Second arrival

Snug fit: An Australian Chinook is loaded on to a US C-17 Globemaster during transit to Afghanistan.

By Lt-Col Christopher Holcroft
Volume 11, No. 40, April 6, 2006

THE second of two Australian Chinooks has touched down in Afghanistan, but perhaps not in the way that might be imagined.

After being stripped down during 10 hours of preparation for transport, the Chinook arrived in a Middle East location onboard a chartered Russian Antonov AN 124, the same aircraft that delivered the first Chinook last month.

After the Antonov landed, 5 Avn Regt members towed the helicopter, minus its blades, to a waiting US C-17 aircraft to complete the journey to Afghanistan.

Special chains secured the Chinook before it was winched into the C-17.

At each step, the five-man detachment of aircraft maintainers from 5 Avn Regt walked with the aircraft to steer it carefully into position.

They were assisted by US loading personnel as the Chinook was moved on a precise path up the ramp of the C-17, and from there the US and Australian crews worked side by side to fasten the it to special holding plates on the floor of the plane.

Each piece of cargo had to fit into designated areas to allow for proper weight distribution and economy of available space.
Army maintenance personnel from 5 Avn Regt took about three days to re-build the aircraft before air crews took it for test flights.

The two helicopters arrived ahead of C Sqn 5 Avn Regt members who will crew the aircraft, which will provide an additional air-mobility and aeromedical evacuation capability to coalition forces.