Sioux Clocks up 10,000 Hours
By SQNLDR Tim Evans
Sioux display
An historic milestone was achieved by No. 3 Squadron in September, when Sioux 06 – one of the Squadron’s five Sioux helicopters – reached a staggering 10,000 hours of flying time.
The Commanding Officer of No. 3 Squadron, WGCDR Ian MacPherson, had the honour of flying the 10,000th hour during a small ceremony held to mark the occasion. He was accompanied by a distinguished former member of the ‘Fighting Third’, SQNLDR (retired) Russ Cross.
The Bell 47 Sioux prototype was first flown in 1945. The RNZAF took delivery of 13 Bell 47Gs between 1965 and 1970. These were the first helicopters to see military service in New Zealand. During their 40 plus years of service, they have been operated in Australia, Fiji and Malaysia. They have been employed in the roles of visual reconnaissance, battlefield liaison, utility work, and pilot training.
Historic moment
They continue to serve in their last role – teaching the basics of rotary-wing aviation to RNZAF Wings Course graduates who are fortunate enough to be posted to No. 3 Squadron. The Sioux is considered an excellent platform for teaching the fundamentals of helicopter flight, owing to its exceptional visibility and the forthright challenge of flying the beast. There is a common adage that: ‘if you can fly a Sioux, you can fly anything!’ Additionally, the two-ship display team “Sioux Blue” makes the occasional appearance at air shows, such as the 2008 Warbirds Over Wanaka.
However, times are changing and it will not fulfil the requirements of a lead-in platform for future aircraft. Furthermore, retaining trained maintenance personnel and sourcing parts is becoming increasingly difficult. The Sioux fleet is scheduled for retirement in the next year or so, prior to introducing the new A109LUH and NH90.
If the classic lines of the Bell 47 Sioux are not proof enough of its vintage, consider this. The service life of the Sioux, at the time of their retirement, will be equivalent to having kept WWII RNZAF Corsairs in service until the 1990s…