316 Section 2009-03-24
Lockheed Martin C-130 E Hercules
Poland
History
Successive years of Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft operation in the Polish Army.
The time has come when the first crews of Polish C-130 Hercules transport aircraft have reached full readiness to perform transport, landing and evacuation tasks. Therefore, they could be given the tasks for which these planes were obtained.
Polish C-130 Hercules aircraft are primarily used as a means of transport. But not only. On 2010-09-10, Polish F-16 Jastrząb aircraft from the 32nd BLT flew out for exercises under the code name Tactical Leadership Program (TLP) at Albacete air base in Spain. Ground personnel and equipment for Spain were transferred on board C-130 with 14. ELTr and C-295 M with 13. ELTr. In total, the contingent numbered 55 soldiers. The C-130 aircraft practiced operating in the electronic interference zone.
Already in December 2010, the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft from the 33rd BLT (14. ELTr) was used to carry out a humanitarian mission. At that time Albania was hit by a flood disaster. That is why humanitarian aid was collected and on board C-130 delivered to Albania to Tirana airport.
Evaluation of the C-130 program. Powidz 2011-01-13.
On 2011-01-13, a modern hangar of C-130 transport aircraft at the Powidz airport became a meeting place for a mixed Polish-American group of specialists related to the management of the C-130 E Hercules aircraft acquisition program for the Polish Air Force. Meetings on the state of the program were carried out every few months. The program was not easy. It turned out that the selected aircraft required more modernization than was shown during the initial examination. Therefore, the dates of subsequent deliveries were shifted. It should be emphasized, however, that the American side fulfilled its commitment to the ally exemplary. Three other Lockheed C-130 aircraft were delivered out of schedule.
Training on a simulator.
Due to the small number of C-130 aircraft operated in Poland, it is not economically justified to have your own flight simulator. Therefore, from time to time, a group of pilots serving these aircraft goes to the US to undergo appropriate training. Usually Polish pilots train at the "C-130 Tampa Training Center" in Florida. Here are simulators of all versions of C-130 aircraft. Polish soldiers were in Florida for the first time in 2010. On 11-19.04.2011, on a group of pilots and technicians of C-130 aircraft stayed in training on simulators in the USA.
C-130 E nb 1507 remains in Poland.
Due to the delayed delivery of the C-130 ordered, the Polish Air Force received the C-130 nb 1506 aircraft, and later the C-130 nb 1507 aircraft. These machines were rented. On June 24, 2011, information was released that the C-130 E nb 1507 aircraft would not return to their owners. The Americans agreed to leave it to our airmen in the form of a non-repayable loan, as training aid in the form of a ground trainer and a possible spare parts warehouse. In July 2011, the machine's service life was over and it was about to return overseas as a plane from No. 21856 to a warehouse in the Texas desert. We received it to ensure continuity of the training process due to delays in the supply of Polish Hercules. Leaving C-130 nb 1507 in Powidz was confirmed during the Review of the C-130 Program implementation with the participation of representatives of American government agencies, which took place on 20-25.05.2011 in Poland.
In memory of the Warsaw Uprising. 2011.
100,000 leaflets encouraging residents of Warsaw and visitors to celebrate with a minute of silence in the hour in which the Warsaw Uprising broke out was dropped on 2011-08-01, just before 17; 00 above the capital from the deck of the C-130 Hercules transport carrier of the Polish Air Force. The plane flew on the Chopin Airport route - pl. Konstytucji - pl. Krasinski. Shortly after 17:00 seven TS-11 Iskra aircraft from the "Biało-Czerwone Iskry" aerobatic team flew on the route pl. Zbawiciel - Marszałkowska - pl. Krasińskich with streaks on in national colors. Let the memory of the Warsaw Uprising never die!
FISHERIES (RYBOŁÓW) exercises. 2011-09-14.
On September 14-16, 2011, the exercises were codenamed RYBOŁÓW 11. These exercises were part of the whole system of exercises organized by the Polish Army; command and staff exercises SANTANA-11 and exercises with the army of the Air Force Commander ORZEŁ 11. The purpose of the exercise was to rip the commands of two subordinate units: the 33rd Transport Aviation Base (33rd BLTr) and the 2nd Search and Rescue Group (2 USAR Team) with the operation of troops in near real-world conditions. In order to achieve it, the above-mentioned units carry out the following tasks: Transfer of soldiers and equipment; Object security of an aircraft on the landing pad; Landing of special groups; Overcoming enemy anti-aircraft defense; Tactical approaches to landing and departing from the airport after take-off; Landing on grass strips with M 28 Bryza and C 130 E Hercules aircraft; Conducting search and rescue operations; Preparation of aircraft for MEDEVAC version and evacuation of the wounded. C-130 E Hercules, M-28 B Bryza and W-3 Sokół helicopters were involved in the practical participation in the air.
Next C-130 nb 1504. 2011-09-16.
