Image Gallery: October 2010
18 October 2010
Airborne dispatch preparations for Exercise Hamel
Exercise Hamel 2010 is proving a key opportunity for Air Force to demonstrate its air mobility capability.
The deployment of service personnel to RAAF Base Townsville for the exercise has required a number of different Air Lift Group aircraft, flying both nationally and internationally.
A major highlight for Air Force came on October 12 when it flew an airborne insertion of 220 paratroopers from 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, to a drop zone in northern Queensland. Air Force aircraft also airdropped pallets containing landrovers, trailers, and other cargo items for paratroops.
The airdrop was accomplished utilising C-130 Hercules from No. 37 Squadron and a C-17A from No. 36 Squadron. The C-17A was used for paratroop and airdrop of cargo, making Australia the only non-US operator of the C-17A to utilise the aircraft in this role.
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Members of Air Force's No. 1 Airfield Operations Support Squadron (1AOSS) and Army's No. 176 Air Dispatch Squadron (176ADSQN) load pallets onto a C-130J at RAAF Base Townsville during Exercise Hamel.
(Date taken: 11 October 2010)
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A C-17A Globemaster from No. 36 Squadron on the ground at RAAF Base Townsville during Exercise Hamel.
(Date taken: 11 October 2010)
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Members of No. 3 Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) load their equipment onto a No. 36 Squadron (36SQN) C-17 prior to departure during Exercise Hamel, at RAAF Base Townsville. A C-130J Hercules from No. 37 Squadron sits in the background.
(Date taken: 11 October 2010)
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Members of No. 3 Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) load their equipment onto a No. 36 Squadron (36SQN) C-17 prior to departure during Exercise Hamel, at RAAF Base Townsville. A C-130J Hercules from No. 37 Squadron sits in the background.
(Date taken: 11 October 2010)
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Members of No. 1 Airfield Operations Support Squadron (1AOSS), No. 176 Air Dispatch Squadron (176ADSQN), load a pallet containing a Landrover and trailer onto a No. 36 Squadron (36SQN) C-17A during Exercise Hamel at RAAF Base Townsville.
(Date taken: 11 October 2010)
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Members of Air Force's No. 1 Airfield Operations Support Squadron (1AOSS), and Army's No. 176 Air Dispatch Squadron (176ADSQN), load a pallet containing a Landrover and trailer onto a No. 36 Squadron (36SQN) C-17A during Exercise Hamel at RAAF Base Townsville.
(Date taken: 11 October 2010)
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Loadmasters from No. 36 Squadron work prepare restrains on a pallet containing a Landrover and trailer inside a No. 36 Squadron (36SQN) C-17A during Exercise Hamel at RAAF Base Townsville.
(Date taken: 11 October 2010)
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Members of No. 3 Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) with cargo and vehicles inside a No. 36 Squadron (36SQN) C-17, prior to a para insertion to Charters Towers during Exercise Hamel.
(Date taken: 12 October 2010)
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"Are you ready?" Lance Corporal Shane Cavagnino from No. 3 Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) checks troops and their equipment prior to a para insertion on board a No. 36 Squadron (36SQN) C-17 during Exercise Hamel.
(Date taken: 12 October 2010)
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A pallet containing a loaded Landrover on board a No. 36 Squadron C-17A Globemaster at RAAF Base Townsville during Exercise Hamel. The Landrover has been configured for airdrop, as evidenced by the pallet being fitted with cardboard to absorb the impact of hitting the ground during the parachute descent.
(Date taken: 12 October 2010)
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Members of Army's No. 176 Air Dispatch Squadron (176ADSQN) Private Dane Madley, Lance Corporal Michael Dunstan and Private David Ogier perform function tests on a Extraction Force Transfer Coupling (EFTC) prior to a load drop during from a C-17 flight during Exercise Hamel.
(Date taken: 12 October 2010)
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The first pallet in a sequential load is dispatched out the back of a No. 36 Squadron (36SQN) C-17 during Exercise Hamel.
(Date taken: 12 October 2010)
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The second-to-last pallet is dispatched out the back of a No. 36 Squadron (36SQN) C-17 during Exercise Hamel.
(Date taken: 12 October 2010)
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Members of Air Force's No. 1 Airfield Operations Support Squadron (1AOSS) and Army's No. 176 Air Dispatch Squadron (176ADSQN) load pallets onto a No. 36 Squadron (36SQN) C-17 during Exercise Hamel at RAAF Base Townsville.
(Date taken: 12 October 2010)
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An Army Bulldozer sits on a pallet configured for airdrop, prior to being loaded on board an Air Force C-17A during Exercise Hamel.
(Date taken: 12 October 2010)
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Members of Air Force's No. 1 Airfield Operations Support Squadron (1AOSS) and Army's No. 176 Air Dispatch Squadron (176ADSQN) load pallets onto a No. 36 Squadron (36SQN) C-17 during Exercise Hamel at RAAF Base Townsville. The pallet contains a roller, and has been configured for airdrop from the C-17A.
(Date taken: 12 October 2010)
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