Civilian Hercules?
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Perth, Western Australia
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Civilian Hercules?
Yesterday I thought I saw a Hercules over Perth, the most remarkable thing was it wasn't painted in military colours.
I didn't get a very good look at it but it seemed to have a huge H painted (in white I think) on the tail, which was blue or red. My first impression was a Herc, although it could have been an An12 or something similar.
Can anyone ID it? I've tried google but haven't turned up anything and my curiosity is growing. I don't think I've ever seen a civilian herc before, if that's what it is.
I didn't get a very good look at it but it seemed to have a huge H painted (in white I think) on the tail, which was blue or red. My first impression was a Herc, although it could have been an An12 or something similar.
Can anyone ID it? I've tried google but haven't turned up anything and my curiosity is growing. I don't think I've ever seen a civilian herc before, if that's what it is.
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Sure it wasn't the Heavylift Belfast?
Big white H with red and blue accents...
An enormous trail of smoke from each engine, leading other pilots on frequency to query whether it's ops normal...
It basically looks like a big Herc.
Big white H with red and blue accents...
An enormous trail of smoke from each engine, leading other pilots on frequency to query whether it's ops normal...
It basically looks like a big Herc.
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I noticed the Hevilift B727 in Cairns is also RP registered.
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They are impressive with the noise and soot they make, and they look bigger than you expect because they are closer to you than most other aircraft when they go overhead. They must have a double digit climb rate
J
J
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I can confirm it was the Short Belfast of HeavyLift, RP-C8020, the last one flying in the world. Here's a link to recent photos:
Aviation Photos: RP-C8020
It arrived from Cairns on Monday afternoon. I saw it at the airport yesterday morning.
It departed at 08.34 yesterday from runway 21, and turned east after take-off, as if heading back to eastern states. Normally, Bali-bound aircraft turn right after take-off from rwy 21, so not sure where it was headed.
Regards,
David
Aviation Photos: RP-C8020
It arrived from Cairns on Monday afternoon. I saw it at the airport yesterday morning.
It departed at 08.34 yesterday from runway 21, and turned east after take-off, as if heading back to eastern states. Normally, Bali-bound aircraft turn right after take-off from rwy 21, so not sure where it was headed.
Regards,
David
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For those of you who love physics, this aircraft does not fly according to the laws of physics we all know and love, and hence its pathetic climb rate.
As the aircraft is so ugly and noisy it is repelled by the earths surface and as the volume of the earths surface under its fuselage and wings in cubic metres per second is increased, by accelrating along a very long runway, it gets repelled by the earth, until such a point where its speed is sufficient that it lifts off and again slowly accelerating until being pushed out of ground effect and hopefully onto its destination.
Lasio : spot on mate Several times here in Brissy I thought it was on its way to an accident, its own!
J
As the aircraft is so ugly and noisy it is repelled by the earths surface and as the volume of the earths surface under its fuselage and wings in cubic metres per second is increased, by accelrating along a very long runway, it gets repelled by the earth, until such a point where its speed is sufficient that it lifts off and again slowly accelerating until being pushed out of ground effect and hopefully onto its destination.
Lasio : spot on mate
Several times here in Brissy I thought it was on its way to an accident, its own!J
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I think you will find that the poor climb rate is a consequence of using extreme reduced power for T/O and climb - gotta look after those hot sections. This may be confirmed by the fact that, when it is empty or loaded, it appears to have the same dismal rate.
I saw it take-off outa Cairns with one engine feathered a number of years ago - yep same dismal climb rate.
I saw it take-off outa Cairns with one engine feathered a number of years ago - yep same dismal climb rate.
A couple of years ago, the Belfast had an engine failure at about 200ft on departure Cairns - it managed to climb to 400ft in about 8 track miles, obviously not helped by the SID's left turn from 15.
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It went from Perth to Hedland then direct Bali, anyone hear it on centre? was a bit of a laugh, his flight plan was for FL18, but requested FL10 with appropriate climbs to FL18 en-route as fuel load reduced, anyway about 20 minutes after his departure call, centre contacted him asking if he was maintaining. His reply was "negative passing 6000 due weight!"
Looks impressive in size and capability's but you would not call it a a sprightly performer by any stretch of the imagination!
Looks impressive in size and capability's but you would not call it a a sprightly performer by any stretch of the imagination!
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About a month ago I saw the Belfast takeoff, not unusal in itself, but I was horrified by the lack of climb performance that we witnessed as it climbed over water, which we thought must have been fully loaded.
Incidently I did see it takeoff on Monday morning and thought that the climb performance was much better than when I saw it that first time, obviously it must have been the same one that made it to Perth.
L
Incidently I did see it takeoff on Monday morning and thought that the climb performance was much better than when I saw it that first time, obviously it must have been the same one that made it to Perth.
L