The Australian Army has achieved a major milestone with its Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) flying 2000 hours on serial number #001, the first of any Tiger in the global fleet. Under the command of LTCOL Dave Lynch CSC, a highly experienced pilot and instructor, ARH Tiger 001reached the 2000 hours on a flight from the Army Aviation Training Centre at Oakey to Enoggera Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane.
Aircraft #001 was the first of two ARH Tigers delivered to the Australian Army in December 2004 on the memorable parade escorted by two Light Horsemen. It is the only aircraft in the Australian fleet fitted with specialist flight test instrumentation, which enables data collection for aircraft and fleet management in Australian conditions, and for the weapons performance and flight envelopes.
The rich history of flight trials both in France and in Australia on aircraft #001 includes the initial acceptance flight trials in 2004, the first 70mm rocket firings on the Cazaux test range in France in 2004, the first Hellfire missile firings from a Tiger on the Woomera test range in Australia, the first Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System Laser Guided rocket firings from a Tiger on the Woomera range in 2016 and the first Australian embarked Tiger ship trials on the HMAS Canberra LHD in 2017.
LTCOL Dave Lynch is the Commanding Officer of the School of Army Aviation at Oakey where Army and Airbus Qualified Flying Instructors work together in a close partnering arrangement to deliver some of the most highly skilled pilots in the Australian Defence Force to the 1st Aviation Regiment in Darwin. The five ARH Tigers at Oakey, including ARH #001 are maintained by Airbus Group Australia Pacific.
In speaking of the aircraft LTCOL Lynch said that “the Tiger aircraft is a potent weapon system that we have worked hard to mature to a point where it delivers the required effects on time and on target. The aircraft itself has best–in-class agility and manoeuvrability which enhances our ability to employ the precise weapon effects to fight and win in either the land or amphibious environment. This agility also makes it an absolute dream to fly, as it has crisp control response and truly carefree handling characteristics, enabling greater focus on the mission.”
Tony Fraser, Managing Director Airbus Group Australia Pacific was on hand to witness the Tiger’s arrival after the milestone flight and said “on behalf of all the Airbus employees here and in Europe involved in the development, manufacture, assembly and support of Tiger, we congratulate Army on this significant achievement. To LTCOL Lynch, fortunate enough to fly this terrific machine, and all those in the full Army Aviation capability, we are very proud of our contribution to the security, sensor and lethal operational effects that you bring to your soldiers through the ARH Tiger.”
The Australian Army ordered 22 ARH Tigers from Airbus, the last of which was delivered in 2011. Globally, the ARH Tiger is part of the Defence Forces of Australia, Germany, France and Spain.