can be."
'No one has got through on their own. Course camaraderie has helped us get to the end result, which is wings.'
Pilot Officer Harrison Bell found that ADF training delivered the new challenge he was seeking, due to the intensive speed and high standard of instruction.
"For any task you may do in a civilian aircraft, you likely have less than half the time to do it in a military aircraft, with the military having an impressive focus on emergency handling," he said.
"While I was training for my commercial licence we would fly in Cessna 172s, which cruise at 115 knots. While at the time that seemed difficult, even our instructors would say 'look at the military and what they do - look at how fast they fly and how fast they have to think to get the job done'.
"I wanted to take up that challenge to fly military aircraft and now I'm here, flying up to 300 knots in the PC-21. It's been quite a humbling experience, but very exciting."
Pilot Officer Bell attained his wings with flying colours at his graduation from Course 278, receiving the Pilatus Aircraft Trophy for Dux and the Air Vice-Marshal S.J. Gobel memorial award for Best Pilot.
"I am super stoked. I don't think it has quite set in but it's amazing we finally got here," he said.
"Being in a classroom together day in, day out, as well as living together, we students are constantly bouncing ideas off each other and studying together."
"No one has got through on their own. Course camaraderie has helped us get to the end result, which is wings."
Now a proficient pilot comfortable in the Pilatus PC-21, Pilot Officer Bell has his sights set on his next challenge: the Hawk 127. His three-month interim posting at 1 Squadron inspired him to pursue a career in jets.
"I have my heart set on that, but every flying squadron has its bonuses and they are all excellent at what they do," he said.
"I am so glad I made the leap into military aviation, where every day I can challenge myself, surrounded by friends I'll have for life."
