C-130H Hercules A97-008 lands for the last time at RAAF Base Richmond after performing a formation flypast for the No. 37 Squadron C-130H...
 |
| C-130H Hercules A97-008 lands for the last time at RAAF Base Richmond after performing a formation flypast for the No. 37 Squadron C-130H retirement parade |
Royal Australian Air Force retired its fleet of twelve C-130H Hercules transport planes from service after 34 years. A farewell ceremony was conducted at RAAF Base Richmond in Sydney.
Since its delivery in 1978, the C-130H Hercules has provided the Australian Defence Force with a highly effective transport capability.
Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules has supported Defence personnel on operations in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan, and provided peacetime and humanitarian service, including evacuating Australians from Cambodia in 1997 and returning injured Australians home from the Bali Bombings.
They have been used to help provide disaster and humanitarian assistance for the people of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and throughout the South Pacific.
Four C-130Hs will be transferred to the Indonesian Air Force to support humanitarian assistance, and two C-130Hs will be kept by Air Force–one aircraft going to the Air Force Museum at RAAF Base Point Cook and the other to be kept at RAAF Base Richmond for training purposes. Defence Ministry is investigating disposal options for the remaining six aircraft.
New capabilities are being phased in to the RAAF, including 12 C-130Js, six new C-17 Globemaster IIIs and 10 C-27J Spartans.
The 6th Boeing C-17 Globemaster Airlifter was inducted early this month.
