Oakey Army Aviation Centre
Encyclopedia
Oakey Army Aviation Centre is situated approximately 3 km from the town centre of Oakey
in Queensland
, Australia
. It provides a training establishment for Australian Army Aviation
, and also hosts a Singapore Armed Forces
Helicopter Squadron, namely the 126 Squadron
.
when it was established by the Royal Australian Air Force
as a training facility. It was later used as a maintenance and aviation surplus facility after the war, with many surplus aircraft being stored prior to destruction or sale.
The Army assumed responsibility for the base in the 1970s and developed the facility as a significant Army Aviation training base, as well as the base of several Land Command operational units. During the period up to the early 1990s, aircraft types operating from the base included Bell OH-58 Kiowa
, Bell UH-1 Iroquois, Sikorsky S-70
Black Hawk, Pilatus Porter, and GAF Nomad
.
During 2002 a decision was made to close RAAF Base Fairbairn in Canberra, and with a desire amongst sections of the ADF to co-locate all Army Helicopter training, the Australian Defence Force Helicopter School (ADFHS) was relocated to Oakey at the start of 2003. From 2004, the focus of the Army Aviation Centre has been gradually moving away from Land Command operational units to a further concentration on Training Command units and the creation of a centre of excellence in training.
In 2007, Boeing Australia
was announced successful tenderer for the Army Aviation Training and Training Support (AATTS) contract and commenced providing non-tactical flying and technical training to Australian Army Aviation
. In 2009, the scope of this contract was expanded to include most facets of military rotary wing flying training for Kiowa and Black Hawk helicopters, with the Australian Army conducting a final six week check at the end of the Black Hawk phase.
Brigade (Australia)|16th Aviation Brigade]]) - relocating to Sydney in 2010 and re-equipped with Kiowa helicopters.
Republic of Singapore units currently based at Oakey include -
Visiting types include:
Warbirds:
. The purpose-built facility includes many historical aircraft tracing the history of the Aviation Corps in the Australian Army and back to the Australian Flying Corps during World War I
. Featured types in the collection of aircraft include Bell 47
, Bell Kiowa, GAF Nomad, Pilatus Porter, & Cessna 180
. The museum also maintains a significant collection of artefacts dating from the inception of the Army Flying Corps and WWI to the present day.
The Museum of Australian Army Flying is a sub-unit of the Army History Unit, a direct command unit of the Australian Army
Headquarters.
Oakey, Queensland
Oakey is a rural town situated in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia. It is situated west of the state capital, Brisbane, and west of the regional city of Toowoomba. At the 2006 census, Oakey had a population of 3,657.-History:...
in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It provides a training establishment for Australian Army Aviation
Australian Army Aviation
Australian Army Aviation is a corps of the Australian Army, and was formed on 1 July 1968 with a strength of 106 officer pilots, although it has a history dating back to 1911, when the Minister of Defence at the time, Senator George Pearce, decided there should be a flying school in the Defence...
, and also hosts a Singapore Armed Forces
Singapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
Helicopter Squadron, namely the 126 Squadron
126 Squadron, Republic of Singapore Air Force
The 126 Squadron "Cougar" is a helicopter squadron of the Republic of Singapore Air Force. The squadron goes by the motto "Ready and Able", with the Cougar adopted as the squadron's motif.-Unit History:...
.
History
The base has a long history dating back to World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when it was established by the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
as a training facility. It was later used as a maintenance and aviation surplus facility after the war, with many surplus aircraft being stored prior to destruction or sale.
The Army assumed responsibility for the base in the 1970s and developed the facility as a significant Army Aviation training base, as well as the base of several Land Command operational units. During the period up to the early 1990s, aircraft types operating from the base included Bell OH-58 Kiowa
OH-58 Kiowa
The Bell OH-58 Kiowa is a family of single-engine, single-rotor, military helicopters used for observation, utility, and direct fire support. Bell Helicopter manufactured the OH-58 for the United States Army based on the 206A JetRanger helicopter. The OH-58 has been in continuous use by the U.S...
, Bell UH-1 Iroquois, Sikorsky S-70
Sikorsky S-70
The Sikorsky S-70 is a medium transport/utility helicopter family manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. It was developed for the U.S. Army in the 1970s, winning a competition to be designated the UH-60 Blackhawk and spawning a large family in U.S. military service...
Black Hawk, Pilatus Porter, and GAF Nomad
GAF Nomad
The GAF Nomad is a twin-engine turboprop, high-winged, "short take off and landing" aircraft . It was designed and built by the Australian Government Aircraft Factories at Fishermens Bend, Melbourne. Major users of the design have included the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, the...
.
