News Updates

On Saturday 24 August 2024 the 37SQN (RAAF) Association hosted a function at the Royal Hotel, Richmond NSW to celebrate the squadron’s 25 years of C-130J-30 operations combined with Lockheed Martin celebrating the 70^th Anniversary since the inaugural test flight of the Hercules prototype, the YC-130, from the Lockheed Air Terminal in Burbank, CA on 23 August 1954.

The function was attended by approximately 120 current and former C-130 aircrew, maintenance personnel and support staff who have contributed to the safe operation of the RAAF’s Hercules operations since the arrival of the first C-130A in December 1958.

Attendees included WGCDR [Retd] Robyn Clay-Williams, the RAAF C-130J-30 Project Test Pilot, GPCAPT [Retd] James Blagg, the C-130J-30 Project Test Flight Engineer, WGCDR [Retd] Ken McLeod, the C-130J-30 Project Resident Engineering Officer, all of whom were embedded at the Hercules production plant in Marietta, GA USA, along with pilots, loadmaster and maintenance personnel who trained in the USA to ferry the C-130J-30s to Australia after Hercules acceptance off the production line.

The convivial atmosphere enabled the attendees to reminisce with their former colleagues many who reconnected after more than 35 years separation from their flying / maintenance duties at 37SQN and 486SQN.

The function was proudly sponsored by Lockheed Martin Air Mobility and Maritime Missions (AMMM) Marietta with Australian LMCO representatives Mr Andy Doyle [GPCAPT Retd] and Ms Nicole Davidson attending.

The RAAF C-130 fraternity lost a good mate on Thursday 19 October 2023, , former 36SQN C-130H Flight Engineer.

Merv was the sole occupant of his Jabiru aircraft when it crashed near Warwick QLD, he was flying from his home in Bundaberg QLD to Singleton NSW to attend his granddaughter’s 12^th birthday when his aircraft suffered  engine failure.

His quick wit and wicked sense of humour will be sadly missed, our lives are richer for having known him.

Some words from AVM (Retd) Greg Evans: Merv was an expert Flight Engineer and a great squadron character of the old school.  Irreverent yet dedicated, intolerant of fools yet always ready with help and advice for foolish young officers, the life of any party whether it be in a bar in Honolulu or beside a dirt runway under the wing of a Herc with Eric the Esky, totally reliable in the air and likely to be at the centre of any shenanigans on the ground.

So sorry you were taken from us while you still had so much more to give, you will be remembered by your RAAF C-130 fraternity cobber.

On  Friday, 8 September 2023, in excess of 160 former RAAF C-130 aircrew, maintainers and support staff gathered at the Clarendon Tavern, opposite RAAF Base Richmond NSW, to celebrate the Australian Air Force’s 65 years of C-130 Hercules operations.

The RAAF was the first international customer to fly the C-130 Hercules with the first C-130A model Hercules arriving at RAAF Richmond on 13 December 1958.

Over the last 66 years the RAAF has operated 48 varies models of the venerable C-130 Hercules accumulating in excess of 858,600 flight hours without loss of an airframe.

The various models are:

12 x C-130A 1958~1978 accumulating 148,063.6 flight hours over 20YRS.

12 x C-130E 1966~2000 accumulating 307,007.9 flight hours over 34YRS

12 x C-130H 1978~2012 accumulating 244,618.4 flight hours over 34YRS

12 x C-130J-30 1999 ~ Currently operated by 37SQN from RAAF Base Richmond NSW, having accumulated 158,375.2 flight hours over the last 24 years.

In July 2023 the Federal Government announced the purchase approval for 20 x C-130J-30 Hercules as replacements for and addition to the current fleet with deliveries commencing in 2027.

The RAAF C-130 Hercules story began in 1954.

After WWII AVM Alister Murdoch led an investigation to identify a future cargo aircraft to replace the venerable C-47 Skytrain / DC-3 Dakota which had been Australia’s Defence Force mainstay transport aircraft since 1943. The ‘new’ Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft was identified as that replacement, most suitable for the RAAF’s future requirements.

On the 8^th September current and former ADF members will gather at the Clarendon Tavern, opposite RAAF Base Richmond NSW, to reminisce and exchange stories about the last 65 years of RAAF C-130 Hercules transport aircraft operations.

Our association cordially invites C-130 A to J Aircrew, Maintenance personnel plus ANY support staff who have contributed to those 65 years of RAAF C-130 operations to gather at the venue for the celebration.

Further information and booking details are available at https://www.trybooking.com/CFHYR

Extract from Air Force News, 17 February 2022 ~ Eamon Hamilton

The Air Force surpassed 850,000 flying hours with the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft on January 21, 2022. The milestone was achieved by a 37SQN crew flying a C-130J Hercules from RAAF Base Richmond to Amberley.

