Rotor Torque

The Memorial’s head of military heraldry and technology Nick Fletcher said N22-017 has a long service history and was one of four Squirrel helicopters sent to the Gulf War in 1991.

“Australia ended up using them in a combat role in Gulf War I, so 864 has some interesting operational history,” said Fletcher. “During their deployment aboard Australian frigates in the Gulf War, the helicopters were modified with updated avionics and a door-mounted 7.62mm machine gun. They were used for shipping surveillance, cover for merchant vessel boardings, mine searches and light logistics support.”

In a statement to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works in June, the AWM announced plans to build a new $16 million 6,000m2 large technology objects repository at its existing Mitchell site. It said aviation items which are expected to be handed over to the AWM within the next two years include a RAAF F/A-18 ‘classic’ Hornet, AP-3C Orion and a Navy S-70B Seahawk.

These future acquisitions will be stored initially alongside other large aircraft at Mitchell including the recently acquired ex-RAAF Caribou and an Army CH-47D Chinook.

LifeFlight setting up new base at Archerfield Airport

Queensland’s LifeFlight is building a new facility for its Brisbane Airportbased RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopters at Archerfield Airport in Brisbane’s south-west.

The new purpose-built base, currently under construction, will house LifeFlight Rescue’s two AW139s and include aircrew and medical staff accommodation, offices for engineering and training, a crew operations room and a 40,000lt refuelling facility.

LifeFlight chief operating officer Brian Guthrie said the move from Brisbane Airport to Archerfield by the end of this year would reduce some operational costs and would also mean the helicopters could become airborne faster on a consistent basis.

“While we do receive priority at Brisbane Airport for aeromedical evacuations, the move will mean improved air traffic movements over any 24-hour period for our rescue helicopters due to Archerfield being outside the major airport control zone,” said Guthrie.

LifeFlight’s relocation will complement the airport’s vision to develop Archerfield into an aeromedical and emergency services hub for south-east Queensland, which is already the home to the Queensland Government Air’s AW139 rescue helicopter base, the Queensland Police Service’s air wing and LifeFlight’s heavy maintenance Operations.

Brisbane is LifeFlight’s busiest aeromedical base with 2016-17 proving to be a record year for the service which saw its helicopters fly on 647 rescue and retrieval Missions.

Osprey wreckage recovered

The wreckage of the US Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey which fatally crashed while attempting to land aboard the USS Green Bay off the Queensland coast on August 5 has been recovered.

First Lieutenant Benjamin Cross, 26, Corporal Nathaniel Ordway, 21, and Private First Class Ruben Velasco, 19, were killed in the accident, while 23 of the tiltrotor’s crew were rescued.

The Osprey, 168634, from VMM-265 ‘Dragons’ based in Japan, arrived at the Port of Townsville on September 3 after it was towed on a barge from Shoalwater Bay.

The Osprey made the journey inverted on the barge, still in its landing configuration and with significant damage to both of its proprotors. Soon after berthing, the Osprey was righted and its serial number and other identifiers were painted over before the wreckage was taken to a commercial holding yard to be prepared for its return to Hawaii.

“We are extremely grateful for the assistance of the Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Melville and Clearance Diver Team One, which initially responded for recovery efforts, followed by the USNS Salvor and Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One, which completed the salvage operations” the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit said in a statement.

“The exact cause of the mishap will be determined after the investigation is complete.”

The aircraft was one of four Ospreys that flew into Sydney Airport on June 29 to transport dignitaries and media to attend the official launch of Exercise Talisman Saber 2017 aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard.

RAN Romeos achieve 10,000 hours as US approves upgrades

The Royal Australian Navy has achieved a milestone of 10,000 flying hours with its 24-strong MH‑60R Seahawk ‘Romeo’ fleet.

Chosen in 2012 to replace the S-70B-2 Seahawk ‘Bravo’, the Romeo has enjoyed a smooth introduction to service with the RAN thanks in part to a deep level of training support from the US Navy, and because of its relative commonality to the Bravo.

This rapid maturity was enabled by the establishment of the 725 Squadron at NAS Jacksonville in Florida in late 2013 to transition to the Romeo and to train the first cadre of crew and maintainers. With the relocation of 725SQN to HMAS Albatross at Nowra in 2015, the gradual ramp-up of Romeo operations allowed the draw-down of the Bravo fleet, a process which should be complete by the end of 2017.

“The fact that our Navy has achieved it in less than four years since commencing flying the type, while continuously accepting new aircraft, standing up new flights and progressing through the various transitions is a testament to the talent and professionalism of all involved with the Romeo helicopters,” Commander Fleet Air arm CDRE Chris Smallhorn told Navy News.

“The MH-60R has provided the Navy with a quantum leap in warfighting capability with a range of advanced sensors, potent weapons and improved integration across the maritime domain,” he Added.

“The strength of a task group is underwritten by the manner in which the capability elements integrate as one, and Navy is taking great strides in exploiting the impressive warfare capabilities of the MH-60R weapon system.” MH-60Rs have been employed on five operational ‘flights’ to date, while a sixth is currently being stood up.

Despite similarities in their airframe and dynamic components, the Romeo features vastly enhanced cockpit and combat systems, a Thales dipping sonar, a high-end electronic warfare suite, and the ability to employ Hellfire antisurface missiles and the Mk54 anti-submarine torpedo.

The United States has approved a possible upgrade program for the Royal Australian Navy’s MH-60R multi-mission helicopter fleet under an estimated US$360 million Foreign Military Sale (FMS) deal. The Australian Government has requested a possible 10-year upgrade program for the RAN’s 24 MH-60Rs, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on August 31. The principal contractor would be Sikorsky, now a fully-owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin.

“The proposed upgrades to the MH-60R helicopters will improve Australia’s anti-submarine and surface warfare capability, provide an improved search and rescue capability, enhance its anti-ship surveillance capability, and will help it carry out international commitments for transport, surveillance, and search and rescue operations with the United States and other allies,” the DSCA said in a statement.

The upgrade program would cover associated training devices, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, engineering and technical services, US government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, engineering change proposals (ECPs), ECPs for training devices, classified software (JMPS/ MDLs), engineering technical assistance (ETA), logistics technical assistance (LTA), other technical assistance (OTA), supply support, support equipment, and other related elements of logistics and program support, the DSCA said.

Aeromedical tiltrotor seminar

Aeromedical Innovation Australasia (AIA) will host a seminar in November to discuss the benefits of the currently uncertified Leonardo AW609 tiltrotor for aeromedical services in Australia.

Supported by Airmid Training Solutions and to be held at The Rydges South Bank in Brisbane, the two-day seminar will explore the benefits of tiltrotor aviation to improve patient transfers from remote locations.

AIA chairman Dr Paul Adams said the focus of the seminar would be sharing information, nurturing support for improved remote critical care delivery and promoting business discussions.

“Our aim is to encourage conversations between industry, government and the manufacturer to assist with the timely introduction of the AW609 into Australia,” said Dr Adams.

“Our intention is to help current operators gain access to this aircraft and then help them set up safe Operations.”

The AIA said it hopes to attract interest in the seminar from government, regulatory bodies and the aeromedical industry along with investors, business developers and potential advocates.

Bell completes V-280 Valor prototype build

Bell Helicopter has completed building its first V-280 Valor prototype, which is being readied for its initial ground runs at the time of writing at Bell’s Amarillo Assembly Center in Texas.

Bell says the V-280, developed for the US Army’s Joint Multi- Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) program, a precursor to the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) competition to identify a replacement for UH-60 Black Hawks and AH-64 Apaches, is scheduled to make its first flight before November.

The Sikorsky-Boeing SB-1 Defiant will also compete for the FVL program.

Bell looks at 525 military variant

Bell Helicopter will pitch its 525 Relentless to military customers as it looks to alternative markets for the type which was initially designed for the now moribund offshore industry.

Configured as a 20-seat troop transport, with four rows of five seats, Bell says advanced technologies on the Relentless, such as fly-by-wire flight controls, would likely appeal to military operators.

A number of the mission kits already being developed for the civil market will cover many military mission requirements. However, Bell says no consideration has been given to arming the 525, but this may happen longer-term.

Having resumed flight test activity in July after the program was grounded due to a fatal accident in 2016, Bell says it expects to achieve civil certification for the Relentless in late 2018.

Briefs

»» Airbus Helicopters has informed Tiger aircrew to be careful of rapidly switching between auto pilot and manual flight modes when flying in turbulence. It’s thought such a switching may have played a role in a fatal crash of a German Army Tiger in Mali on August 9.

»» The Northern NSW Helicopter Rescue Service’s Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter officially opened its new base at Lismore Airport on September 8. Since commencing its new NSW Ambulance contract on April 27, the Lismore service has completed over 150 rescue and retrieval Missions.

»» MD Helicopters has been awarded a US$1.4 billion contract to manufacture 150 armed MD 530Fs in support of foreign military sales (FMS) Opportunities.

»» The first of 17 V-22 Ospreys for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force performed its maiden flight from Bell Helicopter’s Amarillo assembly centre, Texas in late August. Japan is the first Osprey export customer.