Australia’s Rotary Wing Group rotation and its CH-47 Chinook helicopters will return home from Afghanistan for mandatory maintenance.
The task group and their two CH-47 Chinooks will return to Afghanistan in early 2011 to recommence flight operations in support of the International Stabilisation Assistance Force (ISAF).
Maintenance crews have stripped the Chinook helicopters and packed them into two Royal Australian Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft for the return trip to Australia.
During the last eight months, the CH-47s have completed 737 flying hours and have moved over 691,000kg of supplies and equipment.
The two Chinooks have completed 860 sorties and transported 4,700 troops while assisting the efforts of the ISAF on the current rotation.
