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This first flight represents the safe operation of the Boeing attack helicopters being used by Australia’s military, marking a significant milestone in the growing capabilities of the Australian Defence Force.
Four people were killed and six others injured on 2 January 2023 when two EC130 helicopters collided mid-air minutes away from Surfers Paradise. On the opening day of the inquest, several videos were shown of the moment of the crash, which had been filmed by witnesses on their smartphones.
The pair of attack helicopters, acquired through foreign military sales with the US and manufactured by Boeing, were delivered by United States Air Force C-17 Globemaster to RAAF Base Townsville.
The first of the upgraded helicopters, VH-LF3, touched down in Mount Isa this week, with LifeFlight chief executive Ashley van de Velde saying the AW139 is the perfect search and rescue aircraft to cover the long distances in the region.
Sweden and New Zealand are among international militaries still operating the aircraft, while the Australian Defence Force grounded its MRH-90 Taipan helicopter fleet after a fatal crash during Talisman Sabre 2023.
The helicopter, N166DP, hauled 24 basalt boulders weighing a total of roughly 40 tonnes to shore up the 100-year-old Lavertys Gap Weir on Wilsons Creek near Mullumbimby, which was damaged in the 2022 floods and by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred earlier this year.
