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Ten Alenia C-27J Spartans were ordered in May 2012 to replace the RAAF's retired DHC-4 Caribou fleet.
Initial assembly took place at the Alenia Aermacchi Capodichino factory with final assembly and test flights at the Turin Plant and Turin-Caselle Airport. The aircraft were then being flown to L-3 Platform Integration Division (PID), in Waco Texas for systems integration and to bring them up to the Joint Cargo Aircraft configuration.
The RAAF Spartan fleet is operated by 35 and initially based at Richmond and the unit will relocate to RAAF based at Amberley in the future. Deliveries to the RAAF commenced in 2015.
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| RAAF.Serial |
USAF.Serial |
C/N |
Test Registration |
Aircraft history |
| A34-001 |
12-27048 |
4179/AUS01 |
I-EASC |
Fuselage of A34-001 manufactured at Alenia Aermacchi’s Capodichino factory,
Transported to Alenia Aermacchi’s Turin plant for final assembly in 12/2012.
19/12/1013 first Flight at Turin-Caselle Airport, Italy,
15/04/2014 to L-3 Platform Integration Division (PID), Waco, Texas for systems integration,
24/06/2015 arrived at RAAF Townsville Qld.
25/06/2015 arrived RAAF Richmond, NSW at 1520hrs
30/06/2015 35 Squadron Acceptance Ceremony at RAAF Richmond,
24/09/2015 displayed over Canberra ACT along with A34-002
7-9/10/2015 conducted first air drop training sorties over Londonderry Drop Zone, NSW
12-14/10/2015 first passenger carrying flight trials Fairburn ACT to Edinburgh SA
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| A34-002 |
12-27049 |
4181/AUS02 |
I-RAII |
Assembled by Alenia Aermacchi at Capodichino & Turin,
04/2014 flight tested in Turin as I-RAII,
Note: The Registration I-RAII was also carried by C-27J C/N 4172 which became 10-27023 for the US Army,
16/04/2014 Noted at Gander International Airport, Canada, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbH8UBmLDgk
20/05/2014 noted at St Johns, Newfoundland Canada,
??/05/2014 to L-3 Platform Integration Division (PID), , Waco, Texas for systems integration,
12-13/09/2015 on static display at Misawa Air Show Japan en-route to Australia
17/09/2105 arrived Cairns, Qld from Andersen AFB, Guam as "Aussie 636"
18/09/2015 delivered to 35 Squadron at Richmond, NSW
24/09/2015 displayed over Canberra ACT along with A34-001
7-9/10/2015 conducted first air drop training sorties over Londonderry Drop Zone, NSW
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| A34-003 |
12-27050 |
4182/AUS03 |
I-RAID |
Assembled by Alenia Aermacchi at Capodichino & Turin,
30/06/2015 Noted undertaking flight test at Turin as I-RAID,
Note: The Registration I-RAID was also carried by C-27J C/N 4129 which became N359TA then 07-27010 for the US Army,
Arrived Darwin 17/10/2016
Delivered to 35 Squadron 10/2016
Static display during the 2017 Australian International Airshow.
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| A34-004 |
12-27051 |
4183/AUS04 |
I-EASC |
Delivery was delayed due to undercarriage failure at Waco Texas on 18/05/2016.
Following repairs A34-004 was finally delivered 03/2017
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| A34-005 |
12-27052 |
4184/AUS05 |
I-RAIJ |
Delivered to 35 Squadron at Richmond in late 2016.
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| A34-006 |
12-27053 |
4185/AUS06 |
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Delivered to 35 Squadron at Richmond |
| A34-007 |
12-27054 |
4186/AUS07 |
I-RAIB |
Delivery was expected to 35 Squadron at Richmond in 2015/16.
Still not delivered as on 13/12/2016
Spotted re-fuelling at Edinburgh Scotland 10/01/2017 transiting Turin, Italy westbound to Keflavik in Iceland
Ferry registration I-RAIB
(Probably heading to to L-3 Platform Integration Division (PID), Waco, Texas for systems integration)
25/06/2017 Arrived RAAF Richmond
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| A34-008 |
12-27055 |
4187/AUS08 |
I-PTFN |
Delivery was expected to 35 Squadron at Richmond in 2015/16.
Noted flying at Turin Italy as I-PTFN on 20th April 2017
Delivered to 35 Squadron at Richmond
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| A34-009 |
12-27056 |
4188/AUS09 |
I-EASF |
Delivered to 35 Squadron at Richmond
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| A34-010 |
12-27057 |
4189/AUS10 |
I-EASD |
Delivered to 35 Squadron at Richmond
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| ? |
N/A
Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force) Serial:
MM62104
Coded:
46:91
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4007
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C-27J Fuselage Trainer.
On 10 December 2019, a C-27J Spartan Fuselage Trainer arrived at RAAF Base Amberley (QLD), following a journey by cargo ship from the USA to Brisbane. After arrival the aircraft moved to Amberley via road transport. The Spartan Fuselage Trainer is a training aid for 35 SQN, simulating the cargo compartment and other fuselage systems as featured on a real Spartan. The fuselage can also be used to trial and develop new load-carrying methods and other practices on the Spartan.
The use of Fuselage Trainers and Cargo Compartment Trainers by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) reduces the need for real aircraft to be used for this type of training, increasing the availability of aircraft for flying tasks. At RAAF Base Amberley, the C-27J Fuselage Trainer (FuT) is being installed within the dedicated 35 Squadron training facility, and will be handed over for use by the squadron by mid-2020.
This particular FuT is former Italian Air Force G.222 MM62104, C/N 4007. Following its retirement from 46 AB, Pisa, Italy, it was seen on 13/11/2008 at Pisa with its tail removed. It was then moved to Incisa, Valdamo for conversion and ballasting. On 10/05/2010 it was shipped to Savannah, Georgia, USA. It moved to Warner Robins Base ( Georgia , USA) and was initially rebuilt as C-27A Fuselage Trainer. It was subsequently acquired by Australia from L3Harris Technologies for installation and commissioning by L3Harris Link and L3Harris Oceania as A C-27J FuT for the RAAF.
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The Authors of this page are Martin Edwards and Brendan Cowan
Sources: Defence PR, Australian Aviation, http://www.airport-data.com/manuf/Alenia.html, Airforce Monthly Issue 317 August 2014, http://stjohns247.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/tuesday-20-may-2014.html, www.scramble.nl, http://www