Following an eight month operational tour to Afghanistan, the Australian Army’s fourth Rotary Wing Group (RWG – 4) deployment, consisting of two CH-47 Chinook helicopters, crew and support personnel, has started to head home.
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Belly of the beast. An Australian Chinook helicopter being returned to Australia for servicing and refurbishment during the Rotary Wing Group's winter stand-down period. The Chinook is secured to the deck of the C-17 by support personnel prior to flight.
(Date taken: 17 October 2009)
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Tie down. Part of an Australian Chinook helicopter in the rear of an Australian C-17. The Chinook, part of the Rotary Wing Group operating out of Kandahar Airfield, is being returned to Australia for servicing and refurbishment at the end of a tour.
(Date taken: 17 October 2009)
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Belly of the beast. An Australian Chinook being secured for transport inside a C-17 Globemaster. The Chinook, part of the Rotary Wing Group operating out of Kandahar Airfield, is being returned to Australia for servicing and refurbishment during the Rotary Wing Group's winter stand-down period.
(Date taken: 17 October 2009)
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View from on high. A dismantled Chinook helicopter in the cargo area of a C-17 Globemaster - secure and ready for transportation. The Chinook is being returned to Australia for servicing and refurbishment during the Rotary Wing Group's winter stand-down period.
(Date taken: 17 October 2009)
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View from on high. A dismantled Chinook helicopter in the cargo area of a C-17 Globemaster - secure and ready for transportation. The Chinook is being returned to Australia for servicing and refurbishment during the Rotary Wing Group's winter stand-down period.
(Date taken: 17 October 2009)
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Corporal Brett Kukura (left) and Sergeant Dean Johnstone (right) provide security at the helicopter landing zone at Patrol Base Buman during the Minister for Defence, the Honourable Joel Fitzgibbon MP’s visit to their Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team in southern Afghanistan. An Australian CH47D Chinook from the 5th Aviation Regiment provided transport to the Minister as he visited the Australian Troops serving throughout Uruzgan Province in southern Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 24 April 2009)
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5th Aviation Regiment, C Squadron, Air Crewman (Right to left) Corporal Nathan Mathews and Warrant Officer Lee Maloney clear their CH-47D Chinook helicopter at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Langman in Qalat, to move men and cargo throughout Zabol province, Southern Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 08 May 2009)
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5th Aviation Regiment, C Squadron, (Right to left) Air Crewman Corporal Nathan Mathews and Sergeant Matt Coll inspects the incoming loading on the CH-47D Chinook at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Langman in Qalat Zabol province, Southern Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 08 May 2009)
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5th Aviation Regiment, C Squadron Air Crew move everyone and anything that will fit in their CH-47D Chinook helicopter to make sure people and equipment get where there needed throughout Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 08 May 2009)
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5th Aviation Regiment, C Squadron, Air Crewman Technician Warrant Officer Class Two, Lee Maloney mans the 58 calibre machine gun on the ramp of the CH-47D Chinook helicopter with a birds eye view of Zabol Province, Southern Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 08 May 2009)
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A CH-47D Chinook medium lift helicopter (MLH) waits in the predawn light to be loaded with the flight crew's gear, before departing on a combat resupply mission in southern Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 18 June 2009)
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Corporal Nathan Matthews, a CH-47D Chinook aircrewman, makes preparations in the early morning prior to a combat resupply mission to forward operating bases in southern Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 18 June 2009)
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Warrant Officer Class 2 Lee Maloney, directs the loading of a Ford utility vehicle into the cargo hold of an Australian CH-47D Chinook during a combat resupply mission in southern Afghanistan. The ability of the Chinook to carry such a variety of loads makes it an invaluable asset in the conduct of operations in Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 18 June 2009)
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An Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier exits an Australian CH-47D Chinook with his weapons and personal gear having been transported from an ANA manned forward operating base (FOB). In the background, Warrant Officer Class 2 Lee Maloney refuels the aircraft in preparation for further resupply runs to FOBs in southern Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 18 June 2009)
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Warrant Officer Class 2 Lee Maloney with his MAG-58 machine gun at the ready as the CH-47D Chinook passes low over a 'green belt' area in southern Afghanistan during a combat resupply mission. The so-called 'green belt' is a haven for insurgents in Afghanistan and the crews must be particularly vigilant when their flight path takes them over these areas.
