A97-006 is the first H-model to be prepared for transfer to Indonesia. (Josh Williams)
The first former RAAF C-130H is being prepared for transfer to the Indonesian air force.
Photographed by H-model fan Joshua Williams at RAAF Base Richmond, A97-006 was seen departing the base on a test flight following deep-level maintenance. With evidence of significant work having been performed on the aircraft by Qantas Defence Services, it is believed -006 was the last aircraft to go through deep level maintenance under the existing contract between Defence and QDS. The aircraft was subsequently flown to Townsville for repainting.
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A Defence spokesperson told Australian Aviation: “A97-006 is expected to be the first aircraft to be transferred to Indonesia, following completion of deeper level maintenance servicing and other activities, as well as finalisation of transfer arrangements between the governments of Australian and Indonesia.”
Seems the Government has moved the goal post on this one.
Originally when it was announced that we were “gifting” 4 C130H to Indonesia (well prior to the announcement of the early retirement of the remaining 8) that the airframes being gifted where the 4 “inactive/engineless” that had been sitting at Richmond for a number of years.
As I understood it at that time, the 4 airframes were free, but Indonesia was to pay for the refurbishment costs.
Then after the May budget announcement of the early retirement of the remaining 8, Indonesia was looking to also “buy” a further 6 of the “active” airframes, eg, pay for them PLUS refurbishment costs (with the 2 remaining airframes to be retained, RAAF museum and a ground trainer).
From what I understand A97-006 was actually one of the remaining 8 “flyable” airframes, be interesting to see where the other 3 “gifted” airframes come from and if the deal to sell another 6 actually goes through.
John N
says:
EDIT:
Don’t know how the “smiley” face got in there??, the above should read “remaining 8”.
PS,
AA, is it possible to add an “edit” capability to the comments section to fix this and also typo’s??
Cheers,
John
Lindsay B
says:
I may be way off base here, but how long before the Hercs are airlifting Indonesian troops into West Papua?
Anon
says:
Or John, you could proof read your post before biting the ‘Publish’ button…
The DM of 006 was
Scheduled
Anon
says:
…was scheduled long before the retirement was announced, and the workforce had already geared up for it.
The aircraft will now go into flyable storage pending US State Dept approval of their gift/sale.
pez
says:
lol Nice work “Anon”, you throw a quick little barb in at a fellow poster, then proceed to stuff up your own post. I believe that’s known as an “own goal” 🙂
Good point John N, it’s always been a little muddy which airframes are in which group for Indonesia. I guess we’ll only really know once the last one is transferred.
John N
says:
Hi Pez,
Yes as you say, we won’t know till the final one is transferred.
But I’m pretty certain that at the time of the “original” announcement for the gifting of the 4 airframes that, publically at least, the remaining 8 active airframes were not being retired early and in fact I believe that the Government was also (at one stage) looking to extend their service life a little while longer, eg, meaning that the “gifted” airframes were the inactive ones.
At the end of the day if the deal does go ahead to sell another 6 airframes to Indonesia they will end up with 10 of the original 12 strong fleet anyway.
And yes Pez, I chose to let that little barb / bouncer from Anon go through to the keeper, couldn’t be bothered with silly stuff this early in the year!
Cheers,
John
John N
says:
Lindsay B,
That question was covered here on AA last year, see link below:
To recap, one of the Indonesian Generals was being interviewed and said, words to the effect, “there is always strings attached to any donation made by Australia”.
Firstly we have to get permission from the US for the transfer, including any conditions they place on the transfer, and then of course we also place our conditions on their use too.
The donation was made with their use being for “humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations”.
At the end of the day it was up to the Indonesian’s to either accept or decline the offer under those conditions.
But yes “technically” there is nothing to stop Indonesia from using them in the military manner you suggest, but if they did there would be a whole bunch of protests, sanctions, etc, which I don’t really think Indonesia would want to be subjected to.
Cheers,
John
Raymond
says:
Hello John N,
The reason for your earlier ‘smiley face’ was because your 8 followed by an ) parentheses is the emoticon code for ‘cool’ – hence the ‘smiley face’ sporting sunnies!
