advanced helicopter trainer for the RAN. resulted in a B2 instructor category being FLEET AIR ARM HISTORY granted. After a probation period in the RAN/RN Helicopter Instructor This was not before six Scouts were ordered training squadron the category of B1 was Exchange Program for the RAN’s training role. This order had to confirmed. After more experience and time be cancelled when it was pointed out by on the squadron an A2 qualification was 1963 to 1996 experienced helicopter pilots that the Scout attained after rigorous ground and flight flew like a rock and was totally unsuitable as tests were successfully passed. A few went Over the course of 33 years, from 1963 until came three pilots. Two were RAN pilots a trainer. However, two had to be accepted as on to the ultimate A1 qualification. 1996, 22 RAN helicopter instructor pilots who were sent over to UK to be converted they had been delivered so they flew on served on exchange with Royal Navy’s basic to the Sycamore at the Bristol factory; survey duties for many years. From 1963 to 1976 there were generally helicopter training squadron, 705 Squadron, Leuts Gordon McFee and Neil MacMillan. two Australians on the staff of 705 at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall, UK. In 1960 the RAN decided to formalise the Squadron. The first pair was Pat Vickers The third pilot was Lt training of helicopter instructors by adopting and Rowley Waddell-Wood. Don Farquharson RN the British scheme established at a central Pat and Rowley both came from Venoms who was on loan from flying school for helicopter instructors known the RN for helicopter as CFS (H). It was also decided that instructional duties. He instructing experience was needed so an was to be the mainstay exchange program was initiated whereby of helicopter instruction experienced RN QHIs were exchanged with in the RAN for many newly qualified Australians, the latter to years. spend two years on exchange at the basic Don and Seamus helicopter training squadron, 705 Squadron, at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall. UK. Good authority has it that no RAN helicopter pilot received any formal The first Australian to be trained at CFS(H) The RAN began developing its helicopter helicopter instructional training during that was David Orr in 1960 capability in the early 1950s but it took ten period; that is, there was no formally and Seamus (Jim) years before it adopted a policy for dedicated recognised qualification of QHI. What did O’Farrell closely and converted onto the Sycamore before helicopter instructors. happen was that helicopter converted fixed followed him the same arriving in the UK. Pat was a bachelor and wing pilots, who were QFI’s, adapted to year, both returning to arrived at RAF Tern Hill in late 1963. The first three helicopters, Bristol Sycamores, the instructional role in the Sycamore. Australia for Rowley arrived with his wife and three arrived in March 1953 on HMAS Vengance, instructional duties. children 6 months later. a loan carrier from the RN, and with them In the latter part of the 1950s the RAN had the need to expand its helicopter In the November of Both flew the Whirlwind Mk 10 (turbine) capabilities in two areas. The first was that 1962 the RAN posted on their instructor course. Rowley was very of anti-submarine warfare and 27 Wessex the first pilot for the short on helicopter experience and admits 31A ASW helicopters were acquired from double-barrelled helicopter instructor to not having a good time in the Mk10 but Westlands in the UK and began arriving in training/exchange duties. RAF Tern Hill in got back into the swing of things in the RN Nowra in 1963. the Midlands housed CFS(H) and following piston engine trainers. the 4 months QHI course the lucky Australian Secondly, the aging Sycamore needed took up residence in sunny Cornwall (sunny 705 Squadron, the RN basic helicopter replacing and with the advent of the most of the time) for two years. The first pilot training squadron at RNAS Culdrose was Vietnam War the need became pressing. was Pat Vickers. then flying the Hiller H12E for basic The Bell UH-1 was finally selected and training and the Whirlwind Mk3 and Mk 7 brought into service in 1964 as the A successful 16 weeks at RAF Tern Hill for advanced training. Both had piston engines and manual throttles which suited the on the student’s side things were decidedly he was serving in Sycamore pilots. more urgent to be VERY good at instrument 705. Australians Pat’s first fight in 705 in a Hiller ended up flying. Both Ed and Al finished their time in were well paid then. the UK on the RAN Wessex 31B Project at John was paid more Westlands, Yeovil. than the CO of 705 Squadron and was About this time we were issued with the able to import a Kellog Cornflakes wings. Australia flashes flash duty free car were sewn on some time before this sad and pay off a block event. of land in Nowra. The fourth pair was Al & Ed are in front of 53 Max Speedy and Bruce Crawford. Senior Pilot of 705 during the 33 years we Bruce arrived in had people on exchange. This was a bit of a 1968 and Max in 1969 and they both came surprise to all as the posting was straight from combat in Vietnam. Max considered a career progression for RNers. relates that the weather caught out the Squadron instructors one day. A front had The weather at Culdrose is influenced by moved in and socked the airfield in so all with its skids around his and the other pilot’s the Gulf Stream; it could be eight eights The third pair was Keith Englesman and flying was cancelled. The instructors ears as a result of a heavy landing from a clear and in 15 minutes it could be thick John Wilkie. Keith was a brand new 22- packed up and proceed to a local pub botched engine-off. fog on the deck with 40 knots of breeze. year-old Lieutenant in October 1967. He had (which was the only thing to do). However, Flying was hectic but enjoyable and undertaken his basic helicopter training in just as rapidly did the weather sock