(Date taken: 18 June 2009)
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A CH-47D Chinook lifts off from Kandahar Airfield in southern Afghanistan at the start of a combat resupply mission. The resupply missions are vital to the ability of forward operating bases (FOB) to maintain a presence in isolated areas and provide security for local Afghan communities.
(Date taken: 18 June 2009)
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The mountainous terrain of Afghanistan dwarfs a CH-47D Chinook helicopter during a combat resupply mission in southern Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 18 June 2009)
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Warrant Officer Class 2 Lee Maloney closes the fuel bay hatch on completion of refuelling at a main coalition forward operating base (FOB) in southern Afghanistan. During an extended mission, the aircraft will fuel a number of times depending on environmental conditions and the types of payload.
(Date taken: 18 June 2009)
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An Australian CH-47D Chinook medium lift helicopter (MLH) prepares to touchdown at Kandahar Airfield in southern Afghanistan following a mission.
(Date taken: 21 June 2009)
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Having just returned from a mission in southern Afghanistan, a CH-47D Chinook medium lift helicopter (MLH) taxis to it's allocated place on the parking apron at Kandahar Airfield.
(Date taken: 21 June 2009)
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A CH-47D Chinook medium lift helicopter (MLH) conducts hover checks having just returned from a mission in southern Afghanistan. Although a relatively large helicopter itself, it is dwarfed by the two Russian MIL Mi-26 Halo heavy lift helicopters in the background. The two monster helicopters are civilian aircraft supporting aid efforts in the war torn country.
(Date taken: 21 June 2009)
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CH-47D Chinook medium lift helicopter (MLH) ground maintenance crews comb over important areas of the aircraft such as the rotor housing and the engine cowlings following a mission in southern Afghanistan.
(Date taken: 21 June 2009)
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The pilot of a CH-47D Chinook medium lift helicopter (MLH) looks out over the rugged and untamed terrain of Afghanistan during a combat resupply mission in the southern region of the country.
(Date taken: 22 June 2009)
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An Australian CH-47D Chinook medium lift helicopter (MLH) refuels at a main coalition forward operating base (FOB) in southern Afghanistan during a combat resupply mission. Depending on environmental conditions and the payloads being carried, the Chinook will refuel a number of times in the course of a mission.
(Date taken: 22 June 2009)
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Warrant Officer Class 2 assists with the embarkation of soldiers from Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF) One at a remote forward operating base (FOB) in southern Afghanistan. The soldiers have come to the end of an eight month tour and the welcome arrival of the Chinook is the first step in their journey home.
(Date taken: 22 June 2009)
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Soldiers from the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF) One, disembark a CH-47D Chinook medium lift helicopter (MLH) at Tarin Kowt having been picked up from a remote forward operating base (FOB) in southern Afghanistan. This is first step in their journey home to Australian after eight months on the ground.
(Date taken: 22 June 2009)
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CH-47D Chinook medium lift helicopter (MLH) prepares to land at a forward operating base (FOB) near Tarin Kowt in southern Afghanistan to refuel during a mission to extract soldiers from the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF) One.
(Date taken: 22 June 2009)
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A CH-47D Chinook medium lift helicopter (MLH) aircrewman mans a M134 Dillan 6-barrel minigun, providing the aircraft with a self-defence capability should it come under fire during resupply and special operations missions.
(Date taken: 22 June 2009)
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An Australian CH-47D Chinook medium lift helicopter (MLH) refuels at a main coalition forward operating base (FOB) in southern Afghanistan during a combat resupply mission. Depending on environmental conditions and the payloads being carried, the Chinook will refuel a number of times in the course of a mission. An aircrewman manning the starboard M134 Dillan minigun postion looks on.
(Date taken: 22 June 2009)
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The silhouette of an aircrewman frames other aircraft on the ground as an Australian CH-47D Chinook medium lift helicopter (MLH) lifts off from a coalition forward operating base (FOB).
(Date taken: 22 June 2009)
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