SLIPSTREAM Squirrel Pairs Display Team in action at Wings Over Illawarra 2017. Published by the Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia Inc Editor Ron Batchelor email
[email protected] Print Post Approved - PP100002097 VOLUME 28 No 2 2017 JUNE 2017 The RAN Centenary of Aviation was celebrated on 20th May with a dinner dance at the Fleet Air Arm Museum. Those who could attend thoroughly enjoyed the event, which featured a lovely meal sitting under the wings of old aircraft, and listening to the address given by Chief of Navy and COMFAA. WO Ben Sime, the FAA’s highest decorated member, was there to view an unveiling of his portrait, and Guy Sherborne (the son of CMDR Fred Sherborne) told us something of his father’s remarkable story before opening a display of his artefacts, kindly sponsored by Northrop- Grumman Australia. All in all it was a truly memorable night. Speaking of reunions, there are two coming up later this year. In October we will commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the deployment of the first RAN Helicopter Flight to Vietnam. The RANHFV was to become the highest decorated of any RAN unit in that war. Details of the reunion can be found on the website or later in this publication. Towards the end of the year we will also be commemorating the retirement of two stalwart aircraft of the FAA: the AS350 Squirrel and the Seahawk S70B2. Both are remarkable, but the Seahawk has the distinction of being the only aircraft on the FAA inventory that has been involved in continuous warlike operations throughout its entire life.