This Australian licence built version of the Bell 206 Kiowa replaced the Westland Scout in hydrographic survey work for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Although 6 airframes were used over the period, only 3 were on strength at any one time and only two of these had continuous service with the RAN. The other was initially written off after nearly 4 years and it was replaced by a series of loaned airframes from Australian Army Aviation. The story is further complicated in that two of these replacements (N17-005 & N17-006) were Bell-sourced but CAC-assembled models. The other 4 were all CAC built. The loaned airframes were eventually returned to the Army at various times and in Aug 2000, the remaining 3 Kiowas were transferred to Army use.
List of Aircraft |
C/N | Mod | Built | ID In this Org | In other Org | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
44505 | N17-005 723 Sq, RAN;
Transferred to Australian Army as A17-005 | A17-005: type: Commonwealth CA-32 Kiowa | |||
44506 | N17-006 723 Sq /896 until ;
Transferred to Australian Army as A17-006 | A17-006: type: Commonwealth CA-32 Kiowa | |||
44513 | N17-013 723 Sq /892 until ;
Transferred to Australian Army as A17-013 | A17-013: type: Commonwealth CA-32 Kiowa | |||
44531 | 1975 | N17-031 723 Sq /031 until ;
Transferred to Australian Army as A17-031 | A17-031: type: Commonwealth CA-32 Kiowa - VH-JJP: Pentridge Pty. Ltd. as VH-JJP from Apr19 | ||
44532 | 1975 | N17-032 723 Sq until ;
Transferred to Australian Army as A17-032 | A17-032: type: Commonwealth CA-32 Kiowa - VH-XKY: Code Black Pty. Ltd. as VH-XKY from May19 | ||
45549 | N17-049 723Sq /890 until ;
Transferred to Australian Army | A17-049: ex Navy N17-049. |