CAC Bell Kiowa Army Helicopter

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The Australian Defence Force (ADF) chose to militarised Bell 206 helicopter named "Kiowa", to fill its requirement for a Light Observational Helicopter, and the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) was to produce them in Australia under license at their works at Fishermen's Bend Melbourne.

The first 12 CA-32s were built by Bell in Texas, and 43 were finally produced by the CAC, the first serialed A17-013 being delivered in 1973 and the last, A17-056, in 1977. The type  was formally retired from ADF service in 2018.

The Museum tendered for some of the airframes and was successful,  being allocated A17-006, A17-045 and A17-055, A17-006 was delivered to the ADF in 1971, transferred to the RAN in 1988, and back to the Army in 2000. A17-045 was delivered to  the ADF in 1976, serving with No 161 Reconnaissance Squadron in Darwin until 2005.

A17-055, the second last Kiowa built by the CAC and was delivered to the ADF in 1976, demonstrated at the Avalon Air Show in 2003, then served with No 161 Reconnaissance Squadron until 2005.

All three were delivered to the Museum in 2017. A17-055 is on display in the main hangar. A17-045 is on display under the wing of the Bristol Freighter and A17-006 was sold.

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TECHNICAL DATA

Engine:      


Length:       

Rotor Diameter:          
Speed:             

         

​Rolls Royce T703 750shp gas turbine engine
​
42ft 2in

35ft

149mph

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(12.85m)

(10.67m)​

(240kmh)

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