That's what they did with our C130-C's at the time of the famine in Eritrea/Ethopia during the 1980s. Ex-RAAF Hercs were being used by the UN WFP to distribute food aid.
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The attraction of the C27J is that it shares engines and some other systems with the C130J.
If you want to consider aircraft longevity, how about the B52 - it has already been in service for almost sixty years, and is intended to remain in service until about 2050.
John
Let's not forget the ADF often sub contract a lot of work to civvies. Whether it is Strategic Airlines (before they morphed into Australian Airlines and got gobbled up by the competition) or numerous other Illusion 76 transports heading west.
Often the laborious logistics roles can be delegated to civvies, leaving the real dangerous stuff for the experts!
cue?
Morphed into Australian Airlines :confused:
Trans-Australian Airways was a wholly government owned civil domestic carrier that operated between 1946 and 1986 when the government changed its name into Australian Airlines and in 1996 merged it with the government international carrier Qantas prior to privatisation.
Are you talking about Air Australia Airways? A flash in the pan operator out of Brisbane in the 1990s.
Remember about the same time IPEC Air Freight ran at least one Herc on domestic freight routes.
As far as the C-130s go, to date the RAAF has or has had the C-130A, E, H & J (current), which were purchased 12 of each at a time as the model became available and issued alternately to 36 & 37 SQNs.
Each model had its service life extended with extensive rebuilds including in some cases new wing structures.
The C-130J is the peak of the development of the aircraft to date - with vast increases in carrying capacity, range & performance over earier models. I like the LR comparison because I like both, having spent a little time in cam ones of each. The C-130H was the green camo one (and a few different cam schemes were tried with them and the 'Bous - anoher fabulous aircraft).
The remaining J models are a different cam - a lo-visibilty grey (which is probably why you don't see them?) :)
Nah not Taa Diana. The one that went broke last year Air Australia - they had the A320 s to Thailand - I may not have got the name exact . That iPEC herc was only very short lived. I think it was even a wet leased. I remember the iPEC argosy droning all the way to Adelaide and back ......sorry thread drift....:)
The RAAF, are doing what the RAF are doing getting rid of the C130s....