Army’s last retired CH-47D Chinook, A15-151, has now become a training aid at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, for use by the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment (1CER) and the 1st Brigade.
A15-151 departed C Squadron, 5 Aviation Regiment, in Townsville for the final time on September 28 for a five-day journey to Darwin by road.
Having been selectively harvested for all re-usable spares to go back into the supply chain for the CH-47F fleet, the Chinook made its “final flight” on November 15 thanks to a crane that lifted the D model into its new permanent home where it will be used as an air mobile operational load trainer (AMOLT) for 1st Brigade units and as an emergency response procedural training aid for 1CER.
The new training aid was established by the Cargo Helicopter Management Unit of the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG), together with leading technical staff from the 5 Aviation Regiment and supported by 1 Aviation Regiment.
At retirement, A15-151 had flown 9,135 hours, of which 1,080 were flown by the Australian Army.
Prior to its move to Darwin, A15-151 was used for a initial fit of a Chinook main cabin upgrade trial earlier this year.
