Final flight after 43,000 hours

Commander Air Lift Group Air Commodore Greg Evans presses the shutdown button for the last time at the decomissioning of the C-130H flight simulator at RAAF Base Richmond. Photo by LACW Christine Williams.

By FLTLT Luane Lollback

A decommissioning ceremony for No. 36 Squadron’s C-130H flight simulator (HSIM) was held on July 3, officially marking the end of an era for the squadron.

CO 36SQN Wing Commander John Samulski and Commander Air Lift Group Air Commodore Greg Evans addressed the attendees before AIRCDRE Evans switched off the simulator for the last time.

Commissioned in 1983, the training device had become increasingly challenging to support in recent years and has been replaced by a CASA level 5 full flight simulator which has been in full-time operation since March.

The night visual display, large instructor station, punch cards and paper tape have given way to a colour visual display, touch screens and networked computers.

Although the HSIM might not be as glamorous as its replacement, the vintage of the technology by no means lessens the important function the simulator served in the provision of type conversion, emergency and NVG refresher training for pilots and flight engineers and training for technicians.

Commonly referred to as the 13th aircraft, the training device has accrued more than 43,000 “flying” hours, easily doubling the flying hours achieved by any of the aircraft in the fleet.

Interestingly, the HSIM – built by Singer Link – played an unexpected role in the testing for its replacement. Members of the test team were able to successfully negotiate the refinement of some performance parameters by asserting “well if the Singer Link can do it, why can’t this simulator?” and then demonstrating the point in question to the applicable software engineer.

The HSIM will be transferred to RAAF School of Technical Training at Wagga later this year where it will be used as a training aid for a variety of technical courses.

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