RAF C-130J's to be retired early?
Try my #79 from this morning
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,937
Received 2,851 Likes
on
1,219 Posts
Last edited by NutLoose; 25th Oct 2022 at 15:46.
nothing seen, nutty..?
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Sycamore. One way round this is to select "quote", then go to "copy link address". Open a new tab. "paste and go to". Works. It's what I use to follow the Twitter links on the Ukraine site.
It looks like just what we need. maybe the RAF should buy some.
It looks like just what we need. maybe the RAF should buy some.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,937
Received 2,851 Likes
on
1,219 Posts
I have added it in quotes, I didn't realise we had the same problem with Utube, my apologies.. The RAF made a Herc sales film.
"maybe the RAF should buy some"
With what ? the likelihood is more cuts not more money
With what ? the likelihood is more cuts not more money
I've just - well, half an hour ago - had an email notification that David Thompson has replied to this thread. But his reply has not materialised, which makes me think it has been binned by someone frightfully important.
Just in case it's merely a cockup, here's what he offered - a succinct summing of the situation so far from the Dutch Aviation Society Scramble online mag.
https://www.scramble.nl/military-new...fleet-for-sale
Can't see why we shouldn't see this - anyone?
airsound
Just in case it's merely a cockup, here's what he offered - a succinct summing of the situation so far from the Dutch Aviation Society Scramble online mag.
https://www.scramble.nl/military-new...fleet-for-sale
Can't see why we shouldn't see this - anyone?
airsound
Can't see why it might be canned - it just tells us what we pretty much know anyway - maybe the mods don't like embedded links tho' they've become hard to see recently on and some posts (check some of ORAC's for example) appear totally blank - but if you hit "Quote" the embedded link appears
Administrator
Thank you for following up, in case others find that article to be of interest.
T28B
OK, thanks T28B!
Although the piece didn't tell us much that was new, it did tell it in a succinct way - and I also thought it was of interest that it came from a Dutch site.
airsound
Although the piece didn't tell us much that was new, it did tell it in a succinct way - and I also thought it was of interest that it came from a Dutch site.
airsound
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
https://t.co/011Xzbctoy
Final RAF C-130J mission set for 17 June 2023 as Hercules retirement nears
17-04-2023
The UK’s long history as an operator of the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules will all but come to an end on 17 June 2023
when the Royal Air Force (RAF) performs its final mission with the type.
Consisting of a three-ship fly-past as part of the King’s Birthday celebrations,
the sortie will be a bittersweet moment
ahead of the official retirement of the RAF’s remaining J-model aircraft on 30 June 2023.
Defence officials announced in 2021’s Integrated Review
that the 15-strong C-130J fleet would be retired by 2023 due to cost savings,
with operations transitioning to the Airbus Defence & Space A400M.
That date was subsequently extended until end-June due to availability issues with the European type.
Group Captain Gareth Burdett, Commander Air Wing – Air Mobility, says just six Hercules remain in RAF service.
Those already withdrawn from use have been relocated to Marshall Aerospace in Cambridge
where they are being prepared for sale.
Although concerns had been raised at the A400M’s ability to take on all the missions performed by the smaller C-130J,
Burdett says the Atlas has risen to the challenge.
“There will be some capability gaps in very niche areas,
all of the capability improvements have been significantly accelerated
since the decision to sunset the Hercules was taken.
“Many have been brought forward by a number of years and the most critical capabilities have had the gap eradicated.”
He cites the A400M’s better range and payload over the C-130J,
and its short-runway performance, as key attributes for end-users.
“What our customers are saying is
that they appreciate the benefits and enhancements
the A400M can bring over the C-130
in almost every regard that enables them to deliver their mission more effectively,” he says.
Reliability and availability have been a concern for all users of the A400M,
with the type’s Europrop TP400 engines posing a particular issue.
Burdett says the situation has improved thanks to joint efforts by Airbus Defence & Space and the Ministry of Defence, adding:
“While we are yet to see the full benefit that their brochure promised,
certainly we are seeing a stable and useable amount of aircraft
that reflects the availability we’d expect from other [transport aircraft] fleets.”
The RAF as operates 21 A400Ms; a 22nd and final example will be delivered by the end of the month, adds Burdett.
The UK has been a C-130 operator since the mid-1960s, taking delivery of its latest J-model examples from 1999.
17-04-2023
The UK’s long history as an operator of the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules will all but come to an end on 17 June 2023
when the Royal Air Force (RAF) performs its final mission with the type.
Consisting of a three-ship fly-past as part of the King’s Birthday celebrations,
the sortie will be a bittersweet moment
ahead of the official retirement of the RAF’s remaining J-model aircraft on 30 June 2023.
Defence officials announced in 2021’s Integrated Review
that the 15-strong C-130J fleet would be retired by 2023 due to cost savings,
with operations transitioning to the Airbus Defence & Space A400M.
That date was subsequently extended until end-June due to availability issues with the European type.
Group Captain Gareth Burdett, Commander Air Wing – Air Mobility, says just six Hercules remain in RAF service.
Those already withdrawn from use have been relocated to Marshall Aerospace in Cambridge
where they are being prepared for sale.
Although concerns had been raised at the A400M’s ability to take on all the missions performed by the smaller C-130J,
Burdett says the Atlas has risen to the challenge.
“There will be some capability gaps in very niche areas,
all of the capability improvements have been significantly accelerated
since the decision to sunset the Hercules was taken.
“Many have been brought forward by a number of years and the most critical capabilities have had the gap eradicated.”
He cites the A400M’s better range and payload over the C-130J,
and its short-runway performance, as key attributes for end-users.
“What our customers are saying is
that they appreciate the benefits and enhancements
the A400M can bring over the C-130
in almost every regard that enables them to deliver their mission more effectively,” he says.
Reliability and availability have been a concern for all users of the A400M,
with the type’s Europrop TP400 engines posing a particular issue.
Burdett says the situation has improved thanks to joint efforts by Airbus Defence & Space and the Ministry of Defence, adding:
“While we are yet to see the full benefit that their brochure promised,
certainly we are seeing a stable and useable amount of aircraft
that reflects the availability we’d expect from other [transport aircraft] fleets.”
The RAF as operates 21 A400Ms; a 22nd and final example will be delivered by the end of the month, adds Burdett.
The UK has been a C-130 operator since the mid-1960s, taking delivery of its latest J-model examples from 1999.
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: In the State of Denial
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 0
Received 146 Likes
on
28 Posts
A sad but inevitable day, the RAF may regret losing the J in the longer term at a time when the French & Germans have acquired them to supplement their A400M fleets. The latter is a good aircraft but availability and reliability are questionable, particularly where tactical missions are concerned. Even if A400M is able to step up to the mark it still represents a considerable loss of aircraft and a reduction in the potential effort the AT force is able to project.
Is there any role that hasn't seen a "considerable loss of aircraft"?
I guess if you buy the latest (and theoretically most capable) and don't increase the budget to match you finish up a lot less airframes.
I guess if you buy the latest (and theoretically most capable) and don't increase the budget to match you finish up a lot less airframes.
The RAF will use J Models to celebrate the King's Birthday.....now that folks is cost savings RAF style for. you!
Are there no A400's available for that tasking?
Are there no A400's available for that tasking?
Precisely the logic that persuaded the MoD that we need half as many A400Ms as they are 'twice as capable' as the C-130.
Someone will be along to edit this list I presume.
https://military-history.fandom.com/...ules_operators
https://military-history.fandom.com/...ules_operators