Matt Holecek

The countdown is on to our big 100th in 2021! In the lead up, we'll introduce you to some of our exceptional airmen and airwomen. We've captured the stories of current and former serving personnel from around Australia, and found out what being a part of #AusAirForce during our Centenary means to them.

In our first video of the series, meet Flight Lieutenant Matt "Checkers" Holecek as he reflects on going from butcher's hand in Morphett Vale, South Australia to flying fastjets.

Born in Adelaide, Checkers grew up 40 minutes south in Morphett Vale becoming a butcher’s hand while completing his High School education.

With his eye on a career as a butcher or a brick layer, he dipped his feet into aviation while with Murray Bridge Gliding Club the where he learnt gliding.

That set off a sequence of events, including a visit to the Edinburgh Air Show, which piqued an interest in becoming a pilot.

At 17 years of age Checkers joined the Royal Australian Air Force completing a Bachelor of Technology in Aviation degree at the Australian Defence Force Academy before completing training at Number 2 Flying Training School.

He now sits at the controls of the RAAF’s F/A-18A/B Hornet fighter jets at RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle, NSW.

“As part of my studies I undertook battlefield tours in Papua New Guinea walking Kokoda and in Turkey visiting Gallipoli and the surrounding battle grounds. “This was a really enjoyable part of my training, but nothing beats the feeling of being in charge of a fighter jet and as the Hornets reach their end of life, I look forward to my training in the United States to fly the newest aircraft in the RAAF inventory, the F-35A Lightning II,” he said.

Spare time for Checkers is a little slower, but just as adventurous as he pilots his 4-Wheel Drive around regional Australia on fishing, hiking and camping trips. Gardening and growing his own vegetables consumes the left over time after parenting duties to his two-year old daughter.

“I miss my mates and the familiar surrounds of Morphett Vale since I was posted to Williamtown, via Tindal in the Northern Territory, but the life I have now of piloting the most advanced jet fighter in the world compensates somewhat".

“While a lot of my F-35A training will be in a simulator because it is a single seater aircraft, I look forward to taking my first flight in this unique aeroplane.

“My goal is to become an instructor in the F-35As so this training opportunity [in the US] will expose me to the most modern training facilities and techniques as well,” he said. Checkers will complete his F-35A Lightning II training at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, USA.