"Mentor 27" Mayday call inbound Richmond
 

Aircraft call sign "Mentor 27" just declared Mayday on Brissy centre 124.8, inbound for Richmond and have requested full fire and ambulance services. Anyone know if this is just a military training exercise? Seven POB.

doubt they would call mayday on an active frequency if it was just a drill...sounds full on...

Believe the callsign is used by the Aussie C-130's. Funny though as I heard a USAF aircraft use this callsign recently too.
S.

Helicopter?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...16/2365449.htm

An "Air Force" helicopter ?

I thought the RAAF didn't operate any helicopters.

Usually they use Trojan whilst in Australia - can not say i have ever heard Mentor as a Aussie C-130 callsign and i was with them for 10 years. Mentor used to be assigned to 77 SQN i think.

They don't although Lloyds fly's rescue helicopters for the RAAF with one at Williamtown i believe. Maybe it was one of their aircraft?

We had one of the Lloyds (RAAF) Rescue helicopters here yesterday afternoon in Nowra, possibly that one. VH-LHY i think was the reg. Had a night sun strapped to the left hand side.

Cheers

Adam

Correct Damien - that was my thought as the Lloyds' S76 at Pearce is often identified as an "RAAF helicopter" in the media whenever it may be called out.

I guess it's easier to identify it as such as the general public wouldn't have a clue anyway.

Ever since the 36 and 37 sqn C-17 shuffle, the C-130s have been using Mentor for the most part, with the occasional Trojan. It seems mainly the Hs using Mentor and Js using Trojan, though I've seen both use either.
As far as I know, the general S-76 callsign is Chopper, but I profess I haven't heard them very often at all.