Originally Posted by rooftopartist
"The Army would absorb all Special Forces and helicopter operations"
Yeah, give the army Pumas, Chinooks, Merlins & Seakings, I'm sure they'd get 4 different types operational in no time, just like they've done with the Apache???
I agree, the retired Colonel's proposition is rather nonsensical, however with respect to the above point, the RAAF gave its Chooks, Rockies and Blackhawks to the Army some years ago and it seems to have worked; most of what they did was Army stuff anyway, usually under Army tactical command, so it seemed logical (from an operational point of view) to just let them have it. It meant that the Army didn't have to 'request' tactical air assets from the RAAF and possibly end up competing for them against some other requirement and maint schedules, etc. could be worked to Army requirements more easily.
Fixed wing has stayed firmly with Ronnie.