Australian Chinook flies in cold weather
The Royal Australian Navy has been conducting cold weather aspects of the first-of-class flight trials of the Boeing Chinook CH-47F twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter, it was announced on 23 August.
The Chinook underwent the cold weather trials from HMAS Adelaide, a Canberra-class landing helicopter dock ship, in Tasmanian waters. The trials are critical to establishing ship operating limits to safely operate the helicopters on board the multipurpose amphibious assault ship.
The navy's 808 Squadron has been working closely with the Australian army for the trials. HMAS Adelaide is currently in Hobart, Tasmania after competing training in in the island state's climatic conditions. It will soon travel north to conduct hot weather aspects of the Chinook trials.
Lt Tammielee Hunter, a MRH-90 pilot with 808 Squadron, said: ‘It’s not the same as piloting over land as the ship moves through the water the combination of wind, pitch and roll makes any air operations challenging.’
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