Loading flares on a Porter, South Vietnam (161 Recce
Sqn)
Australian Army Aviation began life as 16 Army Light
Aircraft Squadron, controlled by the RAAF. Initially the aircraft
used were Sioux Light Observation Helicopters and Cessna 180 Light
Aircraft. The Cessna had limited capability and in May 1967 the
Swiss Pilatus Porter was ordered as the new Army fixed wing aircraft.
A little over a year later, on 1 July 1968, the Australian Army
Aviation Corps was formed.
Fourteen Porters were ordered, in three batches,
and these became the first turbine-powered aircraft to be operated
by the Australian Army.
The Porter was an eight seater, high wing monoplane
of all metal. It was powered by a 550 shaft horse power Pratt and
Whitney PT6 turbine engine fitted with a constant speed propeller
unit with reverse pitch capability. Special role fittings included
two wing stations for external stores, an internal cargo hatch and
automatic radio rebroadcast facilities. The rear cabin seats were
readily removable for the carriage of cargo.
Aircraft Characteristics
| Max Weight |
4,850 lbs (2204 kg) |
| Range |
300 nautical miles |
| Max Cruise Speed |
118 Knots |
| Normal Endurance |
Max 180 minutes |
Vietnam
The first three aircraft to be sent to Vietnam travelled aboard
HMAS Sydney and arrived at Vung Tau on 28 November 1969. Disaster
struck only a few days later. On 3 December 1969 a Porter flown
by Captain Barry Donald and Second Lieutenant Allen Jellie was on
the first night flying familiarisation flight. On approach to Nui
Dat, the aircraft received ground fire from the Binh Ba Rubber plantation.
The aircraft crashed with both pilots being killed.
The Pilatus Porter demonstrated its capabilities in a diverse
range of roles in Vietnam. The roles included:
| Liaison and Courier Services |
Electronic Surveilance |
| Carriage of freight and personnel |
Psyops –leaflet drops and voice ops |
| Passenger and Route Reconnaissance |
Radio Re-broadcast |
| Command and Control |
Air Photography |
| Top Cover for RW missions |
Battlefield flare illumination |
| AOP and target marking |
|
Post Vietnam Service
The Pilatus Porters remained in service with the Australian Army
Aviation Corps until 17 October 1992, when the aircraft were officially
retired from service and were listed for sale.
Anyone who saw the “Pilotless Porter” fly was astonished
by the short take off and landing capability. It couldn’t
quite hover, but it could come close.
One of the authors can well remember a reconnaissance over Central
Australia in the mid 1970s, when few exercises were held in the
area. Four junior officers were crammed in the narrow back seat
area – reflecting that the passenger capacity had been worked
out using garden gnomes as the standard size body. We soon found
out what gave the Porter its short field performance. A very big
wing area and not much weight made flying over the Centre, with
all the updrafts off hot rocks, like driving down a not very well
maintained gravel road. Wouldn’t have traded it for quids!
During the life of the Porter with the Australian Army, seven
aircraft were destroyed. This left 12 aircraft available for disposal
in 1992. Ten aircraft were sold. Six of those were purchased by
Pilatus Switzerland in early 1993, and shipped overseas. Four aircraft
were purchased for service in Australia, however one of these aircraft
was resold to a buyer from Canada.
Two Porters were retained in military markings for preservation
in Australia. A14-690 was allocated to the Australian War Memorial
for eventual static display while A14-652, the first Australian
Army Porter, was allocated to the Museum of Australian Army Flying
(MAAF) to be maintained in flying condition. In addition, A14-704
which was held by the MAAF after it crashed in 1990 will be retained
as a static display.
Thanks to the RAAF Museum and 161 Recce Sqn Websites.
Porter in South Vietnam (161 Recce Sqn)
| 
