September 9, 2019
A big crowd rolled up to Wondai Airport on Saturday morning to check out one of the RAAF’s latest aircraft.
Squadron Leader Nathan Thompson said the C27-J Spartans were a replacement for the long-serving Caribou transport aircraft.
The RAAF took delivery of their first Spartan in 2015 and the last one last year.
The planes are designed to airlift people, equipment and supplies and can land and take off from unsurfaced airstrips.
This makes them perfect to support humanitarian missions – and also makes Wondai Airport a great training location for pilots.
“We love coming up to Wondai as it is the perfect training area,” Sqn Ldr Thompson said.
“We come up here very frequently.”
He said the Spartans were also now “near neighbours”.
No 35 Squadron was relocated from RAAF Richmond to Amberley this year where 10 of the aircraft are now based.
Each plane can carry 34 passengers, 21 stretcher patients or 5000kg of cargo.
They can also airdrop cargo and paratroops in flight.
Sqn Ldr Thompson said the open day was a way to thank the people of Wondai and the surrounding area for their support.
- Related article: Inside Look At RAAF’s Latest Plane
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