PRIDE: Leading Seaman Graeme Copeland at Avalon with a Seahawk.
A HELICOPTER from HMAS Albatross has won a prestigious award at the Australian International Airshow in Victoria.
816 Squadron has returned from the show with a highly sought-after Military Concours d’Elegance award for best helicopter for the Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk.
The award is judged by a panel comprising representatives of the event organiser Airshows Downunder, the Royal Australian Air Force Association and the Royal Aeronautical Society.
All military static aircraft displays are assessed and awarded points for general presentation, role-particular appearance, maintenance condition, the display material exhibited to inform the public about the aircraft and the presentation of the air and ground crews.
The Seahawk was up against two other aircraft in its category, the Royal Singapore Air Force’s AS-53 Super Puma and the RAN’s MRH-90.
816 Commanding Officer, Commander Grant O’Loughlan said while there was no doubt the Seahawk was an impressive aircraft it was the team who guaranteed the win.
“One of the major attractions of the Avalon Airshow, in fact any airshow, is the opportunity to meet the pilots and crew and get up close to the amazing aircraft on display,” he said.
“The 816 crew are always very professional and engaging and they really enjoyed the opportunity to talk to everyone who stopped by to admire the Seahawk.”