Orion crew marks 500 missions

By SQNLDR Lindsay Dooley

Members of the crew celebrate the milestone. They are among 1300 personnel to have served with the No. 92 Wing detachment.

The hosing down. Missions were completed with a 94 per cent success rate.

TWO AP-3Cs have flown their 500th maritime patrol surveillance mission in the Middle East. The recent milestone was marked with a traditional hosing down watched by all the crew.

The aircraft have flown over 4500 hours and the 500 missions have been conducted with an overall mission success rate of 94 per cent. The Orions have flown missions in the Middle East since mid-January 2003.

Almost 1300 personnel have served with the No. 92 Wing detachment through eight rotations to date and with the next rotation, some personnel will return for a second time.

CO of the AP-3C detachment, Wing Commander Rudy Darvill, said the task group had achieved some “excellent” mission results.

“It takes a team effort to keep the aircraft flying and everybody has played an important part.

Everyone should be proud of the contribution they have made,” WGCDR Darvill said.

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