| No. 5 Flight RAAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 2010–current |
| Country | Australia |
| Branch |
 Royal Australian Air Force |
| Role | Training |
| Part of | No. 92 Wing RAAF |
| Current base | RAAF Base Amberley |
| Engagements | War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Reconnaissance | IAI Heron |
No. 5 Flight is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aircraft flight equipped with IAI Heron unmanned aerial vehicles.
History[]
No. 5 Flight was raised on 18 January 2010 at RAAF Base Amberley as part of No. 82 Wing.[1][2] The flight is responsible for operating the RAAF's small fleet of IAI Heron unmanned aerial vehicles which are based at Kandahar in Afghanistan.[2][3] The flight's responsibilities include training personnel from all branches of the Australian Defence Force to operate the Herons in Australia, and maintaining a detachment of personnel at Kandahar who operate the UAVs as part of Operation Slipper, Australia's contribution to the war in Afghanistan.[4][5] The RAAF acquired a third Heron during 2011 which No. 5 Flight uses to train UAV operators in Australia; prior to this time Heron operators were trained in Canada.[1][3] The RAAF's Air Force newspaper reported in May 2011 that No. 5 Flight comprised a "handful of members".[3] On 4 April 2013 the flight transferred to No. 92 Wing; at this time it had a strength of 18 full-time personnel and three reservists, and operated four Herons. Three of the UAVs were deployed to Afghanistan and the fourth was in Australia.[2]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ziesing, Katherine (2010). "Heron in Woomera this Year". p. p. 76.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Curran, Aaron (9 May 2013). "SRG New Home for Heron". http://digital.realviewtechnologies.com/default.aspx?xml=defencenews_airforce.xml. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Smith, Skye (12 May 2011). "5FLT training down under". http://digital.realviewtechnologies.com/default.aspx?xml=defencenews_airforce.xml&iid=48077&startpage=22&crd=0&searchKey=5flt. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
- ↑ McLaughlin, Andrew (April 2010). "Nankeen. The RAAF enters the UAV era with Heron lease". Fyshwick: Phantom Media. pp. p. 31. ISSN 0813-0876.
- ↑ Hupfeld, Mel. "Australia’s air combat capability 2010 – 2020". Institute Proceedings. Royal United Services Institute of Australia. pp. 10–11. http://www.rusinsw.org.au/Papers/20100527.pdf. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
The original article can be found at No. 5 Flight RAAF and the edit history here.