Choules conducts flight trials for CH-47F
The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) landing ship dock HMAS Choules has conducted first of class flight trials for the CH-47F Chinook helicopter, the RAN announced on 26 March.
The CH-47F conducted 206 launches and flew for a total of 66 hours during the trials, which were conducted to define ship helicopter operating limits and ensure that the Chinook can operate from the ship in a working environment. Most of the flights took place off the coast of Queensland.
The trials were conducted by the Australian Army’s 5 Aviation Regiment and the Aircraft Maintenance and Flight Trials Unit in a range of conditions influenced by wind, sea and swell.
Aircrewman Corp Alex McLean of the 5th Aviation Regiment, said: ‘The biggest challenge we faced was conducting a vertical replenishment at night. Hovering six feet above a pitching deck using night vision goggles was a difficult and new experience for both the aircrew and Choules’ flight deck team.’
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