RAF Hercules Fleet Developing Cracks

Steyr

http://forums.airshows.co.uk/cgi-bin/ukarboard/ikonboard.cgi?;act=ST;f=1;t=47229

The RAF has launched an investigation following the discovery of cracks in the wings of its ageing Hercules C130 transport aircraft.

The Hercules C130 is central to supplying troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Up to five of the planes – more than a 10th of the fleet – have developed the potentially dangerous defect, according to documents leaked to The Sunday Telegraph.

The report adds that with a further five C130s being retired from service this summer, the future for military training exercises is "bleak".

It is understood that the faults were found last month during routine maintenance at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire, where the majority of the aircraft are based. The disclosure comes two days before an inquest is due to start into the deaths of 14 servicemen in Afghanistan in 2006 when an RAF Nimrod exploded following a fuel leak.

The document, marked restricted and dated April, states: "A number of wing cracks found on certain C130s recently has resulted in a reduction in current and forthcoming allocations for a number of exercises. Those major exercises deemed vital ground for the maintenance of Herrick and Telic operations [the RAF names for duties in Afghanistan and Iraq] capability should continue to be supported, but smaller exercises are now at risk. Exercise Marble Tor 1 is the first to be seriously affected by this and efforts are under way to salvage some form of airlift for this exercise. With a further five C130s scheduled to be retired from service this summer, the future is bleak for C130 support to exercises."

The RAF workload has soared enormously since 2003. The brunt of the transport effort is being met by the C130, which first entered service with the RAF in the Sixties. Such is the shortage of transport aircraft that the loss of just one C130 will have a direct impact on operations and exercises. Each carries up to 130 passengers or more than 200 tons of equipment.

Three years ago an RAF Hercules with 10 SAS members on board was shot down in Iraq while on a mission close to Baghdad. It later emerged that the plane had not been fitted with explosive-suppressant foam, which extinguishes fires and could have saved the aircraft. Last year another C130 was destroyed after it struck an improvised explosive device which had been laid on an airstrip in Maysan Province in Iraq. One officer was seriously wounded in the attack. In 2006, a third Hercules was lost after landing at Lashkar Gar in Helmand, southern Afghanistan, when it struck a land mine. No one on board was injured but the aircraft was destroyed.

Patrick Mercer, a former infantry commander and Tory MP, said: "Our battle-winning equipment is being flogged to death. We simply do not have the resources to fight two wars on two fronts and the Government seems to be in denial about it."......

Last night a spokesman for the RAF said: "We don't comment on leaked documents." But he added: "All aircraft will have cracks due to such things as fatigue damage: the C130 is no exception. There is a comprehensive inspection regime in place and all aircraft are maintained according to approved military airworthiness regulations to ensure that no crack becomes critical for the continued safe operation of the aircraft.".......