Lieutenant Richard Blessington’s career followed an ‘amended flight plan’ after he joined Navy in 2012 and worked mainly on HMAS Choules as a marine engineering officer.
In 2019, he saw an opportunity to change streams to pilot through an internal transfer, and he now works in 723 Squadron – the unit responsible for training Navy pilots in the unique skill of operating helicopters at sea.
Lieutenant Blessington has represented Navy at public events including the Wings Over Illawarra Air Show, where Navy’s Fleet Air Arm contingent showed off experimental and traditional aviation assets.
“It’s a really great opportunity to see where we’ve come from and where we’re going,” Lieutenant Blessington said.
“At many of these events there’s also lots of retired or ex-military aircrew who can pass on stories to us about what they did during their time, and how things have evolved for the better.
“I think the highlight, though, is talking to young and interested people about what we do as a Navy, what the job is like and then being able to ask the pertinent questions to them about what they want to do as well.”
Throughout the event, potential naval aviators were able to fly in some of Navy’s aircraft simulators, which use virtual reality to replicate the unique conditions of operating a Navy helicopter.
It wasn’t just traditional aircraft on display, as Navy’s newest squadron, 822X, represented the cutting edge of unmanned developments in aviation.
Acting Sub-Lieutenant Nathan Kent, from 822X Squadron, said the unit acts as a force multiplier with its S-100 and ScanEagle unmanned aircraft that extend the range of a ship’s sensors, allowing commanders a more complete tactical picture.
Acting Sub-Lieutenant Kent said the young branch has the traditional aviation-streamed operators and maintainers, but they are drawn from a variety of different categories and rates.
“In our maintainers, we have the usual aircraft and avionics technicians, but we also have combat systems operators and boatswains qualified,” he said.
“It’s these varied backgrounds of our people that allow the unit to best apply its capability.
“Our boatswain, for instance, knows everything there is to know about boardings, and he’s been a great source of information about what we should be doing and how we can use our capability to best help a boarding party at sea.”
