Combined strength’ puts hercules

[Guest Chainsaw]

Source: email

 

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) crews have joined with international counterparts to practice search and rescue, air drop, and tactical airlift in the C-130J Hercules this week.

Exercise Combined Strength 09 is being conducted at RAAF Base Richmond. The exercise features C-130J Hercules operators from the RAAF’s No. 37 Squadron along with counterparts from the Royal Danish Air Force and Royal Air Force. The Royal Danish Air Force has brought one of its own C-130J Hercules to take part in the exercise.

 

Squadron Leader Peter Cseh, a flight commander with RAAF’s No. 37 Squadron, said the exercise would prove a useful opportunity to see how other Air Forces ‘do business’ with the C-130J.

 

“Through Exercise Combined Strength, we have organised a variety of missions that will demonstrate different capabilities with the C-130J,

 

and observe how fellow operators plan and conduct those missions,” said Squadron Leader Cseh.

 

“Missions will include day and night-time tactical airlift flying, search and rescue practice, air drop and formation flying.”

 

The RAAF will also be demonstrating a newly introduced method of delivering cargo accurately from higher altitudes, thus increasing aircraft safety from ground fire.

 

“Exercise Combined Strength will be an important opportunity for us to share information, experience and insight in to how we operate the C-130J, and bring that practice in to effect,” said Squadron Leader Cseh.

 

Three Air Force C-130Js are deployed in the Middle East Area of Operations, providing combat airlift support to the Australian Defence Force and coalition forces.”

 

Since receiving the first of 12 C-130Js in 1999, Australia’s expertise on the C-130J has been forged in humanitarian and combat airlift at home and abroad.

 

“Australia was one of the first international operators of the C-130J, and the aircraft is often the first on the scene during a humanitarian disaster - evidenced in Bali, Sumatra, Papua New Guinea, and Iran,” said Squadron Leader Cseh.

 

Media Contact:

 

Flying Officer Eamon Hamilton:

 

02 4587 3844 or 0429 868 794

 

Defence Media Liaison:

 

02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664

 

Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of

 

Defence, Canberra, ACT

 

Phone: 02 6265 3343, Fax: 02 62656946