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Amazing Air Force Aircraft
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
The C-17 Globemaster III is the newest, most flexible, heavy transport aircraft to be added to the RAAF's airlift capability. C-17's have a crew of three - two pilots and a loadmaster who makes sure that the cargo is properly loaded and secure.
The C-17 is used to deliver troops, combat vehicles, helicopters and equipment to where they are needed, especially in the event of major disasters and relief efforts in Australia and overseas.
This huge cargo aircraft is 53 metres in length and its height is 16.9 metres, with a massive wingspan of 51.81 metres. It can take off and land on runways as short as 1,064 metres and can turn around on very narrow runways using its engines to move the aircraft both forwards and backwards to complete the turn. This is a very important capability because cargo sometimes needs to be picked up from, or delivered to, remote locations where the runway is both short and narrow.
The C-17 is able to cruise at 800 km/h and travel long distances of up to 4,500 km without refuelling. This capability makes the C-17 very effective in delivering emergency disaster relief quickly to overseas locations.
Pilatus PC-9/A and the 'Roulettes'
The RAAF Pilatus PC-9/A is a two-seat single-engine turboprop aircraft and is the major basic training aircraft of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). However, the PC-9/A is best known to the public as the aircraft flown by the Roulettes in aerobatic displays at major events held throughout Australia.
Aerobatic display flying began in the RAAF in 1962 with the formation of an aerobatic team called 'The Red Sales'. They flew four de Havilland Vampire T33 aircraft and gave their first public performance at the Royal Hobart Regatta in February 1962. Today, the Roulettes continue this tradition in six fast, manoeuvrable and exciting PC-9/A aircraft.
This high-performance aircraft is flown at speeds of up to 590 km/h and pulls up to 6 'G' when performing aerobatic displays (6 'G' means six times the force of gravity, which makes the pilot's weight increase to six times normal body weight). Some manoeuvres see these well-trained and very skilled pilots bring their aircraft as close as three metres to each other.
Being a Roulette pilot is not a full-time job as they are also flight instructors. Most Roulette pilots have more than 3,000 hours of flying experience - that's a lot of time in the sky!
Boeing F/A-18 Hornet
The RAAF F/A-18 Hornet is a multi-role fighter designed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The Hornet can strike almost any target under nearly all conditions, and is one of the most potent fighter aircraft in the world!
The Hornet can avoid having to land to refuel by using its mid-air refuelling capability. This requires the pilot to precisely manoeuvre the Hornet to connect to a fuel line extended from a KC-30A tanker aircraft.
Hornets are equipped with precision weapons such as air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, laser-guided and conventional bombs, and 20mm nose-mounted cannon for ground work.
They can reach an amazing speed of 2,200 km/h and can fly for 2,700 km without refuelling.
Lockheed Martin AP-3C Orion
The RAAF AP-3C Orion began as a passenger aircraft called the Electra, which first flew in 1957. It was later converted for military use in 1962. It is flown by two pilots (a captain and a co-pilot) and has 11 other crew members to assist with in-flight operations.
The Orion is an extremely versatile aircraft capable of many roles, including maritime surveillance, anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare, naval fleet support, fisheries patrol, and survivor search and supply. It is fitted with a variety of sensors for detecting submarines and ships, and assisting with search and rescue operations. In times of war, the Orion can also carry torpedoes and Harpoon anti-shipping missiles.
The Orion has a maximum speed of 750 km/h and can stay in the air for up to 15 hours without refuelling. The power of each of its four Allison turboprop engines is an enormous 4,600 horsepower. You would need approximately 20 six-cylinder family cars to generate the same amount of horsepower as just one Orion engine!