Stage Set for Pacific Airlift Rally 11
1:00pm on Sunday 21st August 2011
20 August 2011, Ratmalana Air Force Base, Sri Lanka. - It was a much anticipated turnout. The hype had been created a few days ago and it was all coming alive. The parking apron at the Ratmalana Air Base was indeed a busy place.
A biennial event, conducted through the co-ordination of the US Air Force Pacific Command, or the Pacific Air Forces, Pacific Air Lift Rally 11 is about to lift off from Sri Lanka. Conducted for the eighth successful occasion, the Sri Lanka Air Force finds itself in the prime of pride to be the hosts of this international event.
The flight line has never been like it was today where a line of mighty C 130 Hercules aircraft lay alike to a herd of resting jumbos. A legendary aircraft rolled off the production line of Lockheed Martin over 50 years ago, the C 130 continues to be in service with its original customer, the USAF and with over 60 other Air Forces of the world. The Lockheed C 130 is the mainstay for Pacific Air Lift Rally 11 and a total of 6 aircraft from 4 Air Forces will be in active service.
The 3 aircraft from the US Air Force 374th Air Lift Wing touched down minutes apart at Ratmalana beginning at 2.30 pm and the apron became a hive of activity. The No 20 Squadron of the Royal Malaysian Air Force had dispatched one C 130 aircraft which already had berthed in its space in preparation for the action set to unfold from the 22nd. As the sky was took on a pink hue, the Royal Australian Air Force’s C 130 J, off the inventory of the No 37 Sqn, RAAF Richmond NSW, touched down at Ratmalana. Amongst the participant fleet, the RAAF C 130 J is the most advanced and the most capable variant. The captain explained that the journey was covered in three “hops” with the last one originating from the Cocos island. The cricket savvy nation whose cricket team was battling out with their Sri Lankan counterparts in Colombo was received with a warm welcome upon the engines shutting down and the captain reciprocated by extending welcome aboard the C 130 J.
The C 130 J is the most advanced variant of the C 130 family and incorporates digital avionics with a glass cockpit layout. However the pilots refer to their flight parameters on their Head Up Display which gives them a unique sense of independence in operations. The engine and flight equipment controls are highly digitized and as a result, the C 130 J requires only two pilots and the loadmaster for the execution of operations whilst other variants would require a flight engineer and a navigator.
The aircraft is powered by 4 Rolls Royce turboprop engines delivering 4500 hp each. The propulsion is obtained by a 6 composite bladed propeller per engine which, according to the captain, can take the aircraft to 25,000 ft by approximately 50 miles. The elongated fuselage ahead of the wing enables the aircraft to carry increased payloads both in terms of passengers or cargo. Truly, the RAAF contribution sets to be a treat for the eye in the days to come.
With the immigration formalities concluded, the US and Australian contingents did not allow the long journeys to deter them enabling swift unloading of cargo. With the bags packed off, the tired crew headed off to a much deserved rest whilst the Ratmalana Air Base prepares itself for one of the most exciting and action packed weeks in its history.
Flight Lieutenant Shyam Ranasinghe SLAF, For SLAF Media
A biennial event, conducted through the co-ordination of the US Air Force Pacific Command, or the Pacific Air Forces, Pacific Air Lift Rally 11 is about to lift off from Sri Lanka. Conducted for the eighth successful occasion, the Sri Lanka Air Force finds itself in the prime of pride to be the hosts of this international event.
The flight line has never been like it was today where a line of mighty C 130 Hercules aircraft lay alike to a herd of resting jumbos. A legendary aircraft rolled off the production line of Lockheed Martin over 50 years ago, the C 130 continues to be in service with its original customer, the USAF and with over 60 other Air Forces of the world. The Lockheed C 130 is the mainstay for Pacific Air Lift Rally 11 and a total of 6 aircraft from 4 Air Forces will be in active service.
The 3 aircraft from the US Air Force 374th Air Lift Wing touched down minutes apart at Ratmalana beginning at 2.30 pm and the apron became a hive of activity. The No 20 Squadron of the Royal Malaysian Air Force had dispatched one C 130 aircraft which already had berthed in its space in preparation for the action set to unfold from the 22nd. As the sky was took on a pink hue, the Royal Australian Air Force’s C 130 J, off the inventory of the No 37 Sqn, RAAF Richmond NSW, touched down at Ratmalana. Amongst the participant fleet, the RAAF C 130 J is the most advanced and the most capable variant. The captain explained that the journey was covered in three “hops” with the last one originating from the Cocos island. The cricket savvy nation whose cricket team was battling out with their Sri Lankan counterparts in Colombo was received with a warm welcome upon the engines shutting down and the captain reciprocated by extending welcome aboard the C 130 J.
The C 130 J is the most advanced variant of the C 130 family and incorporates digital avionics with a glass cockpit layout. However the pilots refer to their flight parameters on their Head Up Display which gives them a unique sense of independence in operations. The engine and flight equipment controls are highly digitized and as a result, the C 130 J requires only two pilots and the loadmaster for the execution of operations whilst other variants would require a flight engineer and a navigator.
The aircraft is powered by 4 Rolls Royce turboprop engines delivering 4500 hp each. The propulsion is obtained by a 6 composite bladed propeller per engine which, according to the captain, can take the aircraft to 25,000 ft by approximately 50 miles. The elongated fuselage ahead of the wing enables the aircraft to carry increased payloads both in terms of passengers or cargo. Truly, the RAAF contribution sets to be a treat for the eye in the days to come.
With the immigration formalities concluded, the US and Australian contingents did not allow the long journeys to deter them enabling swift unloading of cargo. With the bags packed off, the tired crew headed off to a much deserved rest whilst the Ratmalana Air Base prepares itself for one of the most exciting and action packed weeks in its history.
Flight Lieutenant Shyam Ranasinghe SLAF, For SLAF Media
