Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia

RAN/RN Helicopter Instructor Exchange Program 1963-96
RAN/RN 705 Squadron RNAS Culdrose Cornwall UK

Introduction

This research project was conducted by Trevor Rieck. 19 instructors volunteered to be video interviewed. Their memorabilia contributions and Trevor's own research in the UK enabled a 2 hour 20 minute DVD to be produced of this significant episode in the history of the RAN. The DVD has been distributed to all those involved and to the Fleet Air Arm Museum.

Over the course of 33 years, from 1963 until 1996, 22 RAN helicopter instructor pilots served on exchange with Royal Navy's basic helicopter training squadron, 705 Squadron, at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall, UK.

The RAN began developing its helicopter capability in the early 1950s but it took ten years before it adopted a policy for dedicated helicopter instructors.

The first three helicopters, Bristol Sycamores, arrived in March 1953 on HMAS Vengeance, a loan carrier from the RN, and with them came three pilots. Two were RAN pilots who were sent over to UK to be converted to the Sycamore at the Bristol factory - Leuts Gordon McFee and Neil MacMillan.

The third pilot was Leut Don Farquharson RN who was on loan from the RN for helicopter instructional duties. He was to be the mainstay of helicopter instruction in the RAN for many years.

[Pictured aboard the Vengeance, from left, Neil MacMillan, Gordon McFee, Don Farquharson and Captain H. M. Burrell RAN]

Good authority has it that no RAN helicopter pilot received any formal helicopter instructional training during that period; that is, there was no formally-recognised qualification of QHI. What did happen was that helicopter-converted fixed wing pilots, who were QFIs, adapted to the instructional role in the Sycamore.

In the latter part of the 1950s, the RAN had the need to expand its helicopter capabilities in two areas. The first was that of anti-submarine warfare and 27 Wessex 31A ASW helicopters were acquired from Westland in the UK and began arriving in Nowra in 1963.

Secondly, the aging Sycamore needed replacing and with the advent of the Vietnam War the need became pressing. The Bell UH-1 was finally selected and brought into service in 1964 as the advanced helicopter trainer for the RAN.

This was not before six Scouts were ordered for the RAN's training role. This order had to be cancelled when it was pointed out by experienced helicopter pilots that the Scout flew like a rock and was totally unsuitable as a trainer. However, two had to be accepted as they had been delivered so they flew on survey duties for many years.

In 1960, the RAN decided to formalise the training of helicopter instructors by adopting the British scheme established at a central flying school for helicopter instructors known as CFS (H).

It was also decided that instructing experience was needed so an exchange program was initiated whereby experienced RN QHIs were exchanged with newly-qualified Australians, the latter to spend two years on exchange at the basic helicopter training squadron, 705 Squadron, at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall, UK.