29 (BATUS) Flight AAC | |
---|---|
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | British Army |
Size | Flight |
Part of | Army Air Corps |
Base | Canadian Forces Base Suffield |
The 29 (BATUS) Flight Army Air Corps is an independent flight within the British Army's Army Air Corps that supports the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS). [1]
BATUS conducts major training exercises in the Canadian province of Alberta, at the Canadian Forces Base Suffield. [2] 29 Flight provides aviation support for the training. Its roles include supervision, CASEVAC (casualty evacuation), reconnaissance, liaison and limited lift of passengers and equipment. [3]
The unit operated Westland Gazelle AH.1 helicopters, until their retirement from service in October 2023. [4] [5] [6]
5 Regiment AAC has administrative responsibility for 29 Flight. [7]
The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a French five-seat helicopter, commonly used for light transport, scouting and light attack duties. It is powered by a single Turbomeca Astazou turbine engine and was the first helicopter to feature a fenestron tail instead of a conventional tail rotor. It was designed by Sud Aviation, later Aérospatiale, and manufactured in France and the United Kingdom through a joint production and development agreement with Westland Aircraft. Further manufacturing under license was performed by SOKO in Yugoslavia and the Arab British Helicopter Company (ABHCO) in Egypt.
The Army Air Corps (AAC) is the aviation arm of the British Army, first formed in 1942 during the Second World War by grouping the various airborne units of the British Army. Today, there are eight regiments of the AAC, as well as two independent flights and two independent squadrons deployed in support of British Army operations around the world. Regiments and flights are located in the United Kingdom, Kenya, and Canada. Some AAC squadrons provide the air assault elements of 16 Air Assault Brigade, through Joint Helicopter Command.
Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station Aldergrove, also known as simply JHC FS Aldergrove, is a British military base located 4.4 miles (7.1 km) south of Antrim, Northern Ireland and 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Belfast, and adjoins Belfast International Airport. It is sometimes referred to simply as Aldergrove which is the name of a nearby hamlet.
The British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) is a British Army unit located at the vast training area of Canadian Forces Base Suffield near Suffield, Alberta, Canada. BATUS is the British Army's largest armoured training facility, and it can accommodate live-firing and tactical effect simulation (TES) exercises up to battle group level. CFB Suffield is seven times the size of Salisbury Plain Training Area and 19% the size of Northern Ireland, offering the British Army the ability to conduct large exercises that UK military bases cannot accommodate.
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4 Regiment Army Air Corps is a regiment of the Army Air Corps (AAC).
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50°16′25″N111°10′44″W / 50.2737°N 111.1790°W