FWD: NEW CHINOOK HELICOPTERS HANDED OVER TO DEFENCE
A Morgan
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NEW CHINOOK HELICOPTERS HANDED OVER TO DEFENCE
The Department of Defence has accepted the two newest additions to the
Australian Army's Chinook helicopter fleet from their manufacturer, The
Boeing Company.
The new aircraft will now have minor modifications carried out to enhance
safety and performance before entering service with the Townsville-based 5th
Aviation Regiment's C Squadron.
After Airworthiness Board approval, the two aircraft will be accepted into
service in a ceremony at the 5th Aviation Regiment in Townsville before the
middle of the year.
The two new CH-47D Chinook helicopters will bring the total number in the
Army to six, boosting its capacity for troop lift and logistic support.
The tandem rotor Chinooks have become familiar to Australians through their
use in civil defence emergencies, and they were used to provide aid to Papua
New Guinea during the western provinces drought in 1997.
"The Chinook is a superb machine for the Australian Army - it is reliable,
strong and flexible," said Brigadier Robert Walford, Commander Aviation
Support Group.
"The additional two aircraft will significantly enhance our ability to
support field operations and support Defence capability."
Contact: COL Mark Patch 02 6265 7727, 0416 266 730
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Plekkersaurus
A Morgan
Plekkersaurus <plekke...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010222234426...@ng-cp1.aol.com...
> Great, only six more to go to get us up to speed
Wouldn't hold your breath. All though the white paper did outline the
liklihood another Squadron of battlefield mobility helos. Around 12 of them.
One wonders if they are to replace the remaining Iroqouis (5 of which will
be replaced by the Air 87 helo), or if in fact they will be inaddition to
the Iroqouis replacement which would surely have to be coming damn soon if
at all My money is on the 12 battlefield mobility helos replacing the 19
Iroqouis (currently 24 but - 5 equals 19 as everybody knows).
Cheers.
A Morgan
Craig Welch <cr...@pacific.net.sg> wrote in message
news:36d4at0el11mknbpt...@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 19 Feb 2001 13:32:28 +1000, "A Morgan" <ja...@powerup.com.au>
> wrote:
>
> >The new aircraft will now have minor modifications carried out to enhance
> >safety and performance before entering service with the Townsville-based
5th
> >Aviation Regiment's C Squadron.
>
>
> -- Craig
Good question, your guess is as good as mine. Aparantly they are listed as
miscellaneous modifications to enhance operational safety and availability
or something like that.
Cheers.
Ian
service.
Ian
A Morgan
Ian <ian...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:981qv9$rkp$1...@sol.mincom.oz.au...
> They are probably just matching the MOD status of the chooks currently in
> service.
That would make sense. AFAIK the two new ones were not quite up to scratch.
Cheers.