Page 11 - Aviation News (February 2020)

Final ‘Classic’ Flankers for Armenia

Hornet Flight

for 2 OCU

Marking the end of ‘classic’ Hornet
operations by the Royal Australian Air
Force’s No 2 Operational Conversion Unit
(OCU), the unit conducted its final F/A-
18A/B flight at RAAF Base Williamtown, New
South Wales, on December 11. In future, the
unit will conduct fast-jet aircrew training One of the Armenian Air Force’s four
on the F-35A. The last RAAF F/A-18A/Bs are new Su-30SM Flankers. Andrey Neyman
planned to be withdrawn from service in
December 2021. The Armenian Air Force (Hayastani Last February 13, the Armenian defence
The farewell flight involved ten F/A-18A/ Rrazmaodayin Uzher) has received the four minister, David Tonoyan, stated that four
Bs departing Williamtown and then forming Su-30SM Flankers it had on order. Two of Su-30SMs were on order and that a further
up in a ‘Number 2’ formation before flying the jets – ‘30 Red’ and ‘31 Red’ – were seen commitment was expected soon, reportedly
north over Tomaree to the Sugarloaf Point undergoing pre-delivery flight testing at the for another eight aircraft, although no
coastal areas, and south to Redhead Beach. Irkut Corporation’s factory airfield in Irkutsk follow-on order has yet materialised. The
The aircraft conducted a low-level coastal in Siberia in December and all four were Flankers are said to be assigned to a newly
run north, before breaking into pairs to land. delivered to Armenia the same month. established fighter unit based at Erebuni.

Last Spanish Air Force Typhoon RAAF Retires

The final Typhoon scheduled for delivery the end of its operational life, a second PC-9/A
to the Spanish Air Force began flight Eurofighter order is expected, at least to
tests at the Airbus plant in Getafe, near cover the withdrawal of older second-
Madrid, on November 27. Serial C.16- hand Hornets still in service with 462 The Pilatus PC-9/A bowed out of Royal
78/14-36 will be operated by Ala 14 from Escuadrón at Gando in the Canary Australian Air Force (RAAF) service
Albacete, bringing the unit’s inventory to Islands. Until the Spanish government during a ceremony at RAAF Base Pearce,
full strength – the penultimate aircraft makes a decision, the Airbus plant at Western Australia, on December 12. After
for the Ejército del Aire, serial C.16- Getafe will continue to retrofit the 17 more than 30 years of operations, a final
77/14-35, arrived at Albacete on delivery Tranche 1 Typhoons in service with training course utilising the type – 257
from Getafe on December 3. the EdA. This work involves integrating Advanced Pilots Course – had graduated
Spain’s initial order for 87 Eurofighters new equipment from Tranche 2 and 3, at Pearce on December 6.
was reduced to 73 (15 two-seaters including a computer symbol generator, The first two Swiss-built PC-9/As
and 58 single-seaters) in 2013, due to digital video and voice recorder, laser arrived in Australia in 1987 and pilot
budgetary constraints, but now that designator pods and maintenance data training began two years later; the
the EF-18 Hornet fleet is approaching panel. Roberto Yáñez remaining 67 aircraft were built under
licence by Hawker de Havilland in Sydney.
In the training role, PC-9/As were flown
primarily by the Central Flying School at
Swiss Hermes 900 Unveiled RAAF Base East Sale, Victoria, and by No 2
Flying Training School (FTS) at Pearce.
According to Deputy Air Commander
Australia, Air Cdre Guy Wilson, the Pilatus
turboprop successfully supported 103
pilot training courses and graduated
more than 1,400 pilots from the RAAF
and Royal Australian Navy.
The PC-9/A retirement follows receipt
of the RAAF’s 49th and final PC-21
training aircraft.
A number of PC-9/As are being
maintained in airworthy condition until
the new training programme is validated.
So far, 16 of the surviving airworthy
airframes have been transferred to Avalon
in Victoria where they will be auctioned
off in March. Others have already been
assigned as museum, gate guard and
static training aircraft, including eight
already at RAAF Base Wagga, New South
The first example of six Elbit Systems Hermes 900 medium-altitude, long-endurance
reconnaissance UAVs ordered for the Swiss Air Force under the ADS 15 programme was unveiled Wales, where they will replace MB-326s
at Emmen air base on December 9. The aircraft, serial D-11, arrived on November 26, and as ground instructional airframes.
delivery of the final Hermes 900 is due in 2021. Armasuisse

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