Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF] News, Discussions and Updates

ngatimozart

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
Ah yes the old Caribou. Went for a jolly in one many years ago when some were visiting NZ and I was a young and impressionable airman, wet behind the ears. Would've been 1975 when I was base side at Woodbourne. Great aircraft and we should've got them in late sixties / early seventies to replace the Bristol Frighteners.
 
S

Stampede

Well-Known Member
John Newman said:
A very pleasant surprise today!!

I was sitting on my balcony (in Northern Sydney) today, when I heard the very distinctive 'thump, thump' of a P&W Radial engine, not something you hear every day. To be fair, I do hear and see at least one or two DHC Beaver float planes go over regularly.

But there was something different, something a bit more than one P&W Radial going thump thump, a familiar sound that I hadn't heard for a long long time.

So I looked up, and guess what? It was as Caribou!!

Obviously one of the two HARS airworthy Caribous, either A4-210 or A4-234, wasn't close enough to see any specific details, but it had to be one or the other.

I certainly miss the days when the Caribous and older Herc's were stretching from one end to the other of the flight line at Richmond and it wasn't unusual to hear 'thump, thump' at least once or twice a week.

Those were the days!!!

Cheers,
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A good post.
It's not just the visual, but sound is equally emotive.
First car was a VW and the engine always had a distinct sound compared to other cars which still resonates with me if I see one today.
The car never flew of course, but I do recall a DC3 fly over Melbourne years ago and there was something very wonderful about the sound of its engines.
Its hard to put a label on, but it captivates.

Regards S

PS - Saw a Caribous do some air drops of cargo in the 70's at Pucka.
They appeared to fly slow enough to stop in mid air and not fall out of the sky.
Bloody big wings will do that! :)
 
ASSAIL

ASSAIL

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
The Australian Services Rugby team (ASRU) were given a Caribou to fly from our training camp at HMAS Nirimba (Western Sydney) to Canberra, Nowra, Sydney and then Brisbane in 1980 and an anecdote worth telling about the aircrafts speed follows.
Some team members wished to drive from Nirimba to Canberra and departed at the same time we boarded the bus for the short trip to RAAFRichmond to board our plane, a smooth transition.
In transit above Lake George in some southerly headwinds I looked out the window to see the boy’s cars below and overtaking us, naturally they were waiting at RAAF Canberra to greet us simply to prove the point!
 
H

hauritz

Well-Known Member
SpazSinbad

SpazSinbad

Active Member
The chap at Nowra was on a demonstration tour of Oz, announcing to the tower that he was going to demo a short landing. 'J' Hangar just to the right of the RW 26 threshold was the JET hangar of VC724/VF805, witnessing many accidents from the southern end of said hangar with many Sea Venoms discovering the downdraught effect - often with fatal results. The FEAR OF GOD was put into every MIDSHIPMAN subsequently. During the A4G era the extra power and also in the MACCHI with better engine acceleration times put paid to any 'downdraught' problems, although I think it was anticipated well enough. The VENOM/VAMP had relatively slow engine acceleration, exacerbating slow response to power increase when needed.
 
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hauritz

Well-Known Member
John Newman said:
A decision appears to have been made in favour of the MQ-9 Reaper

General Atomics Reaper selected for Australia's first armed remotely piloted aircraft system | Department of Defence Ministers

But it doesn't seem clear which version:

Defence Connect

And this too:

BREAKING – Govt to announce Reaper selection – ADBR
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ThePredator C looks like an interesting option. I know that this aircraft is intended to support ground operations, but theAvengerwith its internal weapons carriage, stealth features, payload capability and extra speed could also give Australia a useful long-range strike capability.
 
P

pussertas

Active Member
External Fuel Tanks Trial on Air Force C-130J Hercules

(Source: Royal Australian Air Force; issued Nov 17, 2018)

External fuel tanks will be trialed on a pair of Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules transport aircraft over the next 12 months.

The fuel tanks increase the fuel capacity of a Hercules from 19 tonnes to 27 tonnes.

In November, the first aircraft to receive these tanks – serial A97-440 – was handed over to No. 37 Squadron (37SQN) at RAAF Base Richmond following routine scheduled maintenance from Airbus Group Australia Pacific.

“Extra fuel is useful during Forward Arming and Refuelling Point operations, where the crew land and offload fuel to another aircraft, vehicle or storage tank,”

“The fuel tanks can also extend range or endurance during certain missions, allowing us to be more persistent in an area such as during Search and Rescue missions.”

“Carrying that extra fuel brings weight and drag considerations, so this trial will determine how these tanks might benefit our future airlift operations.”

Older models of the Hercules were equipped with external fuel tanks, and the tanks used in this trial have been refurbished from remaining stock after the retirement of the C-130H Hercules in 2012.

The C-130J was introduced to RAAF service in 1999 without external fuel tanks, due to its engines being more efficient and more powerful than those that powered earlier generations of Hercules.

The utility of these fuel tanks will be explored this December, with A97-440 expected to support Operation Christmas Drop in Guam. Hosted by the United States Pacific Air Forces, Operation Christmas Drop involves the delivery of donated gifts including food, clothing and toys to remote island communities in the West Pacific.

