The Green Ghost and Cobra 16 combine
Two of Navy’s newest cutting-edge platforms have combined, with the air warfare destroyer HMAS Hobart embarking an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter and standing up an aviation department for the first time for first-of-class flight trials.
Hobart - nicknamed the ‘Green Ghost’ - has been carrying out trials with the aircraft from 816 Squadron - dubbed ‘COBRA 16’ - off the coast of New South Wales, establishing operating limits and testing recent upgrades to the ship under the AIR9000 project.
Personnel from Navy’s Aircraft Maintenance and Flight Trials Unit (AMAFTU) collected real-time data on different ways an MH-60R can approach and land on Hobart’s flight deck in different conditions at sea, as well as perform vertical replenishments and on-deck handling.
Hobart is the first of three new Destroyers built in Australia, while COBRA 16 is one of 24 anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare helicopters based at the Fleet Air Arm in Nowra.
Hobart’s Commanding Officer, Commander Ryan Gaskin said the flight trials required the ship’s flight and deck teams to work closely with AMAFTU to ensure the ship was ready to deploy overseas later this year.
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