The Royal Australian Air Force operates the Hercules C-130J transport aircraft. They are operated by No 37 Squadron, based at RAAF Base Richmond, near Sydney.
The Hercules is a key part of the Air Force fleet, providing medium to long range transport with an excellent short dirt runway capability, allowing it to perform:
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tactical or strategic transport duties
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troop transport
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special forces insertion
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parachuting (both static-line and free-fall)
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airdrop of stores and equipment, including four-wheel drives, inflatable boats and artillery pieces
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search and survivor assistance, including airdrop of Air-Sea Rescue Kits (life rafts, radios, water, emergency rations)
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disaster relief, delivering necessities domestically (eg, Katherine floods, 1998) and internationally (eg, Pakistan earthquakes, 2005)
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medical evacuations, whether as a result of military action (eg, Timor, 1999), terrorist bombings (eg, Bali, 2002 and 2005) or natural disasters (eg, Boxing Day 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami).
The C-130J Hercules, introduced in 1999, has:
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2 tone grey paint scheme
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six-blade propellers
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three crew – two pilots and a loadmaster
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a larger, stretched cargo area, capable of fitting two more cargo pallets than a C-130H
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updated avionics and 'glass cockpit' flightdeck featuring
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fighter-style controls on the control columns
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two head-up displays (HUDs)
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four large multi-function displays
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five monochrome displays
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head-down display
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traffic and ground collision avoidance systems
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stick pusher to prevent inadvertent aircraft stall
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compatibility with night-vision goggles and electronic counter-measures (not routinely fitted).
