The careers day has set the scene for a weekend filled with action in the skies over the airport during the Festival of Flight. Students travelled from across the New England region to get a hands-on look at Australian Defence Force equipment, including a navy Squirrel helicopter and a Bushmaster vehicle from the army.

There were also flying displays from the RAAF.

Harry Mills from McCarthy Catholic College said he wanted to fly navy helicopters.

“This is the exact job I want to do on the exact helicopter,” he said of the Squirrel on display.

The Year 10 student said he would apply for the Australian Defence Force Academy to start the enlistment process.

“Seeing and speaking to them here has been useful in picking subjects which the navy had a hand in,” he said.

Sean Ford said he wanted to become a C-17 Globemaster pilot via direct entry.

The Year 12 Carinya Christian School student said he would apply in January to begin his entry process.

He said it was good to get first-hand information from the pilots at the careers day.

AJ Walters from Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School has his sights set on being a jet fighter pilot or a navy pilot.

His friend Callum Lewis also has his heart set on following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a navy helicopter pilot.

Nathan Lewis is the senior naval officer at Tamworth’s ADF Basic Flying Training School, where all ADF pilots complete their initial flight training.

“Speaking with the pilots here was very useful,” Callum said.

“When dad took me flying, I just loved it.”

There was strong representation from Inverell High School.

Students Liam Farrell and Ben Hobday have already completed their You Sessions to join the air force and are now waiting to do their assessments then flight screening.

Fellow student Nic Thompson wants to join the navy but a knee injury has delayed his application.

His cousin is in the army reserve, which prompted him to want to join the ADF.

All three students said they had always had an interest in flying and the ADF was the best way to do it.

Defence Force Recruiting will have displays as part of the Festival of Flight running today and tomorrow at Tamworth Airport.

The flying shows are on from noon to 3pm each day, including a RAAF Hawk 127 lead-in fighter jet aircraft from No. 76 Squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown, which will perform at 1.47pm today.