Fri, Jul 09, 2010
Last Of Five New King Airs To Be Delivered To RAAF No. 38
Squadron This Year
No. 38 Squadron at RAAF Townsville will soon receive the
eighth and final King Air Interim Light Transport, Greg Combet,
Minister for Defence Materiel and Science announced Tuesday. Three
King Airs were handed over from Army's No. 173 Air Surveillance
Squadron in November 2009.
The aircraft, which arrived earlier this week, is one of five
brand new King Airs that have been delivered to No. 38 Squadron
this year. All eight are operated under lease from Hawker Pacific.
"No. 38 Squadron's success with the King Air is the result of a
'one team' Defence/Industry approach at RAAF Base Townsville, in
which Air Force personnel are working closely with Hawker Pacific
staff," Mr Combet said.
"Hawker Pacific and the Defence Materiel Organization's Training
Aircraft Systems Program Office deserve credit for their efforts in
providing very effective support. The King Air is an interim
replacement for the Caribou and is already proving to be a reliable
and efficient light transport. The King Air provides a flexible
means of achieving Australian Defence Force tasks across the
region," Mr Combet said.
Combet added the King Airs make it possible for the Air Force to
train new pilots and technicians on an aircraft with modern
avionics and turboprop engines, and then transition these personnel
to bigger and more complex platforms, such as the C-130J, C-17,
Wedgetail, and soon, the KC-30A.
"At the same time, No. 38 Squadron is providing an operational
capability," he said. "The King Airs have flown missions to New
Zealand, Malaysia, and across Australia for the Australian Defence
Force."
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