Chinook - RAAF to Australian Army 

If you haven't seen it already, check out another interview with Brian around the Black Hawk ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rb45NCnSYBg.html

I had the privilege to be taught how to fly Black Hawks by Brian and then my Chinook conversion and deployed with him to Afghanistan. A wealth of knowledge and an absolute gentleman at every turn. Great interview Bluggy and thanks for your example of technical excellence for me and multiple generations of Army pilots.

I think they look cool.

Is this project supported by the RAAF either in principle or financially?

Simple interview style video. But a great outcome when the story and storyteller are compelling

Honestly I'm impressed that after basically loosing the Chinook, the Australian military were able to get a decent number of airframes and a cadre of experienced pilots. Hopefully the same happens with them getting Black Hawk back and the new Apaches.

A very good narrator.

Had to laugh, 30min mark, what looks like a Redback crawls out.. wondering if they were going to notice it distracted me from the fascinating interview.

good to hear the "Ducks Guts"

I remember seeing a "Chook" doing external loads out of High Range back in the mid to late 80's. The load was a bulldozer and the ground pounder had marked the weight as 10 000 lb instead of 10 000kgs. The Chook lifted the load with a fair bit of effort and then the crew realised there was a problem, placed the bull dozer back on the ground and limped back to Townsville where it sat in the 35Sqn hanger for about 6 weeks getting engines, transmissions and blades replaced.

Was in 162 Recce Sqn when the decision was announced for the RAAF to Army transfer. The day before the public announcement a Huey landed at our Lavarack pad for a briefing - It received an Army logo whilst on the ground (the Sqn had been given advance knowledge of the announcement). Much drama when RAAF realised Army had prior knowledge of decision.

Really enjoying this series, but can we also give the interviewer a mic as it’s hard to hear his questions?

It is ironic that when the Army got control of the helicopter fleet they wanted the RAAF to continue operating the Chinook. Air Marshall Ray Funnel CAF refused as the government had given control of helicopters to the army and Chinook were helicopters.

Foresight for not investing in Ospreys

Fantastic interview

A lot of jargon that most people won't understand. I knew a lot of 5 Avn pilots and in my Tri-service postings met a lot of RAAF pilots. I am so glad Army took control of helicopters. AAVC officers were just like any other officers, but RAAF pilots were a bunch of wankers. Ask a RAAF pilot to talk about anything not related to aviation and watch their eyes glaze over. Imagine a RAAF pilot in Kandahar, they'd want to know which hotel they were staying in,