RAAF Herc visits Point Cook

JDK · **Posted:** Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:20 pm

We had an unusual visitor at the RAAF Museum, Point Cook, Victoria, Australia this week, a C-130H A97-001, which the 37 Squadron crew assured us has less than ten hours on the airframe left - as I write, it's presumably been parked up at RAAF Richmond. Looks like over 20,000 hours over the last 30 years, being delivered new in 1978 to the RAAF. It's not the first C-130 the RAAF used by a long chalk, the RAAF being the first overseas customer for the type, taking C-130A models to replace Daks - now there's two legends...

This isn't meant to be a contest for 'highest time Herc', as I'm sure there's plenty with more; just thought it might be of interest to the Herc fans here. Oh, and I like it because it's not painted a stupid grey colour.

The RAAF Museum has a C-130A A97-214 and E A97-160 on site, and the RAAF are currently operating H and J models.

http://www.airforce.gov.au/aircraft/hercules.htm

http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/e ... kheed2.htm

http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/e ... kheed1.htm

I had a chat with the crew, and not being up on current equipment, I didn't realise the H had a Nav and a Flight Engineer. What other current types still operate with a F/E? Our Orions do I understand. Others?

Cheers

mustanglover · **Posted:** Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:26 pm

speakin of

we in Texas are considering moving to Australia if the elections don't go in a good way

gotta place for us to stay until we can settle in?

JDK · **Posted:** Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:33 pm

Texas - ah, that's the little state with only one rose, right?

I thought you had your own air force?

mustanglover · **Posted:** Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:37 pm

JDK wrote:

Texas - ah, that's the little state with only one rose, right?

I thought you had your own air force?

We do have our own air-force, but many color roses............they just like to talk about the yellow ones.

My step-son is in the Perth area right now....passing through with the Marines..............he likes you guys.

Several years ago we had the World Soaring Championships here and the AUS team loved our area. In fact we had several contests after which included the AUS soarers as locals............kind of an exchange program.

noizeedave · **Posted:** Sat Oct 11, 2008 12:07 am

20,000 is average numner for US E and H model aircraft. My last E i gave away to another active unit just a few years ago had 26,000 on her.

But yes, glad to hear anotgher made it past the number!

My new Herk has 2300 hours!

JDK · **Posted:** Sat Oct 11, 2008 12:15 am

Thanks, noizeedave. Hours are all just numbers to me!

I'm assuming the RAAF's H models haven't had a life-extension or rebuild programme, so this is the end of the 'first' round.

Whatever way you cut it the Herc's an amazing machine - the RAAF are very pleased with it.

Mark_Pilkington · **Posted:** Sat Oct 11, 2008 5:13 am

mustanglover wrote:

speakin of

we in Texas are considering moving to Australia if the elections don't go in a good way

gotta place for us to stay until we can settle in?

mustanglover, - the way the global financial meltdown is going in Europe and the USA, We may have to close our borders in Australia unless the elections "go in a good way" lol,

Instead of the normal $20,000 capital, skills and english language abilities we will be requiring immigrants to bring any of the following:

USA based applications
any of > Flying - P38, P39 P40, P47, B25, B17, F4F F6F
(due to existing sufficient examples we would require an immigrant to bring either 2x P51's! or 3x T6's)

Of course we would be willing to allow the entire population of the state of Texas to immigrate, as long as the entire collection of the CAF is brought with them!
(Similar offers available to the populations of Washington State and Ohio for the NASM or NMUSAF respectively

UK/EU based applications
any of > Flying Spitfire V (or less), Hurricane, Blenheim, Lancaster, ME109, , and in a similar offer, will allow the entire population of England to immigrate, as long as the entire collections of RAFM and Duxford, as well the BBMF are brought with them.

European aircraft, I mean immigrants will be settled in the southern states, while US Texans, Mustangs etc, and their owners will be settled in the northen states.

smiles, I have no wish to ignite a political debate on wix, or comment on internal US politics, but the rest of the western world does look to the US for global leadership, and hopes for a step change arising from the imminent election, and therefore some stability politically and economically in the current crisis.

I realise that issue is in part the particular limitation on 2 terms for the presidency, and the resultant creation of a late term "lame duck" Presidency, but I think the quicker this election is over and a new administration is in place, the better for all.

Hopefully we will all ride out the current economic turbulance successfully, and you wont need to immigrate, -
and in that case, please just send the aircraft.

regards

Mark Pilkington

APG85 · **Posted:** Sat Oct 11, 2008 5:29 am

Nice pictures. What will be the fate of C-130H A97-001? 20,000 hours is a respectable amount for an H-model Herc. It's not unusual to see over 30,000 on an E-model USAF Herc. They keep going, and going...

JDK · **Posted:** Sat Oct 11, 2008 5:44 am

APG85 wrote:

Nice pictures. What will be the fate of C-130H A97-001? 20,000 hours is a respectable amount for an H-model Herc. It's not unusual to see over 30,000 on an E-model USAF Herc. They keep going, and going...

Thanks!

I'd like better, but had left my medium camera with the 300mm lens at home - for the first time in about a year. Wouldn't you know!

Oscar Duck's pointed out to me that it's probably parked up for the next major going over. As you say, the only replacement for a Herc is another Herc. The C-17 is nice, but it rather reminds me of the Porch Cayanne - an off roader for people who don't off road - with a price tag to match.

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Sat Oct 11, 2008 9:23 am

One of the Hercs I fly has almost 40 000 hrs on it and she's still going strong. 20 000 - why, that's barely broke in!

ffuries · **Posted:** Sat Oct 11, 2008 11:55 am

All of our Hercs are '64 E models, I wonder how many hours they have on them? They have flown since Viet-Nam.

Mike in Florida
USAF Aircrew Life Support (Retired)
"Your Life Is Our Business"

wardie · **Posted:** Sat Oct 11, 2008 7:54 pm

During my stint in the R.A.A.F I worked on our C130A, E & H. I am surprised that they are retiring the H's instead of doing the required to extend their life. They are a good old bird.

Surely 12 C130J's and 4 C17 can't cover the role of these 12 C130H's as well as their current roles (well they probably can but not with the same flexibility).

Wardie

JDK · **Posted:** Sat Oct 11, 2008 8:05 pm

To be fair, they never said it was being 'retired'; that was my presumption without thinking through the numbers in question (not my field!).

I've edited the misleading thread title.

wardie · **Posted:** Sat Oct 11, 2008 8:14 pm

NP, James, I did some quick investigation just now and friends say they have parked a couple due to maintenance cost and they are not actually "retired" and may be repaired when and if needed.

I also just assumed because it was at Pt Cook and only had 10 hour A/F life left it was being retired.

Wardie

JDK · **Posted:** Sat Oct 11, 2008 8:28 pm

wardie wrote:

I also just assumed because it was at Pt Cook and only had 10 hour A/F life left it was being retired.

Wardie - less than ten! And a couple of those were the return flight from PCK to Richmond, where it's now, presumably, parked. The Museum's not got its mitts on it!

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RAAF Herc visits Point Cook

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