Aircraft commander, has urged the UK Ministry of Defence to reconsider the early retirement of the C-130J Hercules fleet.

[kev994]

I thought we’re 8.1 now?

Nope. 7.1.1
Edit: here’s the upgrade schedule

CC130J Block Upgrade - Defence Capabilities Blueprint

CC130J Block Upgrade - Defence Capabilities Blueprint

dgpaapp.forces.gc.ca

 

[dimsum]

More importantly, how are the A400Ms doing? Will they be looking forward to an "Australian Defence Force - Black Hawk / MRH-90" debacle issue?

Australia Has Had Enough Of Its Dysfunctional MRH90 Helicopters

In an ironic twist, the MRH90 will be superseded by a modern version of the Black Hawk it was supposed to replace.

www.thedrive.com

 

[RedFive]

Seeing as how we'll probably still be flying them decades after everybody else has moved on we should probably pick these up at a bargain price, park 'em in the desert somewhere and when we're scavenging them for spares the headline doesn't have to say we're taking parts out of museum exhibits to keep the fleet in the air.

 

[Spencer100]

Seeing as how we'll probably still be flying them decades after everybody else has moved on we should probably pick these up at a bargain price, park 'em in the desert somewhere and when we're scavenging them for spares the headline doesn't have to say we're taking parts out of museum exhibits to keep the fleet in the air.

RCAF can have their pick of the used plane market. Your friendly neighborhood used plane salesman has some gently used C130J just coming up in the market.

Australia to replace C-130Js with new Super Hercules fleet

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will replace and expand its existing fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules tactical transports with new C-130Js.

www.flightglobal.com

 

[Kirkhill]

We used and abused them alot.

Based on what we did to them, I'd just kind of leave them on the kerb with a 'Free' sign on them... but whatever

Do they have tail numbers on them? If yes then we're good to go. As to pilots - how many civilian pilots are out there that have been released with time in Hercs? Sign them up as part-timers.

Do we need the extra flying hours or do we need surge capacity?

 

[kev994]

RCAF can have their pick of the used plane market. Your friendly neighborhood used plane salesman has some gently used C130J just coming up in the market.

Australia to replace C-130Js with new Super Hercules fleet

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will replace and expand its existing fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules tactical transports with new C-130Js.

www.flightglobal.com

Please no. Some bonehead didn’t understand the question when Lockmart asked if they wanted the high-speed ramp. He said the ramp opens fast enough. So they’ve got the only J models in the world that can’t exceed 150 knots with the ramp open, the rest of the fleet is 250.

 

[RedFive]

Please no. Some bonehead didn’t understand the question when Lockmart asked if they wanted the high-speed ramp. He said the ramp opens fast enough. So they’ve got the only J models in the world that can’t exceed 150 knots with the ramp open, the rest of the fleet is 250.

Why... why would Lockheed Martin even make that an option?

 

[dimsum]

Please no. Some bonehead didn’t understand the question when Lockmart asked if they wanted the high-speed ramp. He said the ramp opens fast enough. So they’ve got the only J models in the world that can’t exceed 150 knots with the ramp open, the rest of the fleet is 250.

150 sounds like stall speed...

 

[kev994]

150 sounds like stall speed...

It’s ~100 it’s for stall with flaps up. The issue for TAL is that you need to slow down, so more time to shoot at you. And for SAR the maneuvering is pretty aggressive and the J doesn’t slow down very well so high chance of overspeed. H has 150 ramp speed but it slows down a lot better because the props are are attached to the engine, J is a free turbine so you can’t use the props as a brake.

 

[kev994]

Why... why would Lockheed Martin even make that an option?

They were the second international customer, the plane was still pretty new at the time. Also worth noting that they seem to have been Delivered in 1999

 

[Good2Golf]

More importantly, how are the A400Ms doing? Will they be looking forward to an "Australian Defence Force - Black Hawk / MRH-90" debacle issue?

Australia Has Had Enough Of Its Dysfunctional MRH90 Helicopters

In an ironic twist, the MRH90 will be superseded by a modern version of the Black Hawk it was supposed to replace.

www.thedrive.com

Don’t forget Tiger… 😉

 

[Spencer100]

Don’t forget Tiger… 😉

We really dodged a bullet there. Just think if Xenia Onatopp had not killed the Canadian Admiral at the Tiger unveiling...we may have got them...

 

[kev994]

My buddy just picked up a brand new stubby J for the USCG so they’re still making them. It had 15 hours on it (presumably some test flights by Lockheed) and no paint.

 

[Good2Golf]

My buddy just picked up a brand new stubby J for the USCG so they’re still making them. It had 15 hours on it (presumably some test flights by Lockheed) and no paint.

Must have crazy endurance!

 

[daftandbarmy]

We really dodged a bullet there. Just think if Xenia Onatopp had not killed the Canadian Admiral at the Tiger unveiling...we may have got them...

Killer thighs... amongst other bits