Tenders are now being called for half a dozen ex Army Bell UH-1H Iroquois the government is offering to historical organisations interested in displaying the craft.
Organisations wishing to display the aircraft can download application materials after registering on the AUSTENDER website www.tenders.gov.au citing reference DMOFD/RFO117/2011. The tender will close on January 27 2012.
Priority will be given to historical organisations in Australia that have a strong historic connection to the aircraft, Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare said in a statement.
Organisations selected as recipients will need to pay about $10,000 in costs associated with “demilitarising” the helicopters. The organisations will also need to be approved by the US government under the terms of the original sale of the helicopters to Australia.
Eleven Iroquois helicopters have already been allocated to Defence bases around Australia and one to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra for static display.
Another five Iroquois helicopters will be kept by the Australian Defence Force as training aids and another two have been offered for sale to national returned service organisations.
