Two Australian Defence Force (ADF) Boeing CH-47D Chinook helicopters have returned to operations in Afghanistan following deep-level maintenance undertaken in Kandahar.
Rotary Wing Group 7 (RWG 7) is embedded with the US 25th Combat Aviation Brigade and will support International Security Assistance Force operations in the Uruzgan, Daykundi, Kandahar and Zabul provinces.
© Commonwealth of Australia
In a departure from past practice, the two helicopters underwent deep maintenance at Kandahar during the Afghan winter, as opposed to being broken down and returned to Australia aboard Boeing C-17 aircraft. This saved fuel and flying hours for the Royal Australian Air Force's strategic transport fleet.
"The troops of RWG 7 are experienced and their CH-47s are historically important helicopters for supporting coalition forces - moving thousands of passengers and hundreds of thousands of tonnes of freight during their annual rotation," says ADF Maj Gen Stuart Smith.
Source: Flight International
