To celebrate 20 years of service with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), a formation of C-130J Hercules transport aircraft will fly over Sydney and the Western Suburbs on Friday, September 6.
Up to six RAAF C-130Js will appear in the formation, joined by a United States Air Force (USAF) MC-130J capturing imagery of the flight. Additional aircraft may join the formation depending on operational availability.
The flypast timing is as follows:
- 12:45pm - Depart RAAF Base Richmond
- 2:00pm - Barrenjoey Heads
- 2:20pm - RAAF Base Glenbrook
- 2:25pm - Return RAAF Base Richmond
RAAF advises this flypast is subject to variables including weather, air traffic control, and operational availability; and may be subject to cancellation at short notice.
The C-130J variant of the Hercules transport aircraft was introduced to RAAF service in September 1999, joining a legacy of Australia operating different Hercules models since December 1958.
The C-130J has amassed 137,000 flying hours, and remains one of the busiest aircraft in the RAAF. They have supported numerous operations nationally and abroad, including deployments to the Middle East Region.
They are also extensively used for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions. This has included the Defence response to the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, the Bali Bombings, airdrops to Iraqi civilians, and the wake of numerous Cyclones in Northern Australia and the South West Pacific.
