The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has given four of its CH-47F Chinook helicopter official names through an indigenous smoking ceremony.
The event, held on December 9, 2024, recognized the strong ties between the RAAF and the First Nations peoples of the Townsville region.
According to the RAAF, the four Chinooks were each given names that embody strength, skill and capability, further reflecting the Armed Force’s commitment to excellence.
The first aircraft, with registration A15-311, was named ‘Capable’ as a nod to 50 years of Australian Defence Force (ADF) operations.
The second aircraft, registration 312, was named ‘Chariot’, a historical reference to chariots as a military capability and transport.
The third aircraft, 313, was named ‘Cunning’, in reference to the skill and expertise needed in the RAAF.
The highlight of the ceremony was naming the fourth aircraft, 314, ‘Gadaragi’, a name given by the Wulgurukaba people, the traditional owners of the land on which the 5th Aviation Regiment and 16th Aviation Brigade Headquarters are located. (below)
The word Gadaragi translates to ‘strong’, symbolizing the powerful connection between the RAAF and local First Nations communities, including the Bindal and Wulgurukaba peoples.
“We received over 30 submissions for names from across the capability,” Commanding Officer 5th Aviation Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Lean said, adding that naming the aircraft was a team effort.
“Simultaneously, we reached out to our Indigenous Elders to discuss using a name in the local Indigenous language,” Lean added.
In addition to the naming ceremony, the CH-47F Chinook aircraft reached another significant milestone, with the fleet surpassing 20,000 flying hours on December 3, 2024.