A34-003 touches down at Richmond on its delivery flight. (Defence)
The third C-27J Spartan battlefield airlifter for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has arrived at RAAF Base Richmond northwest of Sydney.
A34-003 touched down on October 18 following a two-week delivery flight journey from Waco, Texas, that involved stops in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
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35 Squadron is conducting operational test and evaluation of the C-27J, along with routine training, ahead of the type’s initial operational capability. Another aircraft is expected to arrive in Australia by the end of this year, with 10 being acquired in total.
The aircraft will be based at Richmond while facilities at their permanent home at RAAF Base Amberley were being built.
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In May 2016, an RAAF C-27J Spartan suffered a reported double tyre blow-out while conducting touch-and-goes during a pilot training flight at Waco Regional Airport in Texas.
The night-time incident caused the temporary closure of the airport while the aircraft was inspected and removed from the runway. The RAAF was investigating.
What a great little tactical transport capability for the RAAF and Army.
Should get another dozen if the V-22 is not acquired in future.
Craigy
says:
looks like it is landing on the grass
Dan
says:
When is the final C-27J aircraft set to be delivered to Australia? Also, can anybody tell me when the dozen Growlers will also finally make it to the land of OZ?
Raymond
says:
Was A34-003 the aircraft involved in the Waco incident?
Derrick Aguero
says:
Great little tactical air lifter!!!
It should reduce the flight hours on the C-130J
wondering why we didn’t op for the refuelling probe to be installed???
Zac
says:
What ever happen to the damaged plane? Back flying?
Job
says:
I thought I read something some time ago, that the RAAF was interested acquiring additional 2 or 4 to be used as gunships.
Fabian
says:
If gunships are acquired, that will expand our attack ability GREATLY. But I doubt it. I didn’t see it in defence White paper. Either way, the C27j is a great aircraft.
Jason
says:
The gunship is probably off the table now that the RAAF is getting Reapers, although there will likely be some other tactical capabilities added to C-27J and C-130J in the near future.
Word is the Waco accident aircraft was quite badly bent and is yet to be repaired.
TimC69
says:
Derrick Aguero
I agree we should have refuelling probes on our Spartans and Hercs, and another two Spartans wouldn’t go astray.
Raymond
says:
Thanks Jason.
It’s been a bit of a gap since the last C-27J arrived, so I had wondered whether this was due to 003 undergoing repairs. Do you know which serial number was involved in the accident?
The ADF Serials website indicates that effectively the whole fleet should have been delivered and IOC declared by about now, especially the first five which were expected by the end of 2015. Things seemed to be on track back in June 2015…
What is the latest as far as the Reaper acquisition is concerned?
Cheers
Craigy
says:
@Jason, the RAAF is getting reapers? When was this announced?
Morris
says:
May Be RNZAF ought to consider C-27J also, would help with in Domestic service and take some of the work load of the Hercules
With a Defence Minister is not up to speed, look at a mess Christchurch is still in thanks to his stewardship
Not as New Zealand is short of money with Banker Prime Minister, they can make money out of nothing !
Time more money was spend on NZDF ……Time to consider reactivating the Strike Wing of RNZAF
with F-18
Jason
says:
Project AIR7003. Was partially announced at Avalon 2015, then it appears in the 2016 White Paper.
That Ron guy
says:
Why does everything go to Amberly these days? The A330’s, replacing Richmond’s B707’s went to Amberly. The C-17’s, brought in to assist Richmond’s Hercs went to Amberly. And now the C-27, originally sourced as a replacement for Richmond’s Caribous, are going to Amberly eventually too. I would understand if they were looking at Richmond for Sydney’s second airport, but we’ve sorted that now too. What’s wrong with Richmond?
PAUL
says:
Go the Mini Herk
Jason
says:
Richmond is too small for C-17s and A330s, and it made sense to consolidate AMG together.
KeithMcc
says:
The Government want to sell off Richmond & Point Cook for housing or whatever. Money in the pocket is far better than defense facilities, after all there will never be another war will there?
Hayden Roberts
says:
and since no, lets say angry countries are present below amberley it makes perfect sense to have more, larger northern bases and air defence/light lift multirole aircraft bases near major/important cities such as sydney, canberra and melbourne.
Tim
says:
Jason, in what way is Richmond “too small” for C-17s & A330 MRTTs?
Jason
says:
Tim, in all the important ways. The runway is too short for either type to get in and out of there with a worthwhile load, and the taxiways are too narrow and tight for the KC-30.
Peter Ferguson
says:
Richmond’s runway is very short.
