Tag: kiowa

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RWS 75 – Adventures and Survival with Mike Atkinson

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Mike Atkinson has taken skills and knowledge from his aviation background and puts them to the test in survival adventures.

As an ex-Kiowa helicopter pilot, survival instructor RAAF fixed wing instructor, jet and 737 pilot Mike Atkinson has had opportunities to experience a range of aviation operations.  So what does he do in his spare time?

in 1932 two German seaplane pilots found themselves off course and out of supplies in the Kimberley region of northern Australia. This is still a fairly remote area of the world and it was much more so in the 1930s.

The two aviators attempted to make it back to a population centre and after a number of attempts and setbacks were discovered close to death by local Aboriginal hunters. It is a fascinating tale well known in that part of Australia.

Mike with a Kiowa from 161 SQN

Mike Atkinson isn’t a stranger to interesting adventures. In the podcast episode he shares some of the close calls and more interesting times of his posting as a reconnaissance helicopter pilot in the Australian Army in Darwin.

“I did crazy expeditions outside of work like taking my 4m tinny from Darwin to Derby [3000 km+] and the Squadron being on standby with bets taken as to where I’d pull the EPIRB”

Mike was also able to avail himself of a survival instructor course run by NORFORCE , an army reserve unit that patrols remote parts of northern Australia. Australian Aboriginal soldiers form 60 per cent of the unit and here Mike was able to learn a lot about ‘bush tucker’ that is relevant to our discussion.

After trekking across Iceland solo and living in the Middle East desert with only two camels (mother and calf so that he could drink the milk) for company Mike decided that it might be a good? idea to see if he could put himself in the same situation, with the same equipment as the German aviators and survive.

And for added difficulty he would carry with him cameras and drones to film it all.

The result is an amazing film called Surviving the Outback.

In the episode we talk about flying, adventures, risk management, drones and the comparisons between careers in rotary wing vs fixed wing.

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play in new window | Download

Links from this week’s episode:
Support the podcast on Patreon

OutbackMike.com.au –  Mike’s website where you can find out more about the film and his background
Surviving The Outback film – iTunes link to rent or purchase Mike’s film

An earlier adventure of Mike’s trekking solo across Iceland and some horrendous conditions. Mike’s camera work has come along way since then!

This footage below didn’t make the film but gives you an idea of the landscape and some of the unique filming/survival challenges on the trip.

Have a comment or feedback about Episode 75? Have a particular question for Mike about his trip or gear? Be part of the conversation by leaving a comment below.

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RWS 56 – The Chickenbone Story with Matthew Barker

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Matt Barker flew the ARH Tiger for 11 years and wrote many of the manuals and procedures for its use in the Australian Army.

During 30 years of flying with the Australian Army Matt Barker has got to try his hand at a wide range of roles. He has picked up some tales of close calls and funny incidents along the way.

Episode 55 contains the first half of this interview which is also well worth listening too

In the 1980’s the RAAF was directed to transfer its helicopters to the Australian Army. This brought about an urgent need for the Army to increase their pilot recruiting numbers. At that time it would take 18 months of officer training and then another 12-18 months of flight training to get a new pilot to an operational unit. That was a lag time the Army couldn’t afford and the Special Service Officer (SSO) scheme was started which saw new recruits put through a 10 week abridged officer training course (commonly called a Knife, Fork and Spoon course) then straight into flight training.

Matt Barker was on this first SSO course through and shares some of the cultural interplay between these new officers and the rest of the Army. Going into the training he already had his commercial licence flown on R22, Bell 47 G2 and G4 models.

30 years later and Matt has flow Kiowa, Blackhawk, AS350 Squirrel, Tiger and MRH. He is an instructor, has flown Special Operations and was the Standards Officer in charge of developing the operating procedures for Tiger in Australian service from a blank piece of paper.

Flying between buildings while displaying Tiger at the Gold Coast Indy car Race

He has spent time flying over many parts of Australia, PNG, Timor and done stints in the UK, France and the US.

Thanks to Craig Bowman for the introduction to Matt and for feeding me some starting info to tease out the stories from Matt.

Parade to mark the changing of the guard from light horse cavalry to the ARH Tiger.

