A
decade of Army Chooks
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Coming
in to roost: Five Chinooks land and return to the C Squadron
lines at 5 Avn Regt after a sortie in Townsville. Photo
by Cpl Kirk Peacock
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By
Capt Conway Bown
THE Chinooks have marked 10 years of operations with 5 Avn Regt.
The regiment celebrated the May 19 event with a reunion of its
former members and invited guests.
“These aircraft are force multipliers,” said CO of 5 Avn Regt
Lt-Col Brett Greenland.
“With one Chinook, we can lift a full 30-man platoon of infantry
as well as all their equipment. In an emergency, we can carry
up to 60 passengers, which is a great capability to have, especially
in evacuation operations during natural disasters. It’s the only
aircraft that can lift its own weight – so one Chinook can lift
another.”
The Chinook’s primary role is supporting land forces, especially
3 Bde, but it also moves bulk fuel, equipment, vehicles and artillery
around the battlefield.
The aircraft has been used in numerous roles since 1995, including
security operations for the Sydney Olympics, flood relief operations,
drought relief operations in Papua New Guinea and, most recently,
supporting coalition forces during the war in Iraq.
“We deployed to the Middle East with the help of the USAF. Our
maintenance personnel stripped down the aircraft and we were able
to lift three of them in a USAF transport aircraft which took
them directly to their area of operations,” Lt-Col Greenland said.
The six Chinooks operated by 5 Avn Rgt were operated by the RAAF
No 12 Sqn during the ’70s and ’80s but with a full upgrade in
the early ’90s, their potency was significantly increased.
Lt-Col Greenland said Townsville would continue to be the Chinooks’
home for the foreseeable future.
“The aircraft is expected to be in service around the world for
at least another two decades,” he said.
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The
Chinook at a glance.
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AT
A GLANCE
Manufacturer: Boeing Company
Powerplant: 2 x Lycoming T55 L- 712 (3750 shaft horsepower each
at normal power)
Speed: Max 170 knots (314km/h), Normal Cruise 135 knots (250km/h)
Range: Max 1000nm (1852km), Normal 280nm (518km)
Armament: 2 or 3 MAG 58 General Purpose Machine-Guns
Max payload: 26,000lbs (11.8 tonnes)
Normal payload with full fuel: 18,000lbs (8.2 tonnes)
Passenger capacity: 33 troops with equipment, 60 persons in an
emergency, 24 patients in litters
