Six Indian C-130Js Fly Together Testing Skills, Capabilities

[joekrish]

Great pics.

 

[Twain]

How do these guys fly behind each other over such short distances?I mean the wake turbulence generated should be effective at such close distances...a plane has to be above the other plane or 1000 ft below to avoid getting hit by vortices generated by the plane ahead of it.

Station Keeping Equipment

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:MxYiZfw18fkJ:gouge.mabrooks.com/SKE/MAC_PAMPHLET_55-43.doc+AN/APN-169C+SKE&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESj0kErxUE4MLD8_bPyeoDfBjTfvm1AAt16SaZS0_PURSvWnCcpyaA2tkunpxmgkSWyB1_qwRSGi6VCSD2N-w3k5GdCinxLNPwXzP1cGMmvaV9kLhXINSrxuyD20JRdcXhX0IhDf&sig=AHIEtbTSQ7FEe1Qrq9kPuDwBG1pZz83KrQ

and here

101 THINGS (You always wanted to know about the C-130)

Station Keeping Equipment (SKE)
As a minimum, the current AN/APN-169C SKE capability shall be retained and integrated.

Replacement of the existing AN/APN-169C SKE system is desired. If replaced, the replacement system shall, as a minimum provide the following capabilities: Allow aircraft to perform precision airdrops, rendezvous, air refueling, and airland missions at night and in all weather conditions to include instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The system shall allow as few as 2 aircraft and as many as 100 (250 desired) aircraft to maintain formation position/separation at selectable ranges from 500 feet to 100 NMs at all IFR altitudes. The system shall allow multiple formations to interfly and maintain formation position/ separation at selectable distances from 500 feet to 100 NMs at all IFR altitudes. The system shall have all weather intraformation positioning/collision avoidance capability with all similarly equipped aircraft and with all aircraft currently IMC formation equipped. The system shall be compatible with current and future ground based zone marker (ZM) or compatible systems and shall interrogate system within 40 NMs (100 NMs desired). The system shall provide relative position information on all aircraft in the formation, or a subset of selected aircraft (i.e., element or serial) to include distance, bearing, heading, airspeed, and relative altitude. The system shall provide steering commands to correct and maintain formation position settings. The system shall provide visual and aural proximity and collision warnings of similarly equipped aircraft and other aircraft currently IMC formation equipped that infringe on selected range and provide warnings for loss of signal or system degradation. The system shall be capable of being coupled to and interfacing with the autopilot during all phases of SKE operation including airdrop.

 

[Nishan_101]

Although they have ordered another six C-130Js but some people suggest that they are going to place another order of 10-14 in 2013/2014.

 

[acetophenol]

the squadron name and motto suits more to a attack or strike squadron rather than a transport squadron, am i missing something here?

Let me explain,
Veiled viper: the viper,i.e the c-130j super hercules has high agility and lethality. But the viper's face is veiled i.e,covered with the impression that its just a transport aircraft.
The viper creates a first impression that its just a transport aircraft,but behind its veil,we have a agile aircraft that can strike and even kill. IMO,its suits best!

 

[Abingdonboy]

Cool to see what, close to, 3/4 of a billion dollars worth of a/c looks like in one place!

 

[Abingdonboy]

It's really interesting how the IAF is really trying out these beasts in every conceivable way ie we know it has already carried out diaster relief duties in Sikkim, carried out simulated SOFs support missions from Hindon down to A&N, taken part in huge scale IAF/IA exercises, landed at Lakshadweep etc not to mention the numerous other drill the IAF has carried out and not publicised. In a very short time the Herc has really delivered in IAF service, it is no wonder why speculation is abound of more Hercs beyond the 6 (almost) guaranteed follow-on order but in purely a supply/utility role and not SOFs support.


+ what is also quite interesting is how extensivley the IAF is covering all these undertakings especially with cool PR savvy shots:

IAF PR dept has certainly gotten a raise in budgetary allocation!!

 

[Boson]

Cool to see what, close to, 3/4 of a billion dollars worth of a/c looks like in one place!

Exactly .... that was the first thought I got at my first look at the photograph.

But it would be between 2.5 and 3 Billion dollars ... and definitely not 4 Billion.

I think they should keep the planes dispersed. ---- In fact they have an ongoing utility.. so they should be used as a workhorse in peacetime, not kept exculsively for military operations.