On Friday, 2011-09-16, at 15; 00 at the Powidz Airport, another, fourth Polish C-130 E Hercules aircraft landed, which received nb 1504. It thus increased the fleet of transport aircraft operated by the Polish Air Force. In total, it will be 6 aircraft of this type, received by Poland as a gift from the United States (five after a thorough structural review and modernization, and one not flying as training aid). The first Polish aircraft of this type was received by the Air Force 2009-03-24 (nb 1501), the second 2010-04-26 (nb 1502), the third 2010-11-16 (nb 1503). Currently arrived Hercules has tactical number 1504 (until now 70-1263).
Due to delays in deliveries and high demand for transport, landing and school flights, 33. BLTr in Powidz temporarily operated three other C-130 E aircraft rented by the American side with the numbers:
Nb 1506 - The plane was borrowed because the program was delayed. After the aviation event in February 2010, it was removed from the state and left behind in Afghanistan.
Nb 1507 - Arrived to Poland on September 9, 2010, after the end of the resource on July 7, 2011, it was transferred free of charge to the Polish side for training technicians and ground services.
Nb 1508 - On similar terms of lending from May 2011, another C-130 E flew in Polish colors, borrowed from 314th Airlift Wing from Little Rock, Arkansas, given board number 1508. It was sent in place of a grounded plane. He returned to the US after arriving at C-130 nb 1505.
Training on simulators.
The number of tasks performed by the crews of Polish Hercules is increasing. These aircraft transport loads and people not only to Afghanistan (as part of securing the Polish Military Contingent in Afghanistan), but also throughout Europe, securing exercises of all types of the Armed Forces, exercises and air shows F-16, MiG-29, Su-22 and TS -11, or taking part in them. They participate in special flights (like on the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising, or in GROT formation at Air Show Radom 2011), parachute training and landing large subunits, and recently also in the deportation of our citizens who came into conflict with the law in other countries. For free training, every free machine is used, as well as any break in operating flights. Another plane will certainly make this easier.
Polish C-130 on Red Flag exercises. 2012-06-08.
One Polish C-130 from 33. BLTr from Powidz (next to F-16 Jastrząb) participated in the largest cyclical maneuvers in the US in Alaska. In Alaska, Poles performed tasks together with C-130 crews from the Australian Air Forces and Japanese Self-Defense Forces. They all operate from Elmendorf base in Anchorage. The crew of Major Pilot Jaroslaw Gozdalski improved on 2012-06-08, flights at low altitude. One should know that in Poland the minimum flight altitude is 300 m (due to the protest of the inhabitants). In Alaska, it flew 100 m and below. Landings on a short runway, 1,200 m have also been improved. Landing on a shorter DS requires a slightly different piloting technique than on a longer runway. Every day, the level of the next quest increased. There was a supply drop in the company of C-130 J aircraft from Australia aviation and C-17 aircraft from USAF. It was a defensive task in the shield of fighters and attack by aggressors.
Last C-130 nb 1505 aircraft in Powidz. 2012-07-23.
On July 23, 2012, at 15:20 at the Powidz Airport, the last C-130 E nb 1505 medium transport aircraft obtained by the Republic of Poland (70-1263). In the following days, the aircraft underwent the Acceptance Inspection procedure, was entered into the Polish aircraft register and allowed to operate flights. According to the Armament Inspectorate, the C-130 nb 1505 flight to Poland lasted four days, during which the aircraft spent about 20 hours in the air. Hercules took off from L3 Communication's airport in Texas, USA, on July 20, 2012, a few minutes after 3:00 p.m. Central European Time.
The official ceremony related to the termination of supplies of the C-130 E, with the participation of representatives of the Polish and American sides, took place in Powidz on August 22, 2012.
Final review of the implementation of the C-130 aircraft program.
On 12-14.11.2012, the last review of the implementation of the C-130 transport aircraft acquisition program for the Polish Air Force - Final C-130 Program Management Review - was organized in Warsaw. They took part in the meeting; representatives of US government agencies, a delegation of USAF units, representatives of the Polish Armament Inspectorate, persons from the General Staff of the Polish Army, the Air Force Command and soldiers from the 33rd BLTr. The purpose of the meeting was to summarize the aircraft implementation process. The training status of crews and ground personnel was discussed. Future concepts for the use and financing of tasks were considered. Settlement of subsequent contracts and prospects.
By 2012-08-01, Polish C-130 Hercules had spent 2,650 hours in the air.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman
316 Section 2009-03-24
Lockheed Martin C-130 E Hercules
Poland
Construction
A description of the design of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft is in the section "Lockheed Martin C-130. 2009. Construction". In this section we present some photos of Polish C-130 E planes.
Written by Karol Placha
316 Section 2009-03-24
Lockheed Martin C-130 E Hercules
Poland
Tally
The list of Polish C-130 E Hercules planes is included in Section "Lockheed Martin C-130. 2009. Tally. "
Written by Karol Placha Hetman