Saturday, October 6, 2012

Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Exercise Wallaby 2012 Helicopter Action

Early on Friday 5 October I was able to take a couple of photos of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) helicopters at their parking positions on Rockhampton Airport's Runway 04/22.


Pictured are five of the six Eurocopter AS332M Super Puma and four of five Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopters that have been deployed to Rockhampton for Wallaby 2012.  It is interesting to note that three of the five Apache carry a red tail logo.




During the morning a lot of work was being carried out on all of these choppers, and eventually two of the Apache helicopters performed quick post-maintenance test flights.

Apache '065' is pictured below taxiing for departure from, and then returning to Rockhampton Airport using the callsign "Avon".



Apache '067' is also pictured taxiing and then returning to Rockhampton Airport after completing a circuit using the callsign "Aspen".



Later in the day these two choppers departed together to the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) under the callsign "Astro".  They eventually arrived right on dusk - it was a truly a spectacular sight from my vantage point on Canoona Raod parked beside the Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service building and hangar.





Another Apache - '064' - was also spotted carrying out a post-maintenance flight in the Rockhampton Airport circuit just before dusk.  It also used the callsign "Aspen".



Also departing for the Bay during the afternoon, were a pair of Super Puma Helicopters - 276 and 274 - which departed together using the callsign "Diamond".




Some great helicopter action at Rockhampton today - it's great to have the RSAF back in town!

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