A Pair of RAAF Alenia C-27J Spartan Transport Aircraft Pop Into Longreach Airport - A34-007 "Wallaby 61" & A34-003 "Wallaby 62"

Making a rare weekend appearance on Saturday 24 October was a pair of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft which were noted visiting Longreach Airport.

File photo

They were identified as A34-007 which was flying as "Wallaby 61" and A34-003 as "Wallaby 62".

Both Spartans are of the RAAF’s 35 Squadron and flew up close together from their home at RAAF Base Amberley.  After a short time on the ground, both Spartans departed Longreach Airport for RAAF Base Scherger via airwork at nearby Weipa.  They then flew down to Townsville where they looked to be spending the night.

UPDATE!  On Sunday 25 October, both Spartans returned to Amberley from Townsville, both flying via Birdsville.

As mentioned previously, the Alenia C-27J Spartan is a military transport aircraft developed and manufactured by Alenia Aermacchi. The RAAF has ten C-27J Spartan battlefield airlifters with 35 Squadron based at RAAF Base Amberley after they were ordered by in May 2012 to replace the now-retired De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou fleet.

The RAAF C-27J Spartan aircraft complements the capabilities of the current C-130J Hercules and C-17A Globemaster aircraft and uses common C-130J Hercules infrastructure and aircraft systems such as engines, avionics and the cargo handling systems. They will be equipped with missile warning systems, electronic self-protection and battlefield armour allowing them to operate freely in high-threat environments.

Photo taken by Ken Dawes   ©