Cheers 🙂 (that one was intentional!)
Raymond
says:
PS. It’s a good idea to leave a space between to avoid this… i.e. 8 )
iscover
John N
says:Seems the Government has moved the goal post on this one.
Originally when it was announced that we were “gifting” 4 C130H to Indonesia (well prior to the announcement of the early retirement of the remaining 8) that the airframes being gifted where the 4 “inactive/engineless” that had been sitting at Richmond for a number of years.
As I understood it at that time, the 4 airframes were free, but Indonesia was to pay for the refurbishment costs.
Then after the May budget announcement of the early retirement of the remaining 8, Indonesia was looking to also “buy” a further 6 of the “active” airframes, eg, pay for them PLUS refurbishment costs (with the 2 remaining airframes to be retained, RAAF museum and a ground trainer).
From what I understand A97-006 was actually one of the remaining 8 “flyable” airframes, be interesting to see where the other 3 “gifted” airframes come from and if the deal to sell another 6 actually goes through.
John N
says:EDIT:
Don’t know how the “smiley” face got in there??, the above should read “remaining 8”.
PS,
AA, is it possible to add an “edit” capability to the comments section to fix this and also typo’s??
Cheers,
John
Lindsay B
says:I may be way off base here, but how long before the Hercs are airlifting Indonesian troops into West Papua?
Anon
says:Or John, you could proof read your post before biting the ‘Publish’ button…
The DM of 006 was
Scheduled
Anon
says:…was scheduled long before the retirement was announced, and the workforce had already geared up for it.
The aircraft will now go into flyable storage pending US State Dept approval of their gift/sale.
pez
says:lol Nice work “Anon”, you throw a quick little barb in at a fellow poster, then proceed to stuff up your own post. I believe that’s known as an “own goal” 🙂
Good point John N, it’s always been a little muddy which airframes are in which group for Indonesia. I guess we’ll only really know once the last one is transferred.
John N
says:Hi Pez,
Yes as you say, we won’t know till the final one is transferred.
But I’m pretty certain that at the time of the “original” announcement for the gifting of the 4 airframes that, publically at least, the remaining 8 active airframes were not being retired early and in fact I believe that the Government was also (at one stage) looking to extend their service life a little while longer, eg, meaning that the “gifted” airframes were the inactive ones.
At the end of the day if the deal does go ahead to sell another 6 airframes to Indonesia they will end up with 10 of the original 12 strong fleet anyway.
And yes Pez, I chose to let that little barb / bouncer from Anon go through to the keeper, couldn’t be bothered with silly stuff this early in the year!
Cheers,
John
John N
says:Lindsay B,
That question was covered here on AA last year, see link below:
http://australianaviation.com.au/2012/11/end-of-an-era-c-130h-tail-art-revealed/#comments
To recap, one of the Indonesian Generals was being interviewed and said, words to the effect, “there is always strings attached to any donation made by Australia”.
Firstly we have to get permission from the US for the transfer, including any conditions they place on the transfer, and then of course we also place our conditions on their use too.
The donation was made with their use being for “humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations”.
At the end of the day it was up to the Indonesian’s to either accept or decline the offer under those conditions.
But yes “technically” there is nothing to stop Indonesia from using them in the military manner you suggest, but if they did there would be a whole bunch of protests, sanctions, etc, which I don’t really think Indonesia would want to be subjected to.
Cheers,
John
Raymond
says:Hello John N,
The reason for your earlier ‘smiley face’ was because your 8 followed by an ) parentheses is the emoticon code for ‘cool’ – hence the ‘smiley face’ sporting sunnies!
Cheers 🙂 (that one was intentional!)
Raymond
says:PS. It’s a good idea to leave a space between to avoid this… i.e. 8 )
Raymond
says:Oh – and another tip… 🙂
You can also provide a link direct to the comment concerned, e.g. http://australianaviation.com.au/2012/11/end-of-an-era-c-130h-tail-art-revealed/comment-page-1/#comment-4539
John N
says:Raymond,
Thanks mate!!
Thought it must have been something like that!!