Harry
says:
Australia has a lot of defence aerospace industry and engineering up there! That’s a contributing factor.
Also it’s a closer airport for the humanitarian missions they will fly. And, the light battalions that use them are stationed up there. Plus they have a bigger airfield as Jason points out.
Hayden Roberts
says:
what/where is “up there” Harry
Harry
says:
Hayden Robert? 😐
Up there” is a place that is not only discussed in the article but also in the posts above my post!
iscover
Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
Tomcatterry
says:What a great little tactical transport capability for the RAAF and Army.
Should get another dozen if the V-22 is not acquired in future.
Craigy
says:looks like it is landing on the grass
Dan
says:When is the final C-27J aircraft set to be delivered to Australia? Also, can anybody tell me when the dozen Growlers will also finally make it to the land of OZ?
Raymond
says:Was A34-003 the aircraft involved in the Waco incident?
Derrick Aguero
says:Great little tactical air lifter!!!
It should reduce the flight hours on the C-130J
wondering why we didn’t op for the refuelling probe to be installed???
Zac
says:What ever happen to the damaged plane? Back flying?
Job
says:I thought I read something some time ago, that the RAAF was interested acquiring additional 2 or 4 to be used as gunships.
Fabian
says:If gunships are acquired, that will expand our attack ability GREATLY. But I doubt it. I didn’t see it in defence White paper. Either way, the C27j is a great aircraft.
Jason
says:The gunship is probably off the table now that the RAAF is getting Reapers, although there will likely be some other tactical capabilities added to C-27J and C-130J in the near future.
Word is the Waco accident aircraft was quite badly bent and is yet to be repaired.
TimC69
says:Derrick Aguero
I agree we should have refuelling probes on our Spartans and Hercs, and another two Spartans wouldn’t go astray.
Raymond
says:Thanks Jason.
It’s been a bit of a gap since the last C-27J arrived, so I had wondered whether this was due to 003 undergoing repairs. Do you know which serial number was involved in the accident?
The ADF Serials website indicates that effectively the whole fleet should have been delivered and IOC declared by about now, especially the first five which were expected by the end of 2015. Things seemed to be on track back in June 2015…
What is the latest as far as the Reaper acquisition is concerned?
Cheers
Craigy
says:@Jason, the RAAF is getting reapers? When was this announced?
Morris
says:May Be RNZAF ought to consider C-27J also, would help with in Domestic service and take some of the work load of the Hercules
With a Defence Minister is not up to speed, look at a mess Christchurch is still in thanks to his stewardship
Not as New Zealand is short of money with Banker Prime Minister, they can make money out of nothing !
Time more money was spend on NZDF ……Time to consider reactivating the Strike Wing of RNZAF
with F-18
Jason
says:Project AIR7003. Was partially announced at Avalon 2015, then it appears in the 2016 White Paper.
That Ron guy
says:Why does everything go to Amberly these days? The A330’s, replacing Richmond’s B707’s went to Amberly. The C-17’s, brought in to assist Richmond’s Hercs went to Amberly. And now the C-27, originally sourced as a replacement for Richmond’s Caribous, are going to Amberly eventually too. I would understand if they were looking at Richmond for Sydney’s second airport, but we’ve sorted that now too. What’s wrong with Richmond?
PAUL
says:Go the Mini Herk
Jason
says:Richmond is too small for C-17s and A330s, and it made sense to consolidate AMG together.
KeithMcc
says:The Government want to sell off Richmond & Point Cook for housing or whatever. Money in the pocket is far better than defense facilities, after all there will never be another war will there?
Hayden Roberts
says:and since no, lets say angry countries are present below amberley it makes perfect sense to have more, larger northern bases and air defence/light lift multirole aircraft bases near major/important cities such as sydney, canberra and melbourne.
Tim
says:Jason, in what way is Richmond “too small” for C-17s & A330 MRTTs?
Jason
says:Tim, in all the important ways. The runway is too short for either type to get in and out of there with a worthwhile load, and the taxiways are too narrow and tight for the KC-30.
Peter Ferguson
says:Richmond’s runway is very short.
Harry
says:Australia has a lot of defence aerospace industry and engineering up there! That’s a contributing factor.
Also it’s a closer airport for the humanitarian missions they will fly. And, the light battalions that use them are stationed up there. Plus they have a bigger airfield as Jason points out.
Hayden Roberts
says:what/where is “up there” Harry
Harry
says:Hayden Robert? 😐
Up there” is a place that is not only discussed in the article but also in the posts above my post!
Jason
says:i.e. Amberley
Hayden Roberts
says:right, thanks thought so