Reign
Ends
Queen
of skies retires
By
Andrew Stackpool
HS748
(MPEG video 9.20 MB)
 |
|
The
crews of No. 32 Squadron’s HS748s walk away from their aircraft
– which have given outstanding service to the Air Force
and the nation in the past 37 years – after landing and
shutting down the engines of the Draggies for the last time
following a farewell flight over Gippsland and RAAF Base
East Sale.
|
|
Photo
by CPL Steve Duncan
|
TO
THE strains of Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries, the Air Force’s
HS748s have shut down their engines for the last time. The five
No. 32 Squadron Draggies took off from RAAF Base East Sale on
June 30 and conducted a three-hour farewell flight over the Gippsland
district.
Flight Lieutenant Martyn Silver, Deputy “A” Flight Commander,
described the last flight as “spectacular”.
“Five aircraft – two close formation and the remainder in close
stream – overflew most of the towns in Gippsland. Several passes
of Sale and the base to the sound of Ride of the Valkyries set
the mood for the arrival and shutdown,” FLTLT Silver said. When
the aircraft landed, base firefighters greeted them on the 32SQN
flightline with a water cannon arch to mark the end of an era.
“As the final month arrived, every flight suddenly became precious.
In the final week, there were more cameras on each flight than
dials on the dashboard,” FLTLT Silver said. “It was with feelings
of sadness, privilege and pride when we simultaneously shut down
10 Rolls Royce engines, shook hands, and walked as a group to
the flightline for the last time.”
The HS748, the queen of the skies, has provided outstanding service
to the Air Force and the nation in the past 37 years. Wing Commander
Grant Kelly, Commanding Officer of 32SQN said, “While the efforts
of the HS748s were sometimes hidden among the more glamorous Defence
assets, the flypasts over the wider Gippsland region served as
a tribute to district citizens.
“They also provided a final salute to the men and women who flew and supported the HS748s; those Air Force and civilian professionals
who continued to keep the capability alive for so long”.
 |
|
A
last flight over Melbourne’s MCG.
|
|
Photo
by CPL Steve Duncan
|
 |
|
All
five captains sign off the books for the Draggie.
|
|
Photo
by CPL Steve Duncan
|
 |
|
SGT
Andrew Ware, flightline supervisor, signs off the books
for the last time.
|
|
Photo
by CPL Steve Duncan
|
The
ADF ordered the HS748 in the mid-1960s. The first one flew on
January 13, 1967. It left the UK on April Fools’ Day and arrived
at No. 34 Squadron 12 days later. The acceptance process into
the Air Force began on August 30 the following year.
Known to ADF pilots as the Draggie, because the fuselage rivets
slightly protruded from the external skin of the aircraft and
created drag in flight, the HS748 conducted navigation training
for more than 700 graduates at the ADF School of Air Navigation,
VIP flights and as transports during emergencies.
Twelve of the twin-engine aircraft entered service, 10 with Air
Force in 1967 and two with the RAN in 1973. Despite their lack
of comparative glamour, they quickly were beloved by those who
became involved with them. The US built Beechcraft King Air 350
aircraft will replace the HS748 fleet later this year.
Meanwhile, although 32SQN will remain in being it will not be
flying for about six months. The King Airs will be maintained
under civil contract and the Squadron’s technical staff and many
of its pilots and other staff are on posting to other jobs and
bases across Australia.
“We have essentially been on drawdown over the past three years,”
WGCDR Kelly said. “Four pilots have transferred to the King Airs
and about 15 people have already gone.
The rest will continue until the end of the year. At the moment,
however, we are busy getting the aircraft ready for disposal.”
TASPO will dispose of the aircraft and reportedly are confident
of a quick sale, with significant interest in them already being
shown.
Tenders have been called for by the end of July and it is hoped
the aircraft will be disposed of and fly out by the end of August.
