Fleet Unit Visits Melbourne

Melbourne hosts visiting units of the Royal Australian Navy on occasion and last week welcomed the vessel HMAS Choules (fleet number L100) for a three-day visit.  Defence, specialist and mass media were invited aboard for an extended tour and the opportunity  to meet the ship’s commander and other members of the ship’s company, including “home

AIR CRANE® HELITANKERS INTO ACTION

Aviation Report Downunder regularly provides checks on the aerial firefighting fleet in our region to assess capability according to the climate outlook each year. Whilst 2024 has so far proven (nationally, across Australia) to be hot and dangerous, the southern states have certainly had a reprieve with higher than average rainfall and lower temperatures.  Indeed

Kestrel’s Fire Season Ending with a Whirr

With 2020-21 fire contracts soon to end, some of the international aerial firefighting fleet are soon being shipped from Australia, to firegrounds overseas. The Erickson Incorporated S-64 Air Crane® fleet are amongst those currently being stood down. Kestrel, in partnership with Erickson Incorporated, operate six contracted Air Crane® helicopters (10,000-ltr tank capable of snorkeling fresh