Thread: Hey you ex-RAN types explain to me how these things got airborne.

Originally Posted by bob10

816 Sqdrn. Imitate the action of the Tiger, My best mate's brother, Skinhead Kelson, was a member. Mad as a cut snake, but a good bloke. Our Patrol boat Captain on Ardent was a tracker pilot , who did a stint flying from Broome as fisheries surveillance. He told us when they were redeployed south, the trackers did touch and goes on the main road into town. The unofficial motto of the tracker squadron, having a go at the Skyhawk jets? Two screws beat a blow job every time.
816 Squadron History | Royal Australian Navy

My son was there training on helicopters. (engineer, not pilot). I visited one time, not sure just when, but he was later discharged on medical grounds due to a bout of epilepsy. And just to add to small Worlds, my helicopter instructor (civilian) was a former pilot there on Sea Kings.

Originally Posted by 101RRS

Nah he is just trying to be a comedian again - as I have told him before, he should not give up his day job because the comedy doesn't work.

And as I have told you before "Don't like? Don't click" But you couldn't help yourself.


Another one for my Ignore List.

Originally Posted by cjc_td5

I would have thought that the airframes would have been just about toast by the time the Navy got rid of them?
That and removing all of the navy flight systems, there wouldn't have been much left except a worn out engine?

Actually, the airframes are probably the only thing still airworthy. As the marine version of a Blackhawk they had much better corrosion prevention systems and methods. They also had folding blades, not much use for an air tanker! The engines are GE T700 turbines, around 20,000 of them have been built and used in many other applications. They have accumulated over 100 Million flight hours in a multitude of aircraft. Although now a 40 year old design I think that parts are still readily available (at a price!)

The T700 Engine | GE Aviation

Originally Posted by Old Farang

My son was there training on helicopters. (engineer, not pilot). I visited one time, not sure just when, but he was later discharged on medical grounds due to a bout of epilepsy. And just to add to small Worlds, my helicopter instructor (civilian) was a former pilot there on Sea Kings.

Just thinking, it must have devastating for your son. No one joins units like that without a shipload of passion for the job. Or any unit in the ADF.

Originally Posted by bob10

816 Sqdrn. Imitate the action of the Tiger, My best mate's brother, Skinhead Kelson, was a member. Mad as a cut snake, but a good bloke. Our Patrol boat Captain on Ardent was a tracker pilot , who did a stint flying from Broome as fisheries surveillance. He told us when they were redeployed south, the trackers did touch and goes on the main road into town. The unofficial motto of the tracker squadron, having a go at the Skyhawk jets? Two screws beat a blow job every time.

King Henry’s famous speech before the battle at Harfleur in William Shakespeare’s Henry V:

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead. In peace there's nothing so becomes a man As modest stillness and humility: But when the blast of war blows in our ears, Then imitate the action of the tiger; Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood, Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage; Then lend the eye a terrible aspect.



816 Squadron History | Royal Australian Navy

Some decent Photographic History in that link Bob. Thanks.

Originally Posted by NavyDiver

Royal Australian Navy used S-70B-2 Seahawk between 1988 and 2017. Got a lift on one once.

I got a couple of lifts on a Blackhawk in the early Nineties between Norfolk Island and Phillip Island (I was a civilian). The Blackhawk couldn’t land in Phillip Island, all the pilot could do was put a wheel down and we hopped out.

Originally Posted by bob10

Just thinking, it must have devastating for your son. No one joins units like that without a shipload of passion for the job. Or any unit in the ADF.

He started as a cadet at what was then Leeuwin Navy Station in Fremantle. He had never shown any medical problems, was in fact a fitness fanatic.

He seems to have outgrown whatever was causing it and is now well up in the WA police force.

Originally Posted by Old Farang

He started as a cadet at what was then Leeuwin Navy Station in Fremantle. He had never shown any medical problems, was in fact a fitness fanatic.

He seems to have outgrown whatever was causing it and is now well up in the WA police force.

Yes Junior recruits. Only the brightest and most likely started there.[ with the exception of Nirimba Apprentice Training Establishment where excellence prevailed. ] More than one Admiral came from Leeuwin. Glad to see he has found his niche.


Rear Admiral Brian Adams AO, RAN (rtd)Rear Admiral Brian Adams AO, RAN (rtd) joined the Royal Australian Navy (RAN)as a member of HMAS Leeuwin’s 22nd junior recruit intake in January 1968. Aftercompleting the Topman course in 1969 he trained and commissioned as a seamanofficer. Specialising in joint and amphibious warfare, he commanded HMA ShipsTarakan and Tobruk and trained and served with United Kingdom and United Statesnaval and marine forces. In headquarters positions he worked in naval and jointwarfare policy development, capital equipment acquisition programming, resourcepolicy development and officer training.His senior appointments include command of the Royal Australian Naval College atHMAS Creswell, Jervis Bay, Director of Naval Warfare in Maritime Headquarters andCommandant of the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA). In the rank of rearadmiral he was the Deputy Chief of Navy (DCN) from 2000 to 2002 and Head of theDefence Personnel Executive from 2002 to 2005.He is a graduate of the Australian Army Command and Staff College, the Joint ServicesStaff College and the Australian College of Defence and Strategic Studies. He holds abachelor’s degree in arts and a master’s degree in business administration. In 1997he was made a member of the Order of Australia for services to Australian DefenceForce (ADF) warfare capability development. He was promoted to officer of the Orderin 2003 for services to the ADF and the RAN as Commandant of ADFA and as DCN.He retired from permanent RAN service in June 2005.

HMAS Leeuwin: the story of the RANs Junior Recruits (navy.gov.au)