When Lieutenant Colonel Clinton Shiell joined the Royal Australian Artillery, flying a Qantas A380 wasn't on his radar.
Born in Bendigo and growing up on the Gold Coast, Lieutenant Colonel Shiell was inspired by his family's military history.
His great grandfather, Trooper Morris Shiell, fought in WWI with the 8th Light Horse Regiment and his grandfather, Flying Officer Max Shiell, was a WWII RAAF Lancaster pilot.
"My grandfather was an incredible influence on me growing up and I couldn't think of a better man to emulate," Lieutenant Colonel Shiell said.
After joining the Army, the former Somerset College student was posted to the 1st Artillery Regiment's 105th Medium Battery.
Here, he qualified on the L118 105mm and M198 155mm guns.
"The opportunity to command soldiers is not generally one that I would have had if I went straight into aviation," he said.
A 2003 Black Hawk ride changed Lieutenant Colonel Shiell's perception of Army aviation, inspiring him to transfer and eventually become a Black Hawk pilot.
He later worked as an instructor at the ADF's Basic Flying Training School, in what would become his favourite posting.
"I went from flying Black Hawks with Special Operations Command to light, single-engine fixed-wing aeroplanes," he said.
"The flying wasn't as dynamic but the people were the reason I came to work."
'Each one has pros and cons, but nothing beats the thrill and excitement of flying a Black Hawk helicopter at low level in support of Army operations.'
Lieutenant Colonel Shiell then transferred to the Army Reserve after getting a full-time job with QantasLink as a Dash 8 instructor.
"Going directly from Black Hawk and CT/4 Airtrainer to training people on a big turboprop was a steep learning curve," he said.
"The job was really busy, but being a part of young pilots succeeding in their first airline job was terrific. I found the training that Army had provided me really set me up for success."
He's since swapped the Dash 8 for Qantas' largest passenger aircraft - the A380.
"The size of the aircraft is always impressive. No matter how many times you see it, every time I do the walk-around of the aircraft I pinch myself," Lieutenant Colonel Shiell said.
"It's a long way from flying Kiowa and Black Hawk, and when I think back to the start of my career I would never have thought I'd get to the A380."
He's now flown everything from light, single-engine aeroplanes up to the massive A380, but the aircraft that started it all remains his favourite.
"Each one has pros and cons, but nothing beats the thrill and excitement of flying a Black Hawk helicopter at low level in support of Army operations," Lieutenant Colonel Shiell said.
At the time of his interview, Lieutenant Colonel Shiell was preparing to pilot an A380 flying the Australian Army Aviation Commander, Major General David Hafner, to an overseas conference.
In his Army Reserve capacity, Lieutenant Colonel Shiell is Commanding Officer of 11th Engineer Regiment, based in Queensland.
"[The regiment's role includes] enhancing the mobility and protection of our force while degrading the ability of our adversaries to move freely on the battlespace," he said.
"I've been serving in the ADF for 23 years and I'm really proud of my career and what the Army has helped me achieve.
"The success I have sits on the foundation that my training and experience in the Army has built."