“Some of these missions are to islands more than 2000 kilometres from Guam, where there’s very limited options to divert in the event of an emergency,”

“Carrying that extra fuel would make some aspects of mission planning easier, allow crews to deliver to more island communities, or increase the amount of time loitering at a Drop Zone.”

Wonder what is the extra cost by not having them as standard equipment on the original purchase?
 
M

Milne Bay

Active Member
pussertas said:
External Fuel Tanks Trial on Air Force C-130J Hercules

(Source: Royal Australian Air Force; issued Nov 17, 2018)


Wonder what is the extra cost by not having them as standard equipment on the original purchase?
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Virtually none as the tanks themselves were already in RAAF service and left over from the H models.
Of course, the trials will give a better benefit analysis to see if the extra fuel is worth the extra drag and fuel burn.
I can't help thinking though, that if the tanks were worth having on the H model, then the extra fuel efficiency of the J would make them even more useful
MB
 
SpazSinbad

SpazSinbad

Active Member
22 Mar 2017 Industry Advocates Fully Funding F-35 Spares Accounts Despite 'Broken Budget Process'
"...the F-35’s performance while in the Avalon Air Show. “Just a few days before that airshow, those two aircraft were at Luke Air Force Base. Flew to Hawaii, flew to Guam, flew to Australia, flew to the air show, was quick turn to fly during the air show – it hadn’t been supposed to do that, but did and did it exceptionally well – came back from Australia to Guam to Hickam and landed back at Luke, all on schedule with no hiccups. The reliability for what we’re seeing for the maturity of that aircraft is really well.”
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Mar 2017 Features
""...Under the command of Squadron Leaders Andrew Jackson and David Bell – Australia’s first qualified F-35 pilots – the two RAAF F-35s transited a distance of more than 16,000 kilometers (8,000 nautical miles) from their current home at Luke Air Force Base outside of Phoenix, Arizona, to RAAF Base Amberley in [near] Brisbane.... ...The F-35s were refueled in-flight by RAAF KC-30 tanker crews and made overnight stops at Andersen Air Force Base on Guam and Hickam Air Force Base, Honolulu, Hawaii, before completing the transit to Luke AFB, Arizona, on March 10...."
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F-35AtransPacificRouteMapED.gif
 
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ASSAIL

ASSAIL

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
Hoffy said:
The first of the Super Hornets flew via Hawaii from the US and stopped in New Zealand back in 2010;

Australia's new jet fighters parked in Auckland

Does anyone know which route the new F35s will take?

I'm not really sure why the Super Hornets stopped in NZ at the time but is it possible we will see a repeat with the new JSF?
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There was an item on the ABC radio News today saying that the F35As would transit via Guam and would include AAR
No link I’m sorry.
 
SpazSinbad

SpazSinbad

Active Member
OOoops! Meant to add a blurb about 'how many times the lads refueled' which seemed to cause controversy at the time but really nothing can be gained because the USAF have said on long over water flights they more or less refuel constantly so that in case of a problem with either party one or tuther can get back to land somewhere OK. I think refuel seven times. Several similar quotes may be found about this but hey I'm just typing here. I'm glad I "post some really good stuff though" so ALL IS NOT FORGIVEN. :) I'm guessing it is a slow night. It is here as I type at 0317. I'm getting old and frail (double sided heart failure almost three years ago today but kept under control with good medications and THAT WAS a SCARY few days in hospital but I digress hence up at the crack of dawn here).
 
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S

south

Well-Known Member
Redlands18 said:
Do we actually have a date yet?
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My understanding is 10th December, though I cannot remember where I saw that.

At a guess they will aim to go through Hickham Field (Hawaii) and Anderson AFB (Guam). US Security facilities make it easier than going through other bases; though it is obviously possible witness the Supers (similar security requirements) going through Pago and NZ on their delivery flights.
 
H

hauritz

Well-Known Member
south said:
My understanding is 10th December, though I cannot remember where I saw that.

At a guess they will aim to go through Hickham Field (Hawaii) and Anderson AFB (Guam). US Security facilities make it easier than going through other bases; though it is obviously possible witness the Supers (similar security requirements) going through Pago and NZ on their delivery flights.
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They have certainly been a long time coming. I still remember when Australia committed to the project back in 2002. In fact, I remember the exact date because it just happened to coincide with the birth of my first son on the 28th of June.

He says he is interested in joining the airforce after he graduates so who knows, he might end up flying them one day.
 
ngatimozart

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
SpazSinbad said:
OOoops! Meant to add a blurb about 'how many times the lads refueled' which seemed to cause controversy at the time but really nothing can be gained because the USAF have said on long over water flights they more or less refuel constantly so that in case of a problem with either party one or tuther can get back to land somewhere OK. I think refuel seven times. Several similar quotes may be found about this but hey I'm just typing here. I'm glad I "post some really good stuff though" so ALL IS NOT FORGIVEN. :) I'm guessing it is a slow night. It is here as I type at 0317. I'm getting old and frail (double sided heart failure almost three years ago today but kept under control with good medications and THAT WAS a SCARY few days in hospital but I digress hence up at the crack of dawn here).
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On account you had previously reported to the sick bay I'll rescind the warning. Sorry to hear about your illness and it is bloody scary. My wife had a coronary 5 years ago and we just about lost her, but she's doing good today. Amazing what a stent insertion at 4AM does for ones survival. Hang in there old salt.
 
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