Stepping stone

173 Sqn Kiowas consolidate new Army pilots’ skills

As a helicopter that began its Australian service life during the Vietnam War, the Bell 206B ‘Kiowa’ continues to maintain its usefulness and capability within Army aviation and the wider ADF, thanks to the Kiowa Navigation Rationalisation Project (KNRP).

Four decades on, Kiowa A17-001 sits at Holsworthy Barracks’ Luscombe Airfield, ready to undertake yet another mission in its ongoing service life. The aircraft type, a Vietnam and East Timor veteran, has been used to train generations of Army pilots in the art of Command, Control and Liaison (CC&L) tasking. This includes communications enhancement, wire reconnaissance, route clearance and various other support missions in its role as a versatile light utility helicopter.