King Airs begin reign

Group Captain Rob Oliver, Officer Commanding Training Aircraft Systems Program Office, receives the first King Air 350 from Doug Park, of Hawker Pacific. Photo by CPL Katrina Johnson

THE Air Force has taken delivery of seven King Air 350 aircraft, which will become the new navigator training platform for the School of Air Navigation by mid-2004.

Aircrew at RAAF Base East Sale are familiarising themselves with the new King Airs, which are operating under a special flight permit until an Airworthiness Board is held later this year to reclassify them as a military training aircraft.

Arriving at RAAF Base East Sale in April, they have replaced the four King Air B200s, which retired in February after five years’ service at No. 32 Squadron, and will also replace the HS748 fleet, due for retirement in the middle of next year.

A 10-year lease was signed with Hawker Pacific last November for the modification and support of the new aircraft.

Hawker Pacific maintenance personnel in Sydney are installing one King Air with a navigation training suite, which was designed by BAE Systems, Adelaide.

Once the new suite has been installed and accepted by the Air Force, the remaining six aircraft will be progressively modified in early 2004. The fleet will then begin service as a training aircraft for Air Force navigators and Navy observers with the School of Air Navigation.

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