MTOW; re your last bit
To be fair; CAS AM Jake Newham, a career fighter pilot, fought hard for the Air Force helo fraternity for which he is still highly respected (we have beers occasionally) and he gives an account of the helicopter transfer decision in RAAF History Conference 1992 - Air Force Chiefs, pages 69-78. Minister Beazley was deceived through actions by CDF Bennett and CGS Gration, but it is of course history now.