Retirement of RAF Hercules

I note that there are several people/companies/countries etc in to buy the fleet once its retired at the end of the month, the cynic in me wonders whether one of the purchasers will ultimately end up leasing some of them back to us until the SF issue is sorted.

 

What? Couldn't happen could it? What do you mean, "Just like Heavy Lift did with the Belfasts"... Oh...

 

Don't forget Billy Butlin's Redcoat Air Cargo which bought some ex-RAF Brittanias to do the re-supply flights to Belize which had previously been RAF operated.

 

Whilst the country couldn’t afford the full wish list of the RAF, if our forces need the C-130 to properly fulfil their tasks, they should have them. Sadly the bean counters don’t see it that way.

 

Back in the 60's the US Navy proved the feasibility of landing a C130 on an aircraft carrier without using a tail hook or catapult...

Somebody please let me know when an A400 stats similar trials with the HMS Queen Elizabeth.

 

Meanwhile, in Australia…

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/australia-buy-20-130-hercules-aircraft-us-66-101596578

 

Be prepared for a long wait.

 

Oh how embarrassed you must be by your government buying such an outmoded aircraft.

 

You would be half right!

 

Oh, such a shame. If they had just waited a bit longer they could have bought the ex RAF ones cheap!