RAAF welcomes new battlefield airlifter seven years after Caribou retired

THE air force has unveiled the first of 10 formidable machines that are ‘designed to carry troops, supplies, equipment and hope’. Yep, hope.

Chief of air force, Air Marshal Geoff Brown, AO ... He welcomed the first RAAF C-27J Spartan aircraft in Australia at a ceremony at RAAF Base Richmond. Picture: Justin Sanson.

THE air force yesterday began repairing a major capability gap with the unveiling of the first of 10 C-27J Spartan battlefield airlifters by outgoing chief Air Marshal Geoff Brown.

Since the legendary Caribou fleet retired in 2009 the RAAF has been unable to provide the army or the government with the capacity to support forces or humanitarian missions in isolated areas serviced only by small, dirt airfields.

News_Image_File: Retiring ... Chief of the air force, Air Marshal Geoff Brown, in the cockpit of the RAAF’s first C-27J Spartan aircraft. Picture: Justin Sanson.

Speaking in a large, chilly hangar at RAAF Richmond on the base’s 90th anniversary Air Marshal Brown, who retires this Friday, said the Spartan — built by Italian firm Alenia Aermacchi and fitted out by US giant Lockheed Martin — was the world’s best air mobility platform.

“This is a formidable aircraft,” he said.

“While this Spartan is designed to carry troops, supplies and equipment, more often than not it will carry hope.”

The twin engine Spartan, which resembles a baby Hercules C-130 has an 8.56 metre long by 2.43 metres wide and 2.23 metre high cargo bay.

News_Image_File: Designed to carry troops, supplies and equipment ... A C-27J Spartan in flight. Picture: Supplied.

It can conduct a variety of missions from troop and cargo transport to aero-medical evacuation with a mix of payloads, from paratroopers to field guns.

Air Marshal Brown told News Corp that the seamless purchase of the plane followed a long line of RAAF projects that had succeeded despite the cumbersome defence purchasing process.

“In lots of ways the acquisition processes have far too many layers,” he said.

“That inhibits the job that people need to do.”

The $1.4 billion through-life cost of the Spartan fleet is seen by many as expensive, but Air Marshal Brown said the aircraft would maintain Australia’s technological edge in the region.

News_Image_File: RAAF Richmond’s 35 Squadron ... Squadron Leader Wayne Baylis inside the cockpit of the first RAAF Spartan C-27J battlefield airlifter. Picture: Justin Sanson.

He said it should not be seen as just a successor to the Caibou although it did restore tactical lift capability for land forces and regional humanitarian missions.

The Spartan can operate into 1900 airfields in Australia compared to 500 for the C-130J Hercules as well as 400 airstrips in regional countries.

It cannot match the Caribou’s short-field performance but it flies faster and higher and can carry much heavier loads.

Its pallet system can also be used seamlessly with the giant C-17 Strategic airlifter.

The 10 Spartans combined with eight C-17s, 12 C-130J Hercs and six KC-30 multi role tankers provides the RAAF with a massive troop and logistics airlift capability.

News_Image_File: Formidable aircraft ... A C-27J Spartan “Baby Herc” lands at Avalon Air Show. Picture: Supplied.

“We have an incredible spectrum of air lift,” Air Marshal Brown said.

The Spartan’s immediate role when it enters service with 35 Squadron at Richmond during 2016, before moving to Amberley near Brisbane in 2017, will be integrating with the army and particularly special-forces Commando and SAS units.

Air Marshal Brown, who is known by the nickname “dog biscuit”, said that after 35 years he would leave behind a highly capable and very well equipped modern-day air force.

“It is just great to see where the air force is at the moment.

“I wish I could press the reset button and start it all again.”

His first priority will be a lengthy break and flying his new private aircraft.

“I have got a brand new sailplane on order and I am going to do a bit of competition gliding for a while.”News_Rich_Media: Witness the exciting story of pioneering experimental aircraft, their visionary designers, the pilots who risked their lives to fly daring test missions, and the sometimes unexpected results.