Image Gallery: March 2009
24 March 2009
Exercise Combined Strength 09
Exercise Combined Strength 09, hosted by NO. 37 Squadron at RAAF Base Richmond includes members of the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Danish Air Force, and Royal Air Force. Australia and Denmark will be participating directly in the exercise.
Flying will be conducted out of RAAF Bases Richmond and RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia. Flying is expected to encompass country areas of NSW (including Londonderry Drop Zone), the NSW coast, and Woomera Test Range.
Missions within the exercise will showcase a range of C-130J capabilities, including, Search and Rescue, Air drop, Formation flying and Combat airlift operations from rough airstrips.
C-130J User Group (‘JUG’)
The Royal Australian Air Force is a part of the C-130J User Group (JUG), a coalition of C-130J Hercules operators who routinely meet with representatives of Lockheed Martin to discuss issues relating to the aircraft.
The JUG is also a forum for operators to suggest and recommend further improvements to the C-130J. These improvements are then brought in on routine block upgrades as the aircraft continue their service.
Routine exercises between JUG partners – called Exercise ‘Combined Strength’ - are conducted annually, when operational demands on available aircraft permit. The RAAF last took part in Exercise Combined Strength in May 2004.
Middle East Area of Operations
Approximately 155 personnel are deployed to the RAAF’s Hercules Detachment in the Middle East Area of Operations, with approximately 70 personnel contributing directly to C-130J missions. Currently, there are three C-130J Hercules deployed to the theatre.
Australia and the C-130J
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was one of the first operators of the C-130J, along with the Royal Air Force (initial purchaser), Italian Air Force, and United States Air Force. The RAAF ordered 12 C-130J-30, a stretched variant of the aircraft, to replace 12 C-130E Hercules which had been in service with No. 37 Squadron since 1966.
The aircraft have been based at RAAF Base Richmond with No. 37 Squadron. Since delivery, they have accumulated a strong record of service, including response to the Bali Bombings in 2002/2005, Operation PNG Assist (2007), and the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami.
| 20090323raaf8165908_0019 Royal Danish Air Force C-130J crew members sit on the ramp of a Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules and watch as their aircraft departs. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323raaf8165908_0030 A Royal Danish Air Force pilot (left) observes Flight Lieutenant Glenn Bruhn, a pilot with No. 37 Squadron, as he flies over the Blue Mountains during Exercise Combined Strength 2009. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323raaf8165908_0036 C-130J Hercules pilots from No. 37 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force fly over the Blue Mountains as the sun sets. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323raaf8165908_0041 A Royal Danish Air Force pilot videos a RAAF C-130J Hercules on the dirt strip in Gilgandra, central New South Wales. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323raaf8165908_0050 First Lieutenant Steffen Jensen, a pilot with the Royal Danish Air Force, watches a No. 37 Squadron C-130J Hercules touch down on the dirt strip in Gilgandra, central New South Wales. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323raaf8165908_0062 Members of the Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF), Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force congregate under the tail of an RDAF C-130J Hercules for dinner beside the dirt strip in Gilgandra, central New South Wales. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323raaf8165908_0065 Sergeant Chris Wood, a Loadmaster with the Royal Air Force and Squadron Leader Pete Cseh, a pilot from No. 37 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force, discuss the evening's events in Gilgandra, central New South Wales, nearby a Royal Danish Air Force C-130J Hercules. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323raaf8165908_0069 A Royal Danish Air Force C-130J Hercules as the sun sets in Gilgandra, central New South Wales. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323raaf8165908_0082 Captain Mikkel Kofod, of the Royal Danish Air Force, observes the RAAF Pilots using night vision goggles during the night flying component of Exercise Combined Strength. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323raaf8194170_0008 Danish, British and Australian C-130J Hercules crews are practicing search and rescue, air drop, and tactical airlift at Exercise Combined Strength 09. The exercise will feature C-130J Hercules aircraft of both the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) in a series of missions and exercises, aimed at demonstrating to foreign crews how each air force uniquely operates the aircraft. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323raaf8194170_0011 Sergeant Chris Wood, a Loadmaster with the Royal Air Force (RAF), listens intently during a brief. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323raaf8194170_0012 (L-R) Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) Maintenance Officer, Captain Jan Jensen and Chief ATW Supply, E9 Chief Master Sergeant Morten Isaksen, listen intently during the welcome brief. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323raaf8194170_0012 No. 37 Squadron (37SQN) Pilot, Squadron Leader Peter Cseh, briefs members of the Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) and Royal Air Force at the start of Exercise Combined Strength. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323raaf8194170_0037 The visiting Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) C-130J Hercules B-538 taxis before take off to Gilgandra, during Exercise Combined Strength. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323raaf8440875_0030 A visiting Royal Danish Air Force C-130J Hercules B-538 taxis at RAAF Base Richmond for a mission to Gilgandra during Exercise Combined Strength. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323raaf8440875_0032 A visiting Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) C-130J Hercules B-538 taxis at RAAF Base Richmond for a mission to Gilgandra during Exercise Combined Strength. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323raaf8440875_0036 A Royal Danish Air Force C-130J Hercules B-538 taxis at RAAF Base Richmond for a mission to Gilgandra during Exercise Combined Strength. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323raaf8440875_0043 A Royal Danish Air Force C-130J Hercules B-538 lifts off RAAF Base Richmond's runway for a mission to Gilgandra during Exercise Combined Strength. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323raaf8540638_0025 A visiting Royal Danish Air Force C-130J Hercules, tail number B-538, taxis along the RAAF Base Richmond runway prior to taking off for a mission to Gilgandra. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323raaf8540644_0004 A visiting Royal Danish Air Force C-130J Hercules B-538 taxis down to the runway for a mission to Gilgandra. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323raaf8540644_0013 A Royal Danish Air Force C-130J Hercules B-538 taxis down to the runway for a mission to Gilgandra. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323raaf8540644_0016 The tail of a Royal Danish Air Force C-130J Hercules B-538 at RAAF Base Richmond during Exercise Combined Strength. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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