Squadron Leader Scott Wood's path to becoming a Royal Australian Air Force fast jet pilot began with his eyes fixed on the skies, admiring the aircraft above.
What began as a childhood dream developed into a career at the controls of the F/A-18F Super Hornet.
"I must have been about 10 when I first developed an interest in flying," Squadron Leader Wood recalled.
"Being a Brisbane boy and seeing the F-111s overhead really sparked my interest in fast jets. I never looked back."
Squadron Leader Wood admitted he did not always believe it was possible.
"I'd never flown before, so I didn't even know if I was going to like flying to begin with, let alone be able to make a whole career out of it," he said.
Squadron Leader Wood remembers fondly his solo flight.
"At the time, the CT-4 trainer felt huge. When you find yourself up there alone by yourself, looking out the wings, going, 'Hey, I'm actually in control of this thing', it's incredible," he said.
"Fast forward to my first solo in a Super Hornet, and that's honestly next level. The feeling never really dissipates. Every time I fly solo, I still look around and think, 'This is pretty awesome'."
When he was first asked to become a display pilot, he didn't hesitate.
"It was that moment where the 10-year-old inside of me jumped for joy. I thought, do not give this up - take the opportunity," Squadron Leader Wood said.
"And I have loved every display since."
'Recruiting the next generation is so important, and aerobatic displays play a huge role in that.'
Some of the most breathtaking moments, he said, come during displays in front of his hometown.
"Performing at the Pacific Airshow, doing the aerobatic display right on the Surfers Paradise coast, with the skyscrapers in the background, and then looking down and seeing that massive crowd along the beach - I think that's probably one of the best views you can see in the Super Hornet," Squadron Leader Wood said.
"The one thing the crowd don't get to see is my perspective looking back at them, including the thousands of people watching the display.
"It's a feeling that's hard to describe. Afterwards, walking through the crowd and hearing people say, 'Hey, did you fly that Super Hornet? That was awesome', is incredibly rewarding."
But the most important audience, he said, are those that are looking to the sky, wondering if they could do the same.
"I was that kid once, watching the F-111s do their dump and burns," Squadron Leader Wood said.
"Never once did younger me think I'd be able to fly, much less perform displays over my hometown, showcasing what the Super Hornet can do. Hopefully I can inspire that young kid in the audience to do the same one day.
"If you ask most pilots what got them interested in flying, it's probably something along the lines of, 'I went to an air show and saw fast jets tearing around the sky', or, 'I was walking along the beach when a formation flew past'. That moment sticks with you.
"So making sure people see us, know we're there, and know that the Air Force is an option - that's what it's about. Recruiting the next generation is so important, and aerobatic displays play a huge role in that."
Squadron Leader Wood will soon hand over the controls to the incoming display pilot for 2026.
But until then, every crowd and every future pilot with their eyes turned skyward is a reminder of why he does what he does.
"At the end of the day, it's some of the best flying you'll ever do," Squadron Leader Wood said.
"And if just one young person sees us and dreams of being here one day, then it's worth every second."