in did it Rowley escaped the frightening habit of the rewarding. UK several years previously with a civilian clear up and after several hours in the pub Whirlwind going into retreating blade stall contractor and was presented his wings at they walked out in bright sunlight. The CO and standing on its nose in the oddest flight Night flying in the Australia House, London as an 18-year-old discovered where they were and ordered envelopes and most unexpectedly. He also summer could not Midshipman. Keith therefore “spoke” the them back to fly mutual instruction relates how scary it was to do the altitude commence until same language and fitted in comfortably with practice. His beef was that they forgot to familiarization in the Hiller to 10,000ft if it about 10pm and his exchange. He began instructing on the invite him to the pub. Max was unique in ever got up there!! would not finish same aircraft he trained on back then. He that he jumped from a B1 to an A1 until about 2am, but managed to escape the inevitable engine instructor while on the Squadron, a no in winter it was the failures that most of the staff experienced in mean feat to say the least. reverse; the first the Whirlwind 7 on their tour in 705 take off would be Squadron. Bruce has related about 4pm and that he and his finished by 8pm and John Wilkie was 21 when he left 817 family enjoyed Ed Bell on the right in the bar by Squadron and departed Australia with his their time; they 8.30pm. wife of one day. His course commenced on travelled as much the Whirlwind Mk 10 but changed to the as they could and Al had thought that his instrument flying Sioux Mk2 in mid December owing to the spent most of was good enough, but when he found RAF Whirlwind fleet being grounded – one their free time The second pair was Ed Bell and Al Riley. himself a month or so later teaching had lost a blade in flight. Many of the away from Cornwall with relatives. Both Ed and Al arrived with their families in instrument flying to ab initio students in married Australians helped to temporarily 1965. Both had been flying Wessex. Ed was cloud in unstabilised aircraft with no rotor increase the population of UK while on The fifth pair was John Nicoll and Jim 33 and was the only Australian to serve as speed governors and with instruments only exchange. His two daughters were born while Buchanan. John and Robyn and their baby learning to fly “proper” he was dispatched soon and too hard on the final shut down of back to Culdrose and 705 Squadron. He the last flight to the yard. This was and Towards the end of 1979 Leigh Costain purchased a fancy BMW as an investment remains the most rewarding job he has ever and family proceeded to UK for his time on and drove in luxury for his time in the UK. done. exchange. He was in the Squadron when Prince Andrew was being trained to fly Two major events occurred during Bomber Mick Perrott arrived in 705 in 1975 to helicopters. and Trevor’s tour; the first being that the become the lonely Australian on the They became RN paid off the 25 year old Whirlwind and Squadron. The RN and RAN mutually agreed good friends Hiller helicopters and introduced the to reduce the two-year but more so son arrived first class in a Qantas 707 that Aerospatiale Gazelle. The second event exchange to one officer. with his had replaced the cruise ships as first class was the formation of the RN Helicopter Mick was one of the bodyguards transport for exchange officers. He states that Display Team - The Sharks. Both Bomber fortunate pilots to be who were his posting to 705 was the highlight of his and Trevor flew in the first display team selected to fly in the invited to naval career. John and Robyn welcomed an which went on to fame on the European 1976 Sharks Formation dinner at addition to their family while at Culdrose. airshow circuit for the next 21 years. Display team. Mick Leigh’s house. When the Prince found out Trevor arrived in UK at the end of 1973 as gained the reputation as he “demanded” to be invited as well. “Not Jim was 38 when he arrived in UK in October a single officer from flying Iroquois. There the Australian who not until you graduate”, Leigh told him, and on 1971 for his instructor course straight from only took a fancy duty free car home with graduation he fronted Leigh for his combat in Vietnam. He was sent to Culdrose him but also a container of antique furniture. invitation. His car had to be put in Leigh’s first to do a conversion on the Whirlwind Mk garage and the door closed during the 9 in order to be familiar with the RAF version Jack Kinross got the news he was to be dinner for security reasons. When they left the Mk10 which was a change in procedure. posted to UK while returning from the UK on the UK the Prince invited them to the During his instructor course his DFC was HMAS Melbourne. He was off-loaded in Palace and then to his favorite restaurant in awarded. His first student in 705 did not Singapore, flown home, packed up family, London. Leigh’s words “an exceptional return from his first solo sortie and was found house and home and tour as far as I am concerned and some of in a farmer’s field sitting in a pile of metal was in UK three the best flying I have ever done”. and perspex as he had forgotten to wind on weeks later in 1978. throttle to recover from an autorotation. Jim was no first class travel for single Naval By then CFS(H) had Vince Di Pietro was a 22 year-old Sub- was another Aussie to return to Australia officers then! The energy crisis had hit the moved to RAF Lieutenant on the Melbourne SAR Flight in having had a professionally rewarding and World and the IRA was still bombing Shawbury where it 1982 when he was told the exciting news socially enjoyable time on exchange. London. The RAF had by that time also remains today, Jack that he was posted to UK and 705. acquired the Gazelle and paid off the being the first Aussie Immediately he finished the instructor The sixth pair was Bomber (John) Brown Whirlwind Mk10 so Trevor was on the