HS 748 No 710 peels towards the Point Perpendicular lighthouse. The picture was taken by POPH Simpson from a Seahawk flown by USN exchange officer LCDR Clifford Moran.

Saw your light was on so decided to drop in.

This might well appear to be the situation as LEUT Anson Needham pulls his RAN HS748 aircraft 710 away from sister 709 flown by SBLT Jarrod Phillips and heads for the Point Perpendicular lighthouse.

The pair of veteran British built aircraft were involved in "back in the saddle" refresher training for members of the Navy's 723 Squadron.

The flight also gave PO Peter Simpson from the photographic unit at HMAS ALBATROSS the opportunity to take the pair together in the air.
It may well have been the last occasion.

"They will be phased out of the RAN on June 30 this year," Staff Officer Plans at COMAUSNAVAIR, LCDR Alex Smyth, said.

"They will be replaced by a new aircraft under a CSP contract. The type is yet to be announced," he said.

"The RAN has had the aircraft since 1971 and each has flown more than 10,000 hours.

"One is set up for electronic warfare training for the fleet and carries a crew of seven in this role.

"The other is in 'passenger fit' and is used as a support aircraft…that is, carrying extra people and spares for the first while on detachment throughout Australia, Singapore and Malaysia plus a variety of fleet support tasks.

"It operates with a crew of four," he said.

He said the much-loved 748s are the only fixed wing aircraft in the RAN and are two of 13 aircraft operated by 723 Squadron.

In addition to the HS 748s the squadron has six AS350BA Squirrels and five B 206 Kiowa helicopters.

By Graham Davis