Three Bell 429 helicopters supplied to RAN by Raytheon Australia (photo : RAN)
“These are indeed exciting times”, 723 Squadron Commanding
Officer, Commander Matthew Shand told the assembled guests as the Royal
Australian Navy marked the introduction of the Bell 429 helicopter into service
with a ceremony at HMAS Albatross on 5th June.
“Since 1953, when 723 and the RAN received its first
helicopters, 723 Squadron has continuously operated rotary wing aircraft
including, Sycamores Scouts, Wessex ,
Iroquois, Kiowas, Squirrels and the A109.” Commander Shand said. “During this
process I believe 723 has evolved into a rotary wing training centre of
excellence and today this tradition continues with the latest incarnation, the
very contemporary 429.“
Raytheon Australia
secured the contract to provide the Navy with three Bell helicopters under the RAN’s Retention
and Motivation Initiative (RMI).
AS-350BA Squirrel (photo : RAN)
Commander Fleet Air Arm, Commodore Peter Laver said the RMI
was a very successful program. “It’s ensured our junior aircrew are able to
develop their aviation skills prior to operational conversion to front line
aircraft types, specifically the MRH-90 Taipan and S-70B-2 Seahawk. The
introduction of the Bell
429 will expose crews to some of the most advanced technology in rotary wing
aviation today.”
LS Aaron Smits of 723 Squadron intends to take full
advantage of these exciting times and the opportunities the Bell 429 will provide. “I’ll be trained as an
aircrewman in the Bell”, he said, “so while I’ll be doing the same utility
evolutions I've been doing in the Squirrel, it’s obviously going to be in a
bigger aircraft with a bigger winch and the ability to pick up a lot more
people, so the Bell is going to advance my capability and my training which
will great for my career.”
“The Squirrel was a nice challenge”, LS Smits said, “but the
Bell will be a bigger challenge, it's state of the art, the bees knees with
everything you'd want, so it will be really exciting to be in such a capable
aircraft and go away and do all the things we need to do in the navy"
(RAN)
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