The 5th Aviation Regiment disassembled a CH-47F Chinook and transported it via Royal Australian Air Force C-17A as part of Exercise Brahman Rebuild 24.
The Exercise took place between 12 and 25 August at RAAF Base Townsville and saw 16 maintainers disassemble and then rebuild the rotorcraft for flight operations. While Chinooks have been loaded in C-17As for deployment before, exercises like Brahman Rebuild 24 are critical for maintaining the skills and knowledge to undertake lifts successfully.
"It’s a complex task; the main rotor blades and forward transmission have to come off and be loaded into the Chinook as well as the aft pylon,” said Aircraft maintainer Specialist Stephen Zanetti.
“Restraining devices also have to be attached so the C-17 loadmasters can properly secure the Chinook inside the aircraft. It’s a pretty tight fit.”
The successful completion of the exercise certifies that the Townsville based CH-47F helicopters can travel anywhere that a C-17A can land.