In Active Service

Maintenance

The 109 maintenance staff effectively keep the Squadron’s seven aircraft in immaculate internal and external condition, cosmetic and mechanical. All maintenance is carried out by the flight, although engine overhaul and some major servicings are completed by Qantas (Mystere’s GE CF 700), Ansett (HS748’s Rolls Royce Dart), Rolls Royce, UK (BAC 111’s Spey 511) and RAAF Depots. One of the difficulties of the maintenance of the VIP aircraft is the fact that there are three different aircraft types – which causes unusual training and manpower problems. Although most avionic items are common, all the other maintenance procedures and schedules are different. Despite this handicap, and the antiquity of some of the facilities, the maintenance flight must and ably does provide the safest and most secure aircraft in which to carry VIPs.

Operations

The operations flight consists of administrative and flying personnel whose responsibility it is to ensure that the whole squadron and its aircraft operate smoothly and efficiently. A typical VIP flight will begin with a phone call to the Tasking Officer, who plans and allocates aircraft and crews to each task. VIP flights can only be authorised by the Governor-General, the Prime Minister or the Minister for Defence.

Sometimes, flights are requested with very little notice and, as a result, the squadron must be in a continual state of readiness.

Eighteen pilots (three crews per aircraft type), five navigators and 16 flight stewards make up the aircrew contingent. Aircraft captains are above-average pilots with at least 1000 multi-engine in-command hours. Navigators are experienced and above average, with at least 1500 hours. Co-pilots are selected straight off pilot’s course. Flight stewards and stewardesses are selected from the steward ground mustering. The role of the steward is to ensure that passengers are afforded the ultimate in cabin service – a service unparalleled by any civil operator. The flight steward course comprises three to four weeks with Qantas or TAA, three to four weeks training with the squadron and a one-week aviation medicine course. Emergency procedures, food preparation, grooming, menu planning and deportment are covered in the comprehensive syllabus, with the strongest emphasis placed upon emergency procedures; procedures which the steward must know backwards should an emergency ever arise.

In addition to the first-class silver cabin service, flight stewards order and, in some cases, prepare meals at hotels prior to the flight. However, TAA usually provides catering arrangements. Some flights can prove to be extremely hectic – like a Sydney to Canberra flight during which 23 meals were served in 25 minutes flight time. Because flights are often at odd times, the 34 Squadron crews are generally uncertain where they will be from one day to the next – there are no regular flights. The squadron’s duties almost divorce it from the rest of the RAAF – for example, only about 5 per cent of VIP flights are for RAAF base destinations.

Aircraft

In 1967, 34 Squadron took delivery of two Hawker Siddeley 748 Model 229 turboprop medium passenger aircraft. Cruising at 210 knots, the 748 has a range of 1200 nautical miles. Up to 20 passengers can be carried in VIP configuration, but a normal load would consist of 10 passengers, two pilots, one navigator and two stewards. With its wide track undercarriage, low-pressure tyres and good ground clearance, the 748 can safely operate from short, semi-prepared airfields and is generally used for VIP operations into country airstrips.

Two BAC-111 aircraft were delivered to the RAAF in 1968, and were 200 series aircraft fitted with the 500 series Rolls Royce Spey 511 s. With a range of over 2000 miles, a cruise speed of 329 knots and a maximum passenger load of 28, the BAC-111 is used for long-range/high-passenger-load tasks. Its main work involves the transportation of VIPs between capital cities – a recent task involved the transportation of the visiting space shuttle astronauts around Australia. Normally carrying 16 passengers (made up of the VIP, secretarial staff and press contingent), two pilots, one navigator, one crewman and two stewards, the BAC-111 carries a fold-down divan, two galleys, two toilets and even a typewriter for secretarial staff.

34 Squadron operates three Dassault Mystere (Falcon 20), primarily designed for short-haul, high-usage executive transport. With a crew of pilot, co-pilot and steward, the Mystere can carry up to eight passengers. The aircraft has full galley and facilities and is currently the quietest passenger aircraft in RAAF service. The Mystere’s operations are usually restricted to the eastern seaboard and associated hinterlands, and only occasionally travels as far as Perth or Darwin. The sleek, very French Mystere cruises at 420 knots.

ARDU

The Aircraft Research and Development Unit, based at Edinburgh, SA, is the prime agency for the planning and conduct of Research, Development Testing and Evaluation tasks involving RAAF aircraft and aircraft equipment. ARDU traces its origin to a 1924 RAAF Experimental Station established by Sqn Ldr L. J. (now Sir Lawrence) Wackett – who was later to become the founder of Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation. The Experimental Station, formed at Randwick, was responsible for the manufacture of a number of Wackett designs, including the Widgeon and Warrigal. The unit was disbanded during the Depression in 1931 . In 1941, a Special Experimental Flight of Number 1 Aircraft Depot, Laverton, was established as a means of providing acceptance testing for the military aircraft which were then pouring off the Australian production lines. The unit became the Number 1 Aircraft Performance Unit in 1943, and ARDU in 1947. Until 1977 the unit had been based at either Laverton or Point Cook, but lack of suitable airspace forced the unit to move to RAAF Edinburgh. Amongst the aircraft that ARDU has tested over the years are the rare and romantic types, such as the Avro 707A (Vulcan wing scale test aircraft), GAF Pika (piloted Jindivik), CA-15, a suction wing glider, and Jet Assisted Take-Off (JATO) and snow ski-equipped Dakotas.

**Roles

A little-known unit, ARDU currently operates 17 aircraft of seven types; namely, Mirage, Canberra, Macchi, CT-4 Airtrainer, Dakota, Kiowa and Nomad. ARDU’s roles include determination of operating techniques and limitations through performance and handling tests, evaluation and development of aircraft equipment, research to meet specific RAAF directives, and special tasks for other research organisations (Aeronautical Research Laboratories, CSIRO, Defence Research Centre, etc).

The ARDU test pilots do not lead the romantic, adventurous lives so often portrayed in the cinema – 95 per cent of their time actually involves sitting at a desk compiling performance and handling data, weapon carriage and aiming information, and poring over pages of computer-originated figures which, when assembled like the pieces of a jigsaw, will provide valuable information that will enable the RAAF to operate a particular piece of equipment, or a particular aircraft, with the maximum level of safety. Over 200 personnel make up ARDU and are broken up into Flight Test, Research and Development, and Maintenance Squadrons. ARDU is unique in that it has civilian scientists on establishment who contribute to the numerous research tasks passing through the unit. Tasks like the WRELADS laser airborne depth sounding development, the Karinga cluster bomb testing, or the testing of inverted spin characteristics of the CT-4, and performance testing of the Australian Army Nomad, or even the fitment of the television camera in the Macchi and Mirage which provided the spectacular shots seen in the telecast of the Diamond Jubilee Air Show.

**Flight Test Squadron

The Flight Test Squadron of ARDU provides specialist qualified fixed and rotary wing test pilots, Dakota aircraft crews, navigators and some electronic engineers. In addition to ARDU’s own aircraft, other aircraft such as F111, Orion, Caribou and Hercules are made available for specific trials. Test pilots are trained with either Empire Test Pilots School, or the United States Navy Test Pilot School, a course which costs close to $400,000 per pilot but, considering the value of the work they perform, it is a worthwhile investment. In addition to testing current service types, ARDU also plays an important part in the development and selection of new aircraft. Test pilots carry out evaluation testing of aircraft under RAAF consideration (eg, NTF) and is also providing advice and assistance in the development of the Australian Aircraft Consortium’s proposed primary trainer.

Research and Development Squadron

The Research and Development Squadron of ARDU provides specialist and technical personnel and is made up of avionics development, scientific, armament development, performance and handling, instruments, photographic and reproductions flights. A drawing office provides drafting support facilities, and computer terminals provide the capability for rapid processing of data. A proposed new system will provide the R&D Squadron with real-time data processing – the data is transmitted to the computers whilst the aircraft is actually flying.

**Maintenance Squadron

The Maintenance Squadron of ARDU is responsible for keeping the wide variety of aircraft types in a serviceable flying condition, and for the incorporation of often extensive non-standard trial modifications. Maintenance personnel need to be very versatile, as they must be able to maintain and service a number of different aircraft types – which leads to training difficulties. Nevertheless, the maintenance squadron excels in its responsible and involved work.

**Prove To Accomplish

Even within the RAAF, ARDU is not very well known, although the work it carries out affects every aircraft in the RAAF inventory. ARDU will always have a place in the research and development of Australia’s aircraft, living true to its motto, “Prove To Accomplish”.

Number 4 Flight

Number 4 Flight was formed in 1970 to establish a training facility for forward air controllers. In the Vietnam conflict, a number of Australian pilots served as Forward Air Controllers with the United States Air Force, and the RAAF considered that there was a need to maintain FAC capabilities. Therefore, six CAC Winjeel trainers were acquired by 4 Flight and converted by Hawker de Havilland in Sydney to suit FAC work. Modifications included updated radio facilities, a smoke grenade dispenser and, finally, a camouflaged colour scheme. The Winjeels are based at Williamtown, NSW, with four aircraft available at any time, two being held in storage.

**FAC

The role of the Forward Air Controller is to accurately direct high-speed air strikes, to mark targets for such air strikes, and for other tasks such as artillery spotting. Because the -fighter-bombers that actually deliver the ordnance are usually high-speed, single-pilot aircraft, the workload in the cockpit is very high, and limited fuel dictates a short time over the target. To obviate these shortcomings, the FAC, who is familiar with the terrain and has been loitering in the target area, describes the target and formulates the optimum attack pattern for the incoming jets – usually Mirages or Skyhawks. In some cases the target will be marked with a coloured smoke grenade.

Number 4 Flight conducts two FAC courses per year, and also trains Army Air Contact Officers (ACOs). The FAC course runs for approximately seven weeks, with trainees being experienced Mirage pilots. The FAC’s fighter-bomber experience is necessary, as he has to be familiar with the aircraft’s capabilities. Air Contact Officers are trained in aircraft familiarisation, air strike capabilities and methods of calling air strikes. 4 Flight itself has a strength of about a dozen men, with maintenance being handled by a detachment from Number 481 (Maintenance) Squadron. Although small in size, Number 4 Flight does a big job, and with one of the oldest aircraft in the RAAF – and one of the most loved – it is truly a unique unit.