Additional C-17 for RAAF.

[corsair67]

At last, commonsense prevails!

I still think six would be better than five........




Stephen Smith
Minister for Defence
&
Jason Clare
Minister for Defence Materiel


C-17A Globemaster III Letter of Request


Australia is investigating the purchase of an additional C-17A Globemaster III heavy lift aircraft Minister for Defence Stephen Smith said today.

Australia has sent a Letter of Request to the United States regarding the potential purchase of an additional C-17A aircraft through the United States Foreign Military Sales program, formally seeking cost and availability information.

Mr Smith said the Royal Australian Air Force currently had four C-17A Aircraft. They were delivered over the period 2006 to 2008. The first of these became operational in 2007, providing the Australian Defence Force with a global airlift capability.

Recent events in Queensland and Christchurch have underlined the C 17s as an essential part of Australia’s capacity to respond to natural disasters both within Australia and within our region.

While disaster relief has been a recent public focus for C-17 operations, they continue to support Australian and International Security Assistance Forces in Afghanistan and the Middle East, meeting their primary purpose in providing military long-range heavy airlift.

The C 17A aircraft can lift very large and heavy cargoes over long distances providing a significant contribution to Australia’s ability to reach and respond to events. One C 17A can carry up to four C-130 Hercules loads in a single lift and cover twice the distance in three-quarters of the time of a C 130 Hercules.

Mr Smith said that acquisition of an additional C-17 would almost certainly obviate any need for the acquisition of two additional C-130J-30 aircraft under project AIR 8000 Phase 1.

As outlined in the Public Defence Capability Plan, the additional C-130J acquisition is planned for final decision by Government in the period 2013-14 to FY 2014-15.

Following receipt of cost and availability information from the United States, the Government will make a decision about purchase based on capability, cost and schedule assessments of an additional C-17.

[Ykato]

5th C-17 Globemaster being considered

Mr Smith said one C-17 could carry four times the cargo load of a C-130 and cover twice the distance in three-quarters of the time.

New Zealand might get some use from this aircraft.

Mr Smith said he and New Zealand defence Minister Wayne Mapp agreed last month on enhanced cooperation, coordination and sharing in airlift.

news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/5th-c17-globemaster-being-considered-20110228-1bbn4.html

[beagle]

Why don't we buy the 6th one and use the RAAF for ILM, DLM maintenance.
Maybe we should have got one while they were getting their 4 and we would have been sweet while the Herks were in upgrade phase.

[ErrolC]

Mar 2, 2011 7:34:20 GMT 12 beagle said:

Why don't we buy the 6th one and use the RAAF for ILM, DLM maintenance.
Maybe we should have got one while they were getting their 4 and we would have been sweet while the Herks were in upgrade phase.

Or we get another B757 and cross-share? I assume they are somewhat cheaper than a Aussie tanker/transport.

[beagle]

Pretty sure once they get all 5 of their MRTT's up and running this year they won't have any pax transport problems and would not need that role performed by us.

[beagle]

There is word that we, the tax payers might be putting some money towards this new RAAF C-17. That will get the grafitti kids back out at WP pretty quick..

[guest]

Press release today:

www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2011/Australia_11-10.pdf

[30sqnatc]

Mar 10, 2011 16:13:02 GMT 12 guest said:

Press release today:

www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2011/Australia_11-10.pdf

Purchase to include up to four engines - hmm will we see a two or three engine C-17. That is one way to cut operating costs. I'm sure it was the bean counters not the operators who suggested that

[11SQNLDR]

Mar 12, 2011 7:41:01 GMT 12 30sqnatc said:

Mar 10, 2011 16:13:02 GMT 12 guest said:

Press release today:

www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2011/Australia_11-10.pdf

Purchase to include up to four engines - hmm will we see a two or three engine C-17. That is one way to cut operating costs. I'm sure it was the bean counters not the operators who suggested that

Do you seriously think the aircraft could be ordered with less than 4 engines bolted to the airframe ;D

Up to four additional spares I suggest is what is implied here

[kb]

All joking aside I think it is possible that they may order less than four engines. My surmise is based on the possibility that ADF have been told if they want the C-17 they have to keep their costs down and have decided they can supply one or more of their current spares.

Of course they know that once they get the aircraft they can make a future case for additional engines.

[30sqnatc]

Mar 12, 2011 7:55:45 GMT 12 11SQNLDR said:

Mar 12, 2011 7:41:01 GMT 12 30sqnatc said:

Purchase to include up to four engines - hmm will we see a two or three engine C-17. That is one way to cut operating costs. I'm sure it was the bean counters not the operators who suggested that

Do you seriously think the aircraft could be ordered with less than 4 engines bolted to the airframe ;D Up to four additional spares I suggest is what is implied here

I had realised that but actually yes in these tight fiscal times an aircraft could be ordered with less than it full quota of engines provided by the manfacturer as one or more could be GFE taken from existing stocks. After all isn't the airframe just there to hold all the rotables together.

[Dave Homewood]

Beagle, where did you hear that about a NZ contribution to the purchase? Was it in an official news agency (TV, radio, newspaper) or did you hear it from a mate? Interesting prospect. RNZAF may = Royal New Zealand ANZAC Force?

[Calum]

Mar 12, 2011 9:58:33 GMT 12 kb said:

All joking aside I think it is possible that they may order less than four engines. My surmise is based on the possibility that ADF have been told if they want the C-17 they have to keep their costs down and have decided they can supply one or more of their current spares.

Of course they know that once they get the aircraft they can make a future case for additional engines.

This sounds closer to the mark

[Ykato]

Smith confirms C-17 purchase
ipswich-news.whereilive.com.au/news/story/raaf-base-amberley-near-ipswich-will-become-home-to-another-c-17-says-defence-minister-stephen-smith

[beagle]

Mar 12, 2011 16:55:45 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Beagle, where did you hear that about a NZ contribution to the purchase? Was it in an official news agency (TV, radio, newspaper) or did you hear it from a mate? Interesting prospect. RNZAF may = Royal New Zealand ANZAC Force?

Dave, it was on Airliners.net
military forum / another c17 for raaf

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks. With the spending moratoreum I doubt NZ will be getting involved now sadly.

[beagle]

i wonder if they will paint RAAF down one side and RNZAF the other side...

[yak2]

Apr 7, 2011 15:31:24 GMT 12 beagle said:

i wonder if they will paint RAAF down one side and RNZAF the other side...

Haven't you blokes done enuff painting on our C17's ;D
Here's a thought. Air America aircraft had channels fitted to the fuselage so that national markings could be easily changed to suit the circumstances. Pic of 'Laotian' T28 courtesy Wings Palette/ACIG

[Andy Wright]

OMG, YakDeux, that would sooo ruin the fuel economy. ;D

Would be good to train a Kiwi C-17 flight crew or two on secondment.

[yak2]

I think AA you may have misinterpreted my point. If you look at the RLAF insignia on the T28 pic you can see two 'L' shaped brackets each side. The national insignia of choice was painted on pieces of metal that could be slid into the channel/brackets, and changed as required. Much like L plates on driving school cars. A friend restored an ex Lao T28, and when it arrived in Australia, it had these brackets fitted. Very sneaky.
My inference was a similar arrangement for the 5th C17 if we lend its keys to the Kiwi's.