Kiowa 027 flying its 10,000th hour over Junction Point Foxtrot on the Tactical Coordination Line between Timor Leste and Indonesia. Photo by Capt B. Whitcombe

Kiowa milestone

By Capt Brian Cunneen
The first Kiowa in the Australian Army fleet flew its 10,000th hour on April 6, while on operations in Timor Leste with 162 Recce Sqn as part of the UNMISET.

The Australian-assembled reconnaissance helicopter, designated A17-027, flew its first hour around September 18, 1974.

Kiowa 027 has served with 161 and 162 Recce Sqns, 171 Operational Support Sqn and the Army Aviation Training Centre.

It was piloted by Maj Brendan Dwyer, OC 162 Recce Sqn and Capt Brian Cunneen, who flew the first mission in East Timor in 1999.

Kiowa 027 has been one of the East Timor detachment’s workhorses, flying in-country on September 23, 1999, with INTERFET, and then frequently rotating in and out of country as much as the detachment personnel. Kiowa 027 will be the last Kiowa in Timor Leste with the draw down of Aviation from UNMISET at the end of June this year.

10,000 hours is a significant event for Army Aviation with the Kiowa due for retirement from the Recce world with the introduction of the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter in 2005.

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