During 2002 a decision was made to close RAAF Base Fairbairn in Canberra, and with a desire amongst sections of the ADF to co-locate all Army Helicopter training, the Australian Defence Force Helicopter School (ADFHS) was relocated to Oakey at the start of 2003. From 2004, the focus of the Army Aviation Centre has been gradually moving away from Land Command operational units to a further concentration on Training Command units and the creation of a centre of excellence in training.
In 2007, Boeing Australia
Boeing Australia
Boeing Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, or simply Boeing Australia, is Boeing's largest footprint outside the United States. Established in 2002, the company oversees its seven wholly owned subsidiaries, consolidating and co-ordinating Boeing’s businesses and operations in Australia.Boeing has played an...
was announced successful tenderer for the Army Aviation Training and Training Support (AATTS) contract and commenced providing non-tactical flying and technical training to Australian Army Aviation
Australian Army Aviation
Australian Army Aviation is a corps of the Australian Army, and was formed on 1 July 1968 with a strength of 106 officer pilots, although it has a history dating back to 1911, when the Minister of Defence at the time, Senator George Pearce, decided there should be a flying school in the Defence...
. In 2009, the scope of this contract was expanded to include most facets of military rotary wing flying training for Kiowa and Black Hawk helicopters, with the Australian Army conducting a final six week check at the end of the Black Hawk phase.
Units
Australian Defence Force (ADF) units currently based at Oakey include -Brigade (Australia)|16th Aviation Brigade]]) - relocating to Sydney in 2010 and re-equipped with Kiowa helicopters.
- School of Army Aviation (SAA)
- Army Helicopter School (AHS)
- Instructor Training Wing (ITW)
- Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) School
- RAEME Aircraft Maintenance School (RAMS)
- No. 44 Wing Air Traffic Control DetachmentNo. 44 Wing RAAFNo. 44 Wing is a Royal Australian Air Force wing responsible for providing air traffic control services to the Australian Defence Force. It directly commands two squadrons which in turn command 11 air traffic control flights located across the country at nine RAAF bases, HMAS Albatross and Oakey...
- 1MP Military Police (detachment, including dogs)
- 7TP IRR (Emergency Response/Aircraft Crash Rescue) Royal Australian Engineers
- Health Centre Oakey (Primary Health/Emergency Response/Crash Rescue/Aeromedical Evacuation)
Republic of Singapore units currently based at Oakey include -
- 126 Squadron (Super Puma)
Aircraft
The base currently utilises the following aircraft types:- Bell 206B-1 Kiowa
- Sikorsky S70A-9 Black Hawk
- Eurocopter EC665 Tiger
- Eurocopter Super Puma (RSAF)
- Eurocopter MRH90
Visiting types include:
- Pilatus PC9/A
- Augusta A109
- Boeing CH47D Chinook
- Pacific Aerospace CT4B
- Careflight Bell 412
Warbirds:
- Various warbird types visit the airfield as part of the Army Aviation Museum Annual Fly-In
Facilities
The base facilities include accommodation for students attending courses and single members working on the base. Other facilities include tennis courts, squash courts, basketball and netball court, football ovals, heated 25m indoor swimming pool, equipped gymnasium, defence banking & credit union branches (no ATM), and a kiosk, as well as messing facilities.Museum of Australian Army Flying
The Museum of Australian Army Flying reopened in September 2005 in new buildings on land adjacent to the airport, after a grant was provided by the Australian Government. Distinguished guests included national and local dignitaries, including well known aviation identity Dick SmithDick Smith (entrepreneur)
Dick Smith, AO is an Australian entrepreneur, businessman, aviator, and political activist. He is the founder of Dick Smith Electronics, Dick Smith Foods and Australian Geographic, and was selected as the 1986 Australian of the Year.-Electronics:In 1968, Dick Smith founded electronics retailer...
. The purpose-built facility includes many historical aircraft tracing the history of the Aviation Corps in the Australian Army and back to the Australian Flying Corps during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Featured types in the collection of aircraft include Bell 47
Bell 47
The Bell 47 is a two-bladed, single engine, light helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. Based on the third Model 30 prototype, Bell's first helicopter designed by Arthur M. Young, the Bell 47 became the first helicopter certified for civilian use on 8 March 1946...
, Bell Kiowa, GAF Nomad, Pilatus Porter, & Cessna 180
Cessna 180
The Cessna 180 is a four- or six-seat, fixed conventional gear general aviation airplane which was produced between 1953 and 1981. Though the design is no longer in production, many of these aircraft are still in use as personal aircraft and in utility roles such as bush...
. The museum also maintains a significant collection of artefacts dating from the inception of the Army Flying Corps and WWI to the present day.
The Museum of Australian Army Flying is a sub-unit of the Army History Unit, a direct command unit of the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
Headquarters.