C-130J Entry into Service
 

Quick one.

Trying to bottom out a discussion point.

When did the RAF take delivery of its first J model aircraft.

Thanks

Don't know exactly, but I flew in one from Lyneham in May 2000, so it must have been at least that long ago!

According to Google..Nov 99

622 said: - Correct. I was on the Q-course at the time, we watched it come in, walked round it then went back to the classroom to learn about it :8

http://www.pprune.org/military-aircr...niversary.html

Latest Herc artwork is indeed the C130J 10th Anniversary Print

(No further comment on the print, PPRuNe roolz)

The Nov '99 date is delivery date from Lockheed, there was a gap before we got our hands on them.

... although there was at least one, (C4, ZH865) in the UK in Sep 98.

Goodness gracious me.........what mark/model was I working on at Thorney Island in 1968? If it's not a security delicate question:sad:

Lot of the Js' sat around at Marshalls for a long time.

They were rolling around at Lockheed earlier than '99 ('94-95 springs to mind), but weren't completely "delivered" for quite some time...I believe, but can't remember for certain (I'm sure someone will correct me if wrong & please do), there were several issues being worked between mid-90s and first true deliveries...although the planes were actually "built" & even flying (albeit w/Lockheed pilots).

5408 (zh865) arrived at boscombe down in 1998 i pulled the bodge tape off the RAF registration myself :ok: