The first of 15 Airbus Helicopters H135 (EC135 T2+) for the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS) arrived at its new home at HMAS Albatross, Nowra on March 31 after flying in from Airbus Helicopters’ facility at Bankstown Airport.
The H135 carries the ADF serial of N52-001, cab number ‘841’ and the civilian registration VH-AQG. It also wears ‘NAVY’ and ‘ARMY’ titles on the port and starboard sides of the vertical fin, respectively, above a fanged Taipan emblem, the unofficial emblem of Navy’s 723 Squadron.
Boeing Defence Australia is the prime contractor for the $600 million HATS contract to train Royal Australian Navy and Australian Army pilots at HMAS Albatross.
N52-001 made its first flight on January 16 2015 and has since been used to train initial Boeing Defence Australia and ADF aircrews and technicians in Donauwörth, Germany.
The 15th and final H135 is due to be delivered during the first quarter of 2017.
