A fire on board, then a fire in the cargo hold shortly before departure to Israel. Just two of the many failures that clearly demonstrate that after an impressive 56 years, our “Air Force One” is now very vulnerable and that the necessary replacement is imminent.
However, it would be unfair to deny the merits of the three C-130 “transport buffalos” of the Red-White-Red Air Force. Let’s look back: When they were purchased by the Royal Air Force in 2003, the Hercules transporters had already been in service with Great Britain for 35 (!) years. Looking back honestly, they were old. And rickety after hundreds of thousands of kilometers of flying. Consequently, general revisions followed. After the facelift, the completely renovated machines took to the air again. Freshly painted olive green, almost like new…
17,000 flying hours to supply the troops
Since then, numerous air bridges have been built, both military and civilian. The three-seater fleet passed the 2004 post-tsunami test on long-haul flights to Sri Lanka.
17,000 flight hours in twenty years underline the endurance of Lockheed aircraft. Despite the four turboprop engines, the 30-meter-long aircraft is somewhat wingless and can only achieve a modest cruising speed of up to 540 km/h.
The flying transporter performed truly enormous tasks when it came to supplying troops on missions abroad: the rear hatch easily accommodates 20 tons of equipment, weapons, food, etc. in the cargo hold.
During the UN humanitarian mission in Chad (2008-2009) alone, the Hercules crew provided the necessary support for our soldiers in Africa with 1,200 flying hours.
In 2011, the Hercules trio proved itself as an airlift to safety: Europeans were flown to Malta from the powder keg of Libya, where a bloody civil war was raging.
The only airlift out of the chaos in crisis areas
And after the Arab Spring in North Africa degenerated into apocalyptic chaos, our transport squadron with elite soldiers from the Combat Command took dozens of EU citizens and Austrians out of Egypt, risking their lives.
In addition, all defense ministers have been on board official flights since 2003. To make you laugh: a Christmas flight to Kosovo. Due to the fog, the Hercules could not land and circled above Pristina with Minister Klug and bacon, bread and 70 barrels of beer on board – until they flew home due to lack of fuel…
THE Hercules experience for “Krone” reporter Christoph Matzl: a parachute jump with combat commando soldiers at the Langenlebarn air base. From the tailgate, 4000 meters into the depths, boundless freedom on the Danube.
The successor: Fit for the future
Scrolling through the stories of breakdowns, breakdowns and bankruptcies surrounding the aging fleet of transport aircraft, it becomes clear once again that austerity measures in the military in recent years have led to an embarrassing, even dangerous, state of war equipment. .
This made the clear decision of Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP) to finally start purchasing new transport machines all the more important.
Procurement to replace the C-130 aircraft began as early as 2021. The result: Four Brazilian-produced Embraer C-390s will replace the aging Hercules trio.
The costs per aircraft are between 130 and 150 million euros. “Since Portugal and Hungary are also dependent on this type of aircraft, there are opportunities for cooperation to make the purchase more cost-effective and create synergies, for example in the field of training,” the minister said. If the contract is signed in 2024, the first Embraer could land with us two years later.
Until then we must continue to pray for good flights for the Hercules…
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
