F-35 in ARDU markings, that is not to
say we will not operate one. Just last
week, ARDU operated a C-27J Spartan,
the week before we operated an E-7A
Wedgetail and a month or so ago we were
ying a KC-30A tanker. These were ARDU
operations, with us working alongside the
parent wings and squadrons. We nd that
this is a far more e cient way to do this
business.’Test expertise
Rich completed his third year leading the
unit at the end of 2018, and he has spent
most of his career within the Air Mobility
Group ying Falcon 900s on VIP missionsas well as the DHC-4 Caribou tactical
transports, both of which have since
been retired.
His unit consists of approximately
45 personnel, composed of test pilots,
ight-test engineers and ight-test
systems specialists. He said: ‘In general
what we bring is a workforce of highly
trained specialists with relevant
operational background. Be they pilots,
mission aircrew or engineers, everyone
is an experienced operator from their
parent platforms. Combining that with
outstanding training we receive from the
few world-renowned ight-test schools,
we get people who are not only extremelymotivated but who possess that test
rigor that is essential when we need to
understand new things or gure out
a problem.’
Flt Lt Adam Rouessart is an ARDU test
pilot who has experience in the Hornet,
the Super Hornet and the Growler. A
graduate from the Empire Test Pilots’
School in the UK, he explained the
continued importance of his role:
‘Flight-test schools generally deliver two
types of courses. Most of us go through
what’s known as a long course, which
quali es you to conduct experimental and
developmental testing. This encompasses
envelope expansion and cultivating new
capabilities that have not previously been
tested. On the other end of the spectrum,
we also work on operational testing, which
centers on the mission capability of the
nal product.
‘Coming from a fast jet background,
some of the tasks that I conduct include
weapon systems testing and carriage
release. However, we don’t necessarily
always test our parent platforms, but
bring together our collective experience
and expertise to test both hardware and
software on various aircraft. Our Test and
Evaluation Flights (TEFs) in Amberley,
Richmond and Williamtown provide us the
access to the parent squadrons and their
platforms. We spend a lot of time on the
road supporting people around Australia.’Current projects
Multiple concurrent projects mean
that the ARDU diary is full. CurrentBelow: With
full operational
capability (FOC)
of the C-27J
Spartan expected
in late 2019, the
ARDU has been
busy certifying
capabilities,
including static-
line parachute
delivery and
avionics
modifi cations.
Roy ChooA KC-30A tanker from No 33 Squadron is
fl own by an ARDU crew during aerial refueling
compatibility testing with the E-7A Wedgetail
in 2015. Commonwealth of AustraliaUNIT REPORT // AIRCRAFT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT UNIT
74 September 2019 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net
70-75 Australian Flight test C.indd 74 18/07/2019 13:57