Mi-24 at Tindal RAAF Base
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Mi-24 at Tindal RAAF Base
Hi Guys,
I've just had one of my work mates tell me all about a Mi-24 that's sitting in one of the old supply buildings at Tindal RAAF base. He says it's been there since the early 80's but i was at Tindal from 1988 to 1993 and had been in these hangars and there was no helicopter there then. Maybe it was a big cover up?????
Can anyone enlighten me (and my mate)?
Marty
I've just had one of my work mates tell me all about a Mi-24 that's sitting in one of the old supply buildings at Tindal RAAF base. He says it's been there since the early 80's but i was at Tindal from 1988 to 1993 and had been in these hangars and there was no helicopter there then. Maybe it was a big cover up?????
Can anyone enlighten me (and my mate)?
Marty
Mi-24
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-45514231.html
"The two Mi-24 gunships, that have been gathering dust since 1997, were among four Sandline helicopters diverted to RAAF Tindal, 330km south of Darwin."
TJ
"The two Mi-24 gunships, that have been gathering dust since 1997, were among four Sandline helicopters diverted to RAAF Tindal, 330km south of Darwin."
TJ
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Hi. It seems that Sandline no longer exist (at least in that name) - is it possible that the old 'possession is 9/10ths' rule works in the Aust Govnt's favour here? It looks like nothing has been reported of these Hinds since 2004. Are they still in Australia?
I'm wondering if anyone has seen the Mi-24s at Tyndal? Are there any pics out there that anyone knows of or has seen? Am particularly interested in the colours and any markings they may have carried.
I'm wondering if anyone has seen the Mi-24s at Tyndal? Are there any pics out there that anyone knows of or has seen? Am particularly interested in the colours and any markings they may have carried.
They are probably not worth as much to any company as the logistics costs to remove them. Even relitively new Mils are cheap and plentiful.
They would make great warbirds though
They would make great warbirds though
Sunners
The two Hinds were a bottle green with duckegg blue undersurfaces. No other markings (ie no national or serial numbers applied).
As stated, were from the 1997 Sandline/Executive Outcomes affair in PNG. Didn't quite make it - they were diverted to Tindal with the Hips.
The two Hinds were a bottle green with duckegg blue undersurfaces. No other markings (ie no national or serial numbers applied).
As stated, were from the 1997 Sandline/Executive Outcomes affair in PNG. Didn't quite make it - they were diverted to Tindal with the Hips.
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Captain Dune,
My first reaction is to think of the lower kind of journalism ( so no offence to Jackonicko ) - as a UK photographer on the military side of BAe, I saw some odd things from other countries ( no, not other planets ) , but which common sense dictates any country would grab given the chance.
I had the sense not to photograph them, as I could tell what was going on and the officer accompanying me became very twitchy when he realised I knew what I'd seen.
Much more relevant, John Farley mentions seeing / knowing the A12 /SR71 from the early 1960's...
In the early - mid 1980's a BAe team at a famous USAF base were suddenly told to turn their backs, and not look on pain of being shot, when a mystery aircraft came in.
A, I doubt very much the Americans would have fired,
B, I would guess this was the F-117 before it became public.
C, Could have been a flying saucer, but I think option B rather more likely - ( have no doubt that UFO's exist, every doubt as to what they are, but I'm pretty sure a big-eared cigar smoking F-18 driver couldn't just jump in and fly one ).
My first reaction is to think of the lower kind of journalism ( so no offence to Jackonicko ) - as a UK photographer on the military side of BAe, I saw some odd things from other countries ( no, not other planets ) , but which common sense dictates any country would grab given the chance.
I had the sense not to photograph them, as I could tell what was going on and the officer accompanying me became very twitchy when he realised I knew what I'd seen.
Much more relevant, John Farley mentions seeing / knowing the A12 /SR71 from the early 1960's...
In the early - mid 1980's a BAe team at a famous USAF base were suddenly told to turn their backs, and not look on pain of being shot, when a mystery aircraft came in.
A, I doubt very much the Americans would have fired,
B, I would guess this was the F-117 before it became public.
C, Could have been a flying saucer, but I think option B rather more likely - ( have no doubt that UFO's exist, every doubt as to what they are, but I'm pretty sure a big-eared cigar smoking F-18 driver couldn't just jump in and fly one ).
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I a former RAAF fitter I work with told me the story about the Mi-24s. Apparently the aircraft carrying them was intercepted by 75 squadron Hornets and told to divert to Tindal " or else " 
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In the early - mid 1980's a BAe team at a famous USAF base were suddenly told to turn their backs, and not look on pain of being shot, when a mystery aircraft came in.
Couldn't keep a secret to save themselves!
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I a former RAAF fitter I work with told me the story about the Mi-24s. Apparently the aircraft carrying them was intercepted by 75 squadron Hornets and told to divert to Tindal " or else "
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Thanks for your thoughts guys. Particularly Bbadanov. Can I consider that a primary source?
I have read most of the stuff you get googling the question, and yep, the Hips were exported (under a 'civil' classification) back to Africa and the 67mm and 12.7mm ammo was destroyed by the ADF. It was reported at the time that the An-124 that was delivering the 4 Mils, ordinance and vehicles (?) was escorted into Tyndal by Hornets - but not diverted - the request made by the interim PNG Govn't to divert the arms and Australia provided the preferred place to go. There was no 'or else' stuff.
Nothing though has been reported since the export of the Hips. Since Sandline no longer exists, you might assume they're still at Tyndal. And because they dont constitute any kind of risk to OPSEC or such, you never know who might have seen them.
Or be willing to talk about it.
Thanks.
I have read most of the stuff you get googling the question, and yep, the Hips were exported (under a 'civil' classification) back to Africa and the 67mm and 12.7mm ammo was destroyed by the ADF. It was reported at the time that the An-124 that was delivering the 4 Mils, ordinance and vehicles (?) was escorted into Tyndal by Hornets - but not diverted - the request made by the interim PNG Govn't to divert the arms and Australia provided the preferred place to go. There was no 'or else' stuff.
Nothing though has been reported since the export of the Hips. Since Sandline no longer exists, you might assume they're still at Tyndal. And because they dont constitute any kind of risk to OPSEC or such, you never know who might have seen them.
Or be willing to talk about it.
Thanks.