 

05 Oct 1987 – Joined Australian Army on Number 1 SSO Pilot course (46 Army Pilot course)
Jan – Jun 1988 – Basic Pilot course on CT4 at No 1 Flying Training School at RAAF Base Point Cook
Jul – Dec 1988 – Rotary wing course at SAA Oakey on B206 Kiowa
Dec 88 – Jan 91- Posted to 161 Recce Sqn at Holsworthy as a pilot on B206 Kiowa
Jan 91 – Oct 91 – Posted to Instructor training with US Army at Fort Rucker on OH58 Kiowa
Oct 91 – Oct 94 – QFI at ADF Helicopter School on AS350 Squirrel
Oct 94 – Jan 95 – S70 Blackhawk conversion course at SAA
Feb 95 – Dec 97 – Pilot, troop commander and SQN QFI at A SQN, 5 Aviation Regiment at RAAF Townsville
Jan 98 – Jun 2000 – QFI and troop commander at ADF Helicopter School on AS350 Squirrel
Jul 00 – Dec 2002 – SQN QFI at 161 Recce SQN at RAAF Darwin. Two stints in East Timor as Troop Commander and Detachment Commander
Jan 03 – Dec 09 – ARH Tiger Flying Standards Officer, posted to Eurocopter Marignane France 2004/05 and AAVNTC Oakey
Jan 10 – Dec 11 – ARH Tiger Instructor Development Officer, Instructor Training Wing, AAVNTC Oakey
Jan 12 – Dec 12 – Flying Standards Officer for ARH Tiger at 1 Aviation Regiment Darwin
Jan 13 – Jul 14 – ARH Tiger QFI with KBR at SAA Oakey
31 Jan 2014 – Transferred from full time to active reserve in the Australian Army
Jul 14 – Present – MRH90 Taipan QFI with Airbus at SAA Oakey.

 

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play in new window | Download

In this episode:
Heli-Expo 2017 recap
The Chickenbone or Chicken Man story
1996 Blackhawk Crash – counterterrorism role
Dealing with the aftermath of the crash
Instructing
East Timor flying for Category D pilots
Tiger ARH introduction to Australian Army
Huey gunship introduction to armed role
Marine Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course – 160 Marines and 1 Aussie, 80 aircraft
UK Apache Sqn for several months
France to Airbus Tiger training school
Writing procedures for Tiger standards manual
Accidental jettison of 7-shot rocket launcher from Tiger
Introduction to Service parade – risk management plan for helicopters and horses

Links from this week’s episode:
Support the show on Patreon
HAI Heli-Expo 2017
World Helicopter Day

Matt Barker and Eurocopter Instructor – Fabrice Bonne, back in Australia, November 2005, finishing ARH Conversion course

[leadplayer_vid id=”58C5F3763C9AD”]
[Video] Marine Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course that Matt attended as preparation for writing the manuals for Tiger. He also spent some time in the UK with their Apache training school.

 

Site of the 1996 crash where two blackhawks collided on approach during counterterrorism training. 18 people were killed. Matt and his crew were directly behind the two aircraft when they hit.
Kiowas were used extensively to monitor the Indonesian – East Timor border. This photo was taken in 2002 of Matt while on a pairs reconnaissance mission.
“Last bush Trip – Leaving Woomera October 2012 on a RAAF Hercules”

Do you have a question for Matt or about something mentioned in the episode that you want to ask? Be part of the conversation by leaving a comment below.

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RWS 55 – Close Calls and Funny Stories with Matthew Barker

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Matt Barker in front of an Australian Army Tiger which he helped develop the operating procedures for.

During 30 years of flying with the Australian Army Matt Barker has got to try his hand at a wide range of roles. He has picked up some tales of close calls and funny incidents along the way.

In the 1980’s the RAAF was directed to transfer its helicopters to the Australian Army. This brought about an urgent need for the Army to increase their pilot recruiting numbers. At that time it would take 18 months of officer training and then another 12-18 months of flight training to get a new pilot to an operational unit. That was a lag time the Army couldn’t afford and the Special Service Officer (SSO) scheme was started which saw new recruits put through a 10 week abridged officer training course (commonly called a Knife, Fork and Spoon course) then straight into flight training.

Matt Barker was on this first SSO course through and shares some of the cultural interplay between these new officers and the rest of the Army. Going into the training he already had his commercial licence flown on R22, Bell 47 G2 and G4 models.

30 years later and Matt has flow Kiowa, Blackhawk, AS350 Squirrel, Tiger and MRH. He is an instructor, has flown Special Operations and was the Standards Officer in charge of developing the operating procedures for Tiger in Australian service from a blank piece of paper.

He has spent time flying over many parts of Australia, PNG, Timor and done stints in the UK, France and the US.

