Workhorse - RAAF C-130s
"Workhorse" is a podcast about Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft from their earliest history through to modern times. The series is based on the soon to be released book “Air Mobility Workhorse”, which will be available from Big Sky Publishing.
Topics include:
- Operations from around the globe, including all four corners of the planet, from 1959 to now
- Aircraft technical discussions
- Training
- Roles (Search and Rescue, Air Logistics, Airborne Operations, Special Operations, Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief, Surveillance, Non-combatant Evacuation, Aeromedical Evacuation and Firefighting)
- Maintenance and modifications
- Logistics
- And, of course, the people that made it all possible.
Workhorse - RAAF C-130s
Workhorse - E50 - C-130J Goes Tactical with Justin Ryder
The Royal Australian Air Force's C-130J fleet was acquired in 1999, but it was not fitted with electronic warfare self-protection systems. When C-130Hs deployed to the Middle East in early 2003, 37 Squadron had only just begun training its C-130J crews in tactical procedures. Thus when Middle East operations were extended into 2004, 36 Squadron's C-130Hs remained in the Middle East on an extended deployment because there wasn't a replacement force. This placed great pressure on 36 Squadron's training system, and by early 2004 it was apparent that C-130Js needed to be modified with self-protection equipment and 37 Squadron's crews had to be trained for combat operations.
This episode features Justin Ryder who was a C-130J captain in 2004. He relates the C-130J upgrade program and his experiences in the Middle East during the C-130J's first full deployment into a combat environment. His tales include being engaged by an S-60 and a complete avionics failure during a departure out of an Iraqi airfield. He also discusses his later experiences as an air-air refueling captain.
(Note: This podcast series will now be shifting to a monthly publication cycle, commencing 1 April).