Preparing for a New Future

The IAF’s new Hercules aircraft, which will be introduced into service in 2014, arrived for a special training at an IAF airbase.

Special guests of honor landed this month at the Nevatim airbase in Israel: the US C-130J Hercules aircraft, which arrived for a special exercise with the C-130 Karnaf, the more veteran version of the Hercules in IAF service.

The Israeli version of the Hercules J, “Shimshon”, will only be introduced to the Israeli Air Force in 2014. However, the Karnaf pilots had a special opportunity to become familiar with the new aircraft up close. Lt. Col. Yinon, commander of the Elephant Squadron, said “this visit is part of an international cooperation effort, which the IAF is strengthening out of the understanding that we do not have all of the wisdom, and we should also learn from other air forces."

This time, the joint studying will take place with the US military’s Squadron 37, which is regularly situated in the Ramstein airbase in Germany, the largest US base beyond US borders. “The squadron operates in Afghanistan and in Africa," Lt. Col. Yinon said. “We should learn the lessons that the US forces are learning from these arenas.”

“The layout will undergo a revolution in the near future”
In the framework of the joint exercise, the US aircraft joined the Israeli Karnaf aircraft and flew together above the skies of the Negev. They conducted navigation, landing and parachuting missions during the day and night, which allowed the Israeli pilots to observe the capabilities of the new aircraft.

“The Hercules J possesses the most advanced flight systems. It is longer than the Karnaf and is more fuel efficient," says Maj. Yuval, deputy commander of the Knights of the Yellow Bird Knights Squadron. “The more we learn about the Hercules J from other air forces before it arrives to us, the better.”

The IAF website reported that the Elephant squadron will receive the new aircraft. Furthermore, the veteran Karnaf aircraft are in the start of an upgrade process intended to extend their use in the IAF. “The layout is undergoing a dramatic process,” determined Maj. Yuval, ”and the layout will undergo a revolution in the near future.”


Source: (israeldefense.com) News - 20 February 2013

Photo: The Israeli Air Force C-130J Karnaf (Rhino) Transport Aircraft perform Jet Assited Takeoff during Israeli Air Force Flight Academy #160 Graduation Ceremony. (Photo by flickr.com)


(20.02.2013)