RAF Hercules' final trip from Wiltshire to Staffordshire.

[Al R]

BBC News - RAF Hercules' final trip from Wiltshire to Staffordshire (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-12146552)

I assume it was an old, clapped out one - always sad to see though.

[orgASMic]

I am assuming that the airframe was already unairworthy before begin dismantled. Having looked at Hixon (the frame's final destination) on Google maps, the old airfield looks good enough for a Herc to land on, saving a lot of low-loader time and giving a crew, TacATC and the Fire Det another TLZ tick.

[Navy_Adversary]

Looks like an ex 47 one?:8

[SirPeterHardingsLovechild]

I think its XV305

[Mr C Hinecap]

saving a lot of low-loader time and giving a crew, TacATC and the Fire Det another TLZ tick

If you think an airframe 'going for dismantling' has anything on it that couldn't already be removed....

I'm happy that the current op tempo has crews, TacATC and fire well versed in procedures - we don't need the expense of reverse engineering the delivery of scrap.

[Rocket2]

Just idle curiosity, is a K destined to go to Cosford?

[orgASMic]

I did assume that the airframe was unairworthy beforehand.

Conversely, if it were flyable, why not fly it into Hixton and asset-strip it there? The job is being done anyway and I am sure that 1 artic full of salvagable parts being trucked back to Lyneham would be cheaper than 3 or 4 low-loaders taking the airframe away. Just a thought, not worth losing sleep over.

[Top Bunk Tester]

SPHLC

It is indeed XV305

[Wycombe]

One would imagine bridge clearances might have been a bit tight :uhoh:

[Top Bunk Tester]

Error: Double post

[SirPeterHardingsLovechild]

why not fly it into Hixton

Probably because the bidding process was a bit drawn out for this and (at least another two) frames, and because at some stage they became the responsibility of the Disposals Agency, and possibly they are being transported at the buyers expense?

[proplover]

Think you'll find Hixon is unusable to land aircraft, apart from the the raised tarmac road section and roundabout on the main runway both the remaining bits of the runways are very rutted and have major potholes in them. Anyone landing there may have the aircraft reduced to "parts" within a very short space of time!

[parabellum]

Just a question here, as I have no idea how the MOD/RAF thinks, but, would they have considered making the aircraft a dedicated parachute training aircraft, no pressurised cycles etc. just to clear the backlog of paras who have yet to do their qualifying jumps? Or will this be a case of time expired components that cannot be re-furbished etc.?

[Sook]

The wings have had it and it will cost too much to buy any more new sets to keep them going for another year and a bit.

[AARON O'DICKYDIDO]

;)

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said the load was one of the largest to have been transported on the county's roads.

Its been done before. 1976, XV181 from Thorney Island to Cambridge.

[flipster]

Sad to see!
I note XV305 is my log-book a number of times, the last occasion into Afghanistan.
It makes one feel rather old and past-it! (No sarcastic replies necc, tvm)
flipster

[ancientaviator62]

XV 305 in my log book for the first time in Nov 68 ! I really do feel ancient !
Are there plans to donate a 'K' to the RAF Museum ? I would hope so even in this money grabbing age.

[Herod]

Old and past-it? My last time in 305 was Khartoum - Akrotiri, 1 Feb 1975. Nearly 36 years ago.

[bunta130]

My last trip in 305 was Souda Bay - Odiham on 18 Jul 2001.....the month before to Sierra Leone and back too....

No such variety for today's generation.....:hmm:

On another tack - first time in 305 was a CPT (that dates me) in Feb 1986

[TheWizard]

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said the load was one of the largest to have been transported on the county's roads.

;)

Its been done before. 1976, XV181 from Thorney Island to Cambridge.

That's a hell of a way to get to Cambridge, via Wiltshire!

[FTE Pruner]

Originally Posted by AARON O'DICKYDIDO http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/439056-raf-hercules-final-trip-wiltshire-staffordshire.html#post6171595)
http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/wink2.gif

Its been done before. 1976, XV181 from Thorney Island to Cambridge.

How about from Tucson in the USA to Cambridge (to be fitted with a glass cockpit and FMS upgrade for the RNLAF) - albeit there was some help from a boat en route!

[billynospares]

First of many to make that trip unfortunately :{

[cokecan]

i drove past it - and thought 'What The Fcuk?'.

oddly, it appeared - on the rear of the fusilage - to have a painted over USAF marking, any ideas?

(think of a low-viz USAF star, circle and horizontal bars, and paint over it with grey primer paint. right hand side of the aircraft, a little less than half way up, and forward of the rear cargo ramp). astonished it was RAF, i was convinced it was USAF - but i was going quite fast on the opposite direction....

[AARON O'DICKYDIDO]

;)

OK you win that one. It was via the A34 just missing Wiltshire.

We also brought one back from Norway in 1975(?) by way of a landing craft. Although the aircraft was in fairly small pieces having been dismantled following an accident where it went off into a ditch if my memory serves me right.

[Chugalug2]

First flight in XV305 August 1968 (30 Sqn, RAF Fairford) on MCT. OMG, that's more than 42 years ago! So much water, so many bridges...
Interesting fact re Hixon on a link from the link from the OP (if you follow!):-
Named 30 OTU on account of its 30 Wellington Bombers
So that's what those numbers meant!

[stevef]

XV305 - was this a 70 Sqn aircraft that (according to rumour) crept forward into a hangar door in Akrotiri around 1974 during a running crew change-over and damaged the nose? Flew back to Colerne unpressurised for repair?

[FTE Pruner]

OK you win that one.

There can't be many hercs that are transported like this that fly again either :D! The Tucson to Cambridge was done with two airframes I believe!

[WIDN62]

The fuselage of 305 is bigger than that of 181 - so don't knock Wiltshire's finest!

[TEEEJ]

The markings are the RAF roundel and serial covered over. There is also some spray painted lettering on the starboard side near the bottom.

Goodbye C-130K XV305... (http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30089)

TJ

[TEEEJ]

Second RAF Hercules aircraft to be transported by road

Three Hercules aircraft are being transported over three weekends

RAF Hercules makes final journey Transporting an RAF Hercules

Motorists are being warned two large loads consisting of a Hercules C130 aircraft fuselage and its wings will be moving from Wiltshire to Staffordshire on Sunday.
......

BBC News - Second RAF Hercules aircraft to be transported by road (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-12194519)

[WE992]

The second fuselage went along the A3102 passed the main gate at 07.55 this morning. A strange site from inside the gate!

[Jambo Jet]

I flew XV305 on 16 Mar 2002; Thumrait - Seeb and then onto other places. AUW 84 tonnes( authorised, interesting takeoff brief that evening ) , cruise ceiling 145 for a long time... Surprised its lasted so long; although IIRC it was the FI aircraft for a lot of the noughties

[Dengue_Dude]

Sad as it is, at least this is a retirement - unlike poor old 304.

305 was the first aircraft to be painted grey/green instead of crud and custard.

I was QRA Eng the day it arrived from Marshalls with new centre section and colour scheme, the crew coach driver and myself peered through the hangar doors over on B line hangars to have a look - it was REALLY smart then (it was still a 'short' one then).

Ah well, it'll probably come back as a frying pan or two . . .