RAAF Search and Rescue (CHC Helicopters) Sikorsky S-76A Helicopter VH-LAH "Choppa 42" Pops into Roma and Longreach Airports

On Friday 26 April, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Search and Rescue Sikorsky S-76A helicopter VH-LAH "Choppa 42" was noted passing through Roma and Longreach Airports while seemingly heading to the Northern Territory.

File photo

It originally departed RAAF Base Amberley and ended the day at Mount Isa.  It would be expected that VH-LAH "Choppa 42" will continue to the 'Top End' over the next couple of days.

VH-LAH is owned by Lloyd Helicopters and operated by CHC Helicopters Australia, and is one of a number of choppers used for RAAF Search and Rescue jobs.

VH-LAH appears to be heading to the Northern Territory on a deployment to provide support during the RAAF's Exercise Diamond Storm which starts around Darwin next week.  The Exercise, hosted by the RAAF, is one of the practical components of the air warfare instructors course (AWIC), whose graduates are experts in Australian Defence Force (ADF) capabilities and integration across the services, and have technical mastery of their own roles, platforms and systems.

As shown above, also on Friday 26 April, several flights of RAAF McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A/B Classic Hornets and Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets called into Townsville Airport for fuel before continuing to Darwin.

Photos taken by Col and 'Shinpow16'  ©