Sydney Airport Message Board Sydney Airport Message Board  

Go Back   Sydney Airport Message Board > Aviation Industry News and Discussion > Australia and New Zealand Industry


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 27th April 2017, 01:30 PM
Greg Hyde Greg Hyde is offline
Prolific Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,428
Default ADF to get more King Airs

From the May edition of Air International:

More King Airs

The Royal Australian Air Force is in the process of acquiring four new Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft from Hawker Pacific in a lease deal that has yet to be publicly announced.

In response to questions, a spokesperson for the Australian Department of Defence said the aircraft will be operated by 32 Squadron at East Sale in Victoria, for the training of RAAF Air Combat Officers and Royal Australian Navy AvWOs.

The spokesperson said the new aircraft are being leased through the current King Air sustainment programme managed by Defence’s Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group.

The aircraft will be delivered to East Sale during the course of the year and it is also understood that a further four will be acquired under a similar arrangement in 2018. The initial four aircraft have already been registered to Hawker Pacific and will be transferred to the State Register throughout the year.

The Royal Australian Air Force currently operates eight King Air 350s in the training role, fitted with the Rockwell Collins Proline 2 avionics system and a further eight, with the later Proline 21 cockpit. All 16 aircraft are operated by 38 Squadron at Townsville in the transport role.

The King Air fleet has been the subject of a review to consider the consolidation of operations within one squadron, most likely at East Sale, as the leases on aircraft expire over the next two years. This would see the fleet based on the Proline 21 cockpit.

However, it is unclear how the new aircraft fit within this plan. Despite several attempts to clarify the situation, the Department of Defence has declined to answer any further questions on the subject.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 27th April 2017, 02:38 PM
MarkR MarkR is offline
Prolific Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,058
Default

That article is erroneous in a number of areas, specifically indicating the aircraft are all with 38 Squadron, when in fact it's split with half at East Sale with 32 squadron. It's just a feet replacement, which has been going on for some time since last century with the retirement of the 748s and in the case of 38, the caribous.

Last edited by MarkR; 27th April 2017 at 02:46 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10th May 2017, 01:17 PM
Greg Hyde Greg Hyde is offline
Prolific Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,428
Default

The first two King Airs are reportedly VH-KQF and VH-KQG.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time now is 07:37 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright © Sydney Airport Message Board 1997-2022
Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Conditions of Use and Privacy Statement