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The RMF has a long history of forming aerobatic teams from operational units, although perhaps none will be as affectionately remembered as the Howlettes with their four HS. 748s. As those familiar with the Rolls-Royce Dart will testify, never was a name so appropriate. (Defence PR)
Aircraft of the ADF-AlO HS.748
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A10 – British Aerospace HS.748
Originally designed by Avro (the A V Roe & Co Ltd of Manchester), then continued by the newly amalgamated Hawker Siddeley Aviation Ltd, the HS. 748 was Britain’s answer to the Dakota replacement.
The first prototype, registered G-APZV, flew on June 24 1960 and a later aircraft with more powerful engines, G-ARAY, became the prototype Series 2 aircraft in 1961. The Australian Government’s Defence Review of November 1964 announced that eight navigation trainers were to be acquired and the following year the HS. 748 Series 2 was specified. Also the order was increased by a further two aircraft for VIP duties. In addition to internal differences, the nav trainer version, designated HS. 748 Series 228, had the more powerful Rolls- Royce Dart 550-2 turboprop engines, and together with the VIP version, Series 229, were the first to include the Collins FD108 flight director system.
The first RAAF 748, A10-595 (constructor’s number 1595) flew on January 13 1967 and was accepted on March 17. It left the UK on April 1, arriving with No 34 Squadron at RAAF Fairbairn on April 12. The other VIP aircraft, A10-596 (c/n 1596), followed the next month. The VIP 748s, which could accommodate 18 passengers, were required for their short and rough field capability, and operated at 34 Squadron with BAC-111s and Dassault Mystere/Falcon 20s.
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The nav trainers were serialled A10-601 to A10-608 (c/n 1601 to 1608). The first flew on February 21 1968 with the UK civil registration G-AVZD. It became A10-601 on August 9 and was handed over to the RAAF at Woodford, near Manchester, on August 30 1968. A10-601 arrived at RAAF East Sale on Septem- ber 201968 after the delivery flight from via Athens, New Delhi, Bangkok, Singapore, Denpasar, Darwin and Alice Springs. The last aircraft, A10-608, arrived at Sale in August 1969.
These eight aircraft were operated by the School of Air Navigation (SAN) for the training of navigators and air elec- tronics officers, and of observers for the RAN.
On July 1 1989 No 32 Squadron was formed at East Sale, from the Flying Flight of School of Air Navigation, and received the eight nav trainer 748s. With the re-equipment of 34 Squadron at Fairbairn, the two VIP 748s were then added to 32 Squadron, with A10-596 arriving on November 13 1989 and A10-595 on January 16 1990. 1990 also saw the milestone of 100,000 accident free flying hours of the 748 at East Sale.
An avionics upgrade for six HS. 748 nav trainers is planned, commencing in 1993. These enhanced aircraft will incorporate better radars and navigation suites to improve training for potential F-111 and P-3 navigators.
Two further military HS. 748s are operated in Australia. These are the RAN Series 268 aircraft delivered in 1973, serialled N15-709 and N15-710 (c/n 1709, 1710), which were flown by No 851 Squadron at Nowra. These now form the only fixed-wing element at Nowra with No 723 Squadron as elec- tronic warfare trainers, providing realistic EŴ environments for both aircraft and surface vessels. With the demise of the rest of the RAN Fleet Air Arm fixed wing fleet in 1984, these 748s were to have been transferred to the RAAF. But this did not eventuate as the RAN did not want to lose these assets, so it is unlikely now we will see these two “Draggies” join 32 Squadronas A10-709and A10-710.
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