C130Js have jump on others

Static line jumping from a C130J during the C130J Paratroop Role Expansion Test and Evaluation Trial. Photo by LAC Ricky Fuller

By PTE John Wellfare

THE Air Force’s C-130J Hercules have impressed in parachute operations trials over RAAF Base Richmond.

Two Herc crews from No. 37 Squadron teamed with soldiers from Nos 3 and 4 Royal Australian Regiment in late March for six days of parachute descents in which 570 jumps took place.

In what was described by commanders as a mutually beneficial exercise, the trials helped measure the aircraft’s capabilities in parachute insertion operations and provided the parachute battalion with the opportunity to maintain a high training tempo.

37SQN Tactical Development Flight Commander Squadron Leader Paul Long said the C-130J’s reduced crew of four – compared to six in a C-130H – had not reduced the aircraft’s effectiveness during the trials.

“It’s had some untrue rumours spread about it, but it’s proven to be as capable, if not more capable, than previous models,” SQNLDR Long said.

“I actually find the J-model better than the older models, with reduced crew and computer-generated air-release point, which has proven to be more consistently accurate.”

In addition to testing the new aircraft, SQNLDR Long said the trials had also identified deficiencies in parachute insertion techniques and problems in the existing parachute retrieval procedures had been rectified as a result.

“We are now probably the world leaders in the parachute retrieval system,” he said.

3RAR Air Operations staff were also impressed with the enhanced capabilities of the new aircraft, particularly its capacity to accurately insert paratroopers in a designated area.

“It had a marked improvement in regards to putting paratroopers on the drop zone,” 3RAR Air Operations Officer Captain Kahlil Fegan said. “In many cases they were putting the first paratrooper within 10m of the alpha, which is obviously very good. The rate of injuries during this particular period of training was also very light.”

The inclusion of 37SQN’s J-models in the parachute battalion group gives airborne planners a higher capacity for inserting paratroopers, providing more aircraft for large-scale, aircraft-intensive parachute drops.

“The main advantage for us as far as the parachute battalion group is concerned is that we now have more aircraft to conduct training with,” CAPT Fegan said. “It’s a good aircraft, it’s a viable aircraft and it’s a safe aircraft to jump from so it offers ... another capability that we can utilise effectively.”

.