The Army has marked the end of S-70A-9 Black Hawk operations from Townsville with a flyover of the northern Queensland city they have called home for the last 25 years.
Six Black Hawks and three examples of the helicopter it is being replaced by, the MRH 90 Taipan, flew over Townsville on Monday.
Black Hawks have been based at RAAF Base Townsville since late 1988, initially briefly operated by the RAAF’s 9SQN, which had relocated there from Amberley, before in early 1989 the battlefield helicopter role was transferred to the Army’s 5th Aviation Regiment.
The Black Hawks of B Squadron, 5 Aviation Regiment are being replaced by the MRH 90, with the Black Hawks in turn being transferred to 6th Aviation Regiment based at Holsworthy near Sydney. 5 Aviation Regt’s A Squadron has already relinquished its Black Hawks for MRH 90s.