A commemorative medallion was designed and produced by the No. 37 Squadron (RAAF) Association to celebrate the event.  It can be purchased via the on-line shop link on the menu above.

Since 1958, generations of Air Force aviators flying four different variants of the Hercules have provided airlift support to Defence. CO 37SQN WGCDR Anthony Kay said the 850,000-hour milestone was passed during a mission for Operation Tonga Assist 22. “It comes as no surprise that this milestone should occur during a mission to provide important assistance to our Pacific family,” WGCDR Kay said.

A C-130J Hercules aircraft, bound for Tonga, loaded with humanitarian assistance and relief supplies departs RAAF Base Amberley. “Generations of our Hercules workforce have carried urgent relief supplies over long distances to remote airfields, often at short notice, and for long periods away from their family.

“The impressive scope of what we’ve achieved within those 850,000 hours is a testament to the service of thousands of people who have crewed RAAF Hercules and kept them flying.”

The aircraft that flew the 850,000th hour – serial A97-467 – was one of 12 C-130J Hercules that has operated from RAAF Base Richmond since 1999.

The current fleet was preceded by 12 C-130As from 1958 to 1978; 12 C-130Es from 1966 to 2000; and 12 C-130Hs from 1978 to 2012.

A  Lockheed C-130A Hercules A97-206  showing the original configuration, prior to the side cargo door being permanently sealed due to failure during flight which caused the deaths of USAF personnel seated in side door seating area.

Throughout those 850,000 hours – the equivalent of more than 97 years airborne – aviators have flown Hercules missions to every continent, including Antarctica. “It’s probably not really possible to properly determine the distance our crews have travelled since 1958, or the amount of cargo they have carried in that time,” WGCDR Kay said.

“The number of passengers carried runs into the millions, and includes Defence personnel on operations, civilian communities, heads of government, celebrities, and even animals requiring urgent air transport.

“A considerable number of Australians, whether they are Defence or civilian, have either flown on a RAAF Hercules, or been the recipient of aid delivered by one of our aircraft.”

The passenger experience of flying inside a Hercules has remained largely consistent since 1958, but in recent years the fleet has been upgraded to deliver greater connectivity. This improves the airlift support available to Defence and has modernised opportunities for those on board. “Crew and passengers flying on future Hercules missions can conduct mission planning and remain globally connected throughout their flight, wherever they may be deployed,” WGCDR Kay said.

“These upgrades will inform not only how we operate the Hercules, but how we may also upgrade and develop other air mobility platforms into the future.”

 FLYING HOURS

• C-130A (1958 to 1978) – 148,063.6 hours.

• C-130E (1966 to 2000) – 307,007.9 hours.

• C-130H (1978 to 2012) – 244,618.4 hours.

C-130J (1999 to Present) – 150,310.1 hours*.

*As of January 21, 2022.

*As of January 21, 2022.

Former 37SQN Commanding Officer (2012-15) now AVM Darren ‘Golds’ Goldie assumed the Air Commander Australia (ACUST) role on 7 April 2022, the first transport (trash hauler) Pilot appointed to the position.

No. 37 Squadron ~ 55 Years of C-130 Operations function

POSTPONED until MARCH 2022

In this year of the Air Force 2021 Centenary, 37SQN will celebrate 55 years of C-130 Operations.

Actually, out of those 100 years, the RAAF has operated C-130 Hercules medium lift transport aircraft for 63 years, with the first C-130A arriving at RAAF Richmond in 1958. The Australian Air Force was the first foreign country to be granted approval by the USA to operate the aircraft., which we have done over all those years without a major mishap resulting in loss of an airframe.

The 12 x C-130A airframes, operated by No. 36 Squadron, were decommissioned in 1978, replaced by the upgraded C-130H model, again operated by 36SQN.  In November 2006 the 12 x C-130H aircraft were transferred to the operational control of 37SQN.  With the squadron now operating 12 x C-130H and 12 x C-130J-30 airframes the unit became the largest in the Air Force comprising approx 750 personnel.

The H model airframes were decommissioned in 2012.

No. 37 Squadron received their first of 12 C-130Es in August 1966, all of which remained in service until decommissioned in 2000 after 34 years without loss of an airframe. The C-130Es were replaced by, commencing in 1999, 12 x C-130J-30 stretched Hercules airframes which remain in service to this current day.

37SQN’s 55 years of accident free C-130 Hercules transport aircraft is an outstanding tribute to the professionalism and expertise passed down through the generations of aircrew, maintenance personnel and support staff who have contributed to those 55 years of operation without loss of a single airframe, a magnificent achievement envied by C-130 operators worldwide.

The No. 37 Squadron (RAAF) Association, in conjunction with 37SQN, are hosting a function on Friday, 16 July, to celebrate the unit’s 55 years of C-130 Operations (POSTPONED  until MARCH 2022 due to the NSW COVID-19 situation.) Details available at www.trybooking.com/BNVRP