A THIRD C-27J Spartan has entered Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) service. The aircraft, A34-003 (c/n 4182, USAF/12-27050), arrived at RAAF Base Richmond, New South Wales, on October 18 at the end of its ferry flight from prime contractor L-3 Communications’ facility in Waco, Texas. The aircraft had routed through the UK, passing through RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, where it made an overnight stop on October 1-2. It then continued via Pisa, Italy, before continuing through the Middle East and Asia before arriving in Australia.
As previously reported in AFM, the first RAAF C-27J, A34-001, had arrived at Richmond on June 25 last year. The second example, A34-002, arrived there on September 18 of the same year. The type, which is operated by 35 Squadron, is expected to achieve Initial Operating Capability in late 2016.
Although initially being based at Richmond, their permanent home will be RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland. They will move there around the end of 2017, once all necessary infrastructure is in place.
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