Extra Chinooks arrive in Australia

The Australian Defence Force's (ADF) fleet of CH-47 Chinooks has increased to seven with the arrival of two ex-US Army examples, it has been revealed.

Two extra Chinooks were purchased following a ministerial announcement made on 12 December.

The aircraft arrived at the Army's Townsville base in late January.

The fleet was put under strain following the loss of one aircraft on operations in Afghanistan in May 2011.

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith said the new Chinooks would enter a period of deep maintenance and modification to bring them up to the same configuration as the existing ADF Chinook fleet.

Both aircraft are scheduled to be delivered to the Australian Army to support operations by the middle of 2012.

The ADF CH-47D fleet will be replaced with seven new CH-47F Chinooks from around 2016.


Source: By Tony Osborne in London, 01 February 2012 - Rotorhub News (www.shephardmedia.com)

Photo: The Australian Defence Force's (ADF) CH-47 Chinook (Photo by Shephard Group)

(1/31/2012)