first to do his instructors course he and Trevor Rieck. John had been flying instructor course to be conducted on this course there. He and flew back to Wessex in 725 Squadron and his commenced very manoeuverable and fun machine to his student survived a Australia for fly. The old Whirldwind Mk 7 and the prang from a wing a week, got Hiller were way past their use-by date, way over at low level married to past 25 years in some cases. They were a which was put down to the tail rotor, the Sandy and technology nightmare, the Mk7 started by a fenastron, stalling and resulting in then shotgun cartridge mostly by a maintainer uncontrollable yaw. Jack was the manager of proceeded with a hammer as the firing pins in the the Sharks team for the summer season of on his two- aircraft were so worn. How pleasing it was 1979. He also was the commentator for the year honeymoon (exchange) in 705 to Trevor to lead the last three flights of display which got a few laughs from the Squadron. The highlight of the exchange both aircraft to the knacker’s yard and set crowds at the air shows because of his broad for him was instructing the students in September 1973 and after 70 odd-hours of one on fire by applying the rotor brake too Australian accent. through all phases and to getting their Tim Leonard arrived honeymoon (exchange) in 705 Squadron. The several countries in Europe and landing in in UK in 1992 with a celebrate. Harry was the last of the 22 highlight of the exchange for him was Germany: for an Aussie what an heavily pregnant wife exchange officers. instructing the students through all phases experience! On one orientation flight he and 18-month-old and to getting their wings. Vince did a short took the student into cloud at 100ft son, his second son Conclusion stint as the commentator for the Sharks conducted the sortie in cloud and recovered was born while he Display team. by an instrument approach, something that was on his instructor In the mid 1990s the British Defence Forces is totally alien to an Australian. He would course; he even got a decided to amalgamate their single service Tony Reyne have loved to stay in 705. day off. Tim was a helicopter training schools into one. Central was posted member of the RN Flying School (Helicopters) also joined the from 723 Tony Dalton arrived in UK in 1988 with Helicopter Display three single service flights to form what is Moresby his wife as a 26 Team flying in a pair now the Defence Force Helicopter School at Flight to RAF year-old of Gazelles during the RAF Shawbury. Shawbury in Lieutenant around 1993 UK airshow season; he had a ball but November the time of the was glad when the season was over as the The delivery of flying training for helicopters 1983 and won Berlin Wall displays were on weekends. He organised a to the next generation of service pilots is a prestigious coming down. captain’s check to Wolf Rock lighthouse, 8 undertaken by civilian contractors most of prize on his The Cold War miles off Lands End with a SAR Sea King who are retired service QHIs. instructor course. He converted several RAN was coming to an having to escort him out there as the Tracker pilots to helicopters following the end and there Gazelle had no flotation gear. The legacy of what skills were acquired and scrapping of the RAN’s seaborne fixed wing were aspects that the number of things, in terms of new ideas operations. With one Tracker pilot during a Australians did Jeremy Butler, otherwise known as Harry, and instructing techniques, brought back from box-knocking flight in winter off Cornwall not fully was another the UK for those 33 years remain the legacy of and with all doors off, it started to snow and understand: gas bachelor to do what we see today within the FAA and in the the flurries entered the cockpit. They decided masks drills and the exchange many skills and many highly competent that two Aussies did not need to be there and NBCD suits and drills for Russian bomber tour. He led aviators that fly our aircraft. headed home. He was able to fly over the raids. For an Australian to have to instruct one of the pair Channel on navexs and managed to visit new students on these drills was “slightly of display The final word goes to Rowley Waddell- family in Europe on these flights. He had a out of the ordinary”. helicopters for Wood; fantastic time teaching young kids to fly and the UK he looks back on those days with great Jeff Konemann had a very successful tour; airshow “705 was an excellent squadron, great spirit, memories. he flew in the prestigious Sharks Display season. The great instructing, great fellers, yes we got on team in 1991 and he Sharks had very well.” Ian Sangston joined and Wendy increased been disbanded after the 1992 season due RAF Shawbury in their family while on to economic constraints. However he did (This research project was conducted by Trevor 1986 as a 29-year-old 705. His number one take part in a half dozen air shows where a Rieck. Nineteen volunteered to be video interviewed. Their memorabilia contributions and Lieutenant from 723 highlight was with the four-ship display was put together. 705 was Squadron HMAS students and Trevor’s own research in the UK enabled a 2 hour a great posting, too many highlights to 20 minute DVD to be produced of this significant Sydney flight. He had thoroughly enjoyed mention, but the Sharks would have to be an interesting time teaching them. Jeff and episode in the history of the RAN. The DVD has the best and flying across the Channel solo been distributed to all those involved and to the flying with his French Wendy recently in a Gazelle. He has very fond memories FAA Museum) Air Force instructor during his instructor attended the RN and would do it all over again if he had the course. On one of his two annual continental Sharks Helicopter chance. 705 squadron at Culdrose began to navexs to Europe, to Kiel, he was the Formation Team’s Reunion at RNAS wind up just after he left. 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