Thanks to Craig Bowman for the introduction to Matt and for feeding me some starting info to tease out the stories from Matt.

SOURCE: Australian Aviation
The ARH Tiger takes off with the Kiowa following close behind.
Mid Caption: 1st Aviation Regiment, Northern Territory, bid a final farewell to the Kiowa on Monday 26 October 2009.
A formation of Kiowas, escorted by the ARH Tiger, conducted a fly-over of Darwin.
The farewell and flypast departed from 1st Aviation Regiment, Gaza Lines, Robertson Barracks. They flew to Lee Point and then followed the coast to Palmerston and then returned to Robertson Barracks.
The B206B-1 Kiowa departed the 1st Aviation Regiment and Darwin for the last time on the 27th October 2009. The aircraft has operated in the Northern Territory since the early 1970s and have been based in Darwin since November 1994.
The departure of the Kiowas from 1st Aviation Regiment is a significant milestone in the introduction of the ARH Tiger. 1st Aviation Regiment will now focus on the introduction into service of the ARH Tiger from its home base at Robertson Barracks.

 

05 Oct 1987 – Joined Australian Army on Number 1 SSO Pilot course (46 Army Pilot course)
Jan – Jun 1988 – Basic Pilot course on CT4 at No 1 Flying Training School at RAAF Base Point Cook
Jul – Dec 1988 – Rotary wing course at SAA Oakey on B206 Kiowa
Dec 88 – Jan 91- Posted to 161 Recce Sqn at Holsworthy as a pilot on B206 Kiowa
Jan 91 – Oct 91 – Posted to Instructor training with US Army at Fort Rucker on OH58 Kiowa
Oct 91 – Oct 94 – QFI at ADF Helicopter School on AS350 Squirrel
Oct 94 – Jan 95 – S70 Blackhawk conversion course at SAA
Feb 95 – Dec 97 – Pilot, troop commander and SQN QFI at A SQN, 5 Aviation Regiment at RAAF Townsville
Jan 98 – Jun 2000 – QFI and troop commander at ADF Helicopter School on AS350 Squirrel
Jul 00 – Dec 2002 – SQN QFI at 161 Recce SQN at RAAF Darwin. Two stints in East Timor as Troop Commander and Detachment Commander
Jan 03 – Dec 09 – ARH Tiger Flying Standards Officer, posted to Eurocopter Marignane France 2004/05 and AAVNTC Oakey
Jan 10 – Dec 11 – ARH Tiger Instructor Development Officer, Instructor Training Wing, AAVNTC Oakey
Jan 12 – Dec 12 – Flying Standards Officer for ARH Tiger at 1 Aviation Regiment Darwin
Jan 13 – Jul 14 – ARH Tiger QFI with KBR at SAA Oakey
31 Jan 2014 – Transferred from full time to active reserve in the Australian Army
Jul 14 – Present – MRH90 Taipan QFI with Airbus at SAA Oakey.

 

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play in new window | Download

In this episode:
Punching a nanna while on a joyflight
Deer hunting in NZ using MD500’s ‘coolest thing ever seen’ – was initial reason for wanting to fly helicopters
Special Service Officer (SSO) pilot course
First SSO pilot to SQN
Recruiting video for Royal Military College
Chip light over Sydney nude
Katherine Bachelors and Spinster’s Ball
Passing out on approach to RAAF base Tindal
Field promotion for maintainer
T-aid night approaches
Night flying training
Introduction of NVGs – black tape and cyalume sticks
Melbourne to Sydney Kiowa flight – IIMC, QANTAS jets, low fuel and lions

Links from this week’s episode:
Support the show on Patreon
HFI Scholarship Winners
HAI Heli-Expo 2017
World Helicopter Day

Matt Barker and Tiger HAP 004 – starting Tiger Conversion Course on the French HAP Tiger, Marignane France, Jan 2005

[leadplayer_vid id=”58BCBC7F475F7″]
[Video] Australian Army Tiger and MRH that Matt Barker flies.

 

lion zoo western sydney helicopter landing
The African Lion Safari was a zoo in the western suburbs of Sydney that closed in 1991. It was still operating when Matt landed there in a Kiowa with no doors on during bad weather.
Matt and the mighty Kiowa, Suai East Timor 2002 with 161 Recce SQN
“Saying happy birthday to my daughter while in East Timor 2002, using a RNZAF 3 Squadron Huey (that’s me in the door).” – Matt

Do you have a question for Matt or about something mentioned in the episode that you want to ask? Be part of the conversation by leaving a comment below.