Image Gallery: December 2007
First Multi-Role helicopters accepted into service
18 December 2007
The Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) accepted the first two MRH 90 Multi-Role Helicopters (MRH) at the Australian Aerospace facility in Brisbane today.
Under Project AIR 9000, 46 MRH 90s are being procured to the Navy’s Sea King and Army’s Black Hawk fleets as well as additional air-mobile support.
The on-schedule in-service date milestone is a major achievement in the project with the ceremony attended by senior parliamentary, Defence and industry representatives from Australia, France and Germany.
Head of Helicopter Systems Division, Major General Tony Fraser said the acceptance of the first two MRH 90 helicopters was a critical milestone in the project.
"It will provide our sailors and soldiers with a new troop lift helicopter designed for the demands of modern combat operations over land and from ships at sea," he said.
"It is a tangible result of the extensive work done by many contractors and project personnel in a tight timeframe."
The MRH 90 is the first true fly-by-wire helicopter in the world and is equipped with a Forward Looking Infra Red system for flight in low light and has the same pilot helmet-mounted sight and display as used in the Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter. It has a larger cabin than the current troop lift aircraft.
A period of test and evaluation, training and aircraft development will now be conducted, leading to initial operational capability for Navy in 2010 and Army in 2011.
| 20071218adf8161479_011 Major Peter Scullard and Major Richard Garvie performing pre-flight checks on the MRH 90 Multi Role helicopter. (Date taken: 18 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071218adf8161479_407 Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement, Mr Greg Combet is shown the MRH 90 Multi Role helicopter by Lieutenant Commander Brad Mackay. (Date taken: 18 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071218adf8161479_176 An Australian Multi-Role Helicopter (MRH 90) in flight above Brisbane. (Date taken: 18 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071218adf8161479_223 Two Australian Multi-Role helicopters (MRH 90) in flight above Brisbane. (Date taken: 18 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071218adf8161479_310 Joesph Saparito, CEO of Australian Aerospace, discusses the cockpit of the MRH 90 Multi-Role Helicopter with Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement, Mr Greg Combet. (Date taken: 18 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071218adf8161479_392 Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement, Mr Greg Combet is shown the MRH 90 Multi-Role Helicopter by Lieutenant Commander Brad Mackay. (Date taken: 18 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071218adf8161479_380 Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement, Mr Greg Combet meets Major Caroline Breendan, one of the test pilots with the MRH 90 Multi-Role Helicopter. (Date taken: 17 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071217adf8161479_026 Two Australian Multi-Role helicopters (MRH 90) take off from the Brisbane Airport. (Date taken: 17 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071217adf8161479_041 An Australian Multi-Role Helicopter (MRH 90) in flight above Brisbane. (Date taken: 17 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071217adf8161479_086 An Australian Multi-Role Helicopter (MRH 90) flies over Manly Marina in Brisbane. (Date taken: 17 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071217adf8161479_143 An Australian Multi-Role Helicopter (MRH 90) flies over Brisbane. (Date taken: 17 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071217adf8161479_243 Two Australian Multi-Role helicopters fly over the Brisbane city skyline. (Date taken: 17 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 20071217adf8161479_319 Lieutenant Paul Hannigan, a Royal Australian Navy helicopter training instructor with the new Multi-Role Helicopter (MRH 90). Lieutenant Hannigan has many years experience flying the Sea King helicopter with the Royal Navy. (Date taken: 17 December 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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