Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF] News, Discussions and Updates

John Newman

John Newman

The Bunker Group
ngatimozart said:
The first RAAF C27J has had its maiden flight. The first two aircraft are due in Australia in 2015. First flight for RAAF C-27J | Australian Aviation Magazine with photo. It's not an all grey paint scheme, with the undersides pained a light grey and the rest what appears to be a darkish green blue colour.
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Yes it does look like a blue/green colour, or it could just be the light.

The paint scheme looks very similar to what appeared on some of the C-130H near the end of their service life, see link below for comparison:

http://www.planecrazydownunder.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ep99-cover-upload.jpg
 
t68

t68

Well-Known Member
An article in today's Daily Telegraph about the VIP transports and the whining from the press gallery about having to use private means of following the PM around. My thoughts are tough luck but the politics of it mean to try and favour curry with them.

My thoughts are Keep the existing fleet and increase the MRTT to Squadron size and let the press fly in those the EX PM used it but I feel the PM should have their own plane equipped with all the comms gear needed to be kept in the loop at all times might be more money in the long run but it increase the flexability of the RAAF not only here but abroad.
 
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Raven22

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
t68 said:
An article in today's Daily Telegraph about the VIP transports and the whining from the press gallery about having to use private means of following the PM around. My thoughts are tough luck but the politics of it mean to try and favour curry with them.

My thoughts are Keep the existing fleet and increase the MRTT to Squadron size and let the press fly in those the EX PM used it but I feel the PM should have their own plane equipped with all the comms gear needed to be kept in the loop at all times might be more money in the long run but it increase the flexability of the RAAF not only here but abroad.
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I read that too. The article mentioned that the A330 and Boeing 777 were likely candidates. Surely the B777 is too big. Surely the best bet is just to buy a couple of extra A330s. The VIP jets could be 'fitted for but not with' the AAR gear, so in the event of an emergency the AAR gear could be attached, a qualified crew found, and voila - two extra tankers.
 
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rjtjrt

Member
This in a year where they are preparing the voters for a hard cost cutting budget that will cause those same voters pain, but stiff upper lip as it is all for the country.
By the way, mustn't refer to them as VIP aircraft - they are Special Purpose Aircraft, far far different beast.
 
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Volkodav

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
rjtjrt said:
This in a year where they are preparing the voters for a hard cost cutting budget that will cause those same voters pain, but stiff upper lip as it is all for the country.
By the way, mustn't refer to them as VIP aircraft - they are Special Purpose Aircraft, far far different beast.
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I would go the other way and have any bit of kit the ADF really wanted append "Prime-ministerial Saluting Platform" to its name and see what happens. There is a definite need for some armoured, self propelled 155mm Prime-ministerial Saluting Platform's at the moment, in fact we could probably justify 21 of them at each of the ADFs superbases should the PM ever visit and need to be saluted.
 
A

ADMk2

Just a bloke
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
Raven22 said:
I read that too. The article mentioned that the A330 and Boeing 777 were likely candidates. Surely the B777 is too big. Surely the best bet is just to buy a couple of extra A330s. The VIP jets could be 'fitted for but not with' the AAR gear, so in the event of an emergency the AAR gear could be attached, a qualified crew found, and voila - two extra tankers.
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Where's the like button for this? :D

We even have 3 options available for A330's at the original price we bought them for, from Airbus...
 
V

Volkodav

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
ADMk2 said:
Where's the like button for this? :D

We even have 3 options available for A330's at the original price we bought them for, from Airbus...
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Saw one a few times over the last couple of weeks, on the tarmac at RAAF Darwin and in the air, a surprisingly large aircraft. Would be good to see some more come on line as tankers, flesh out the capability to a full sqn.
 
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rjtjrt

Member
The only realistic option as I see it is for a buy of one or more full spec (ie fitted with refuelling pods and boom) A330/MRTT's, specifying they come with cargo door and floor, say these are needed for "disaster and humanitarian" relief, and we need the new ones with the now available cargo door, then quietly add VIP cabin upgrade to 2 of the original A330/MRTT's and ask the media not to highlight the latter, which they probably would agree to as not sacrificing their principles too much.
I really should get a job with the spin merchants.
 
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ADMk2

Just a bloke
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
rjtjrt said:
The only realistic option as I see it is for a buy of one or more full spec (ie fitted with refuelling pods and boom) A330/MRTT's, specifying they come with cargo door and floor, say these are needed for "disaster and humanitarian" relief, and we need the new ones with the now available cargo door, then quietly add VIP cabin upgrade to 2 of the original A330/MRTT's and ask the media not to highlight the latter, which they probably would agree to as not sacrificing their principles too much.
I really should get a job with the spin merchants.
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Or just buy the 3 options we have, one comes with a boom and the full refuelling / EW / Comms kit, the other two don't. The two non-boom jets are fitted with VIP suites and are "fitted for but not with" booms / pods / EW / military comms for contingency operations (those are stored for rapid fitting as needed) and the boom equipped jet is added to the fleet to boost availability for this precious resource.

Given our increased "large aircraft" purchases since the 5 were decided upon, adding a refueller aircraft plus two "contingency" aircraft would be a most acceptable way of increasing overall capability and dealing with the political reality RAAF is forced to dwell within.
 
t68

t68

Well-Known Member
Looking at a list of Aircraft used the heads of goverment & state most members of the G20 use airbus A330 or smaller and Boeing 737 with Japan and the US the exceptions, also the Japanese aircraft are used to transport troop as well and has seating for approx 140 pax and plan to replace with either Boeing 777 or 787.

The US replacement aircraft has a requirement of 4 engines so it's either an A380 or Boeing 747-8 but cannot see them going with Airbus. But either way it's a political hot potato here as the politicians don't want to be seen as to grand.

I believe because of our long distance for the PM to travel they need an appropriate aircraft that will be used exclusively by them while conducting matter of national importance and have the ability to keep on top of things domestically as well but this bullshit of the media whining about how they have to travel.

Imagine the outcry by media if they fly on the PM jet and have to pay the same rate as Qantas to get on board they would go ballistic it's all about saving the $ for the media.
 
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rjtjrt

Member
ADMk2 said:
Or just buy the 3 options we have, one comes with a boom and the full refuelling / EW / Comms kit, the other two don't. The two non-boom jets are fitted with VIP suites and are "fitted for but not with" booms / pods / EW / military comms for contingency operations (those are stored for rapid fitting as needed) and the boom equipped jet is added to the fleet to boost availability for this precious resource. .
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If we go that route, can we add the cargo door and floor to any of them, and still retain the favourable price? (I realise it wouldn't come as a free upgrade, but as I understand it the options are at an original and favourable price.)
 
A

ADMk2

Just a bloke
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
rjtjrt said:
If we go that route, can we add the cargo door and floor to any of them, and still retain the favourable price? (I realise it wouldn't come as a free upgrade, but as I understand it the options are at an original and favourable price.)
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I doubt it. I imagine that any modifications are going to drive up the price.
 
John Newman

John Newman

The Bunker Group
If I remember correctly the BBJ's and Challenger 604's of 34 Sqn are leased and not owned, so sure the BBJ's might well be replaced by larger and more capable A330's, but if the Government does go down the same lease path again, I can't see that the A330's (if they are selected) would be anything but standard commercial jets configured for VIP work.

If on the other hand the Government decided to buy the replacement aircraft outright, then it would probably be a good idea to kill two birds with one stone and revisit the idea of obtaining the three KC-30A's that were the unexercised options.

Maybe you don't have all three totally configured and fitted with the booms and pods, but at least have them fully wired and plumbed for if and when the need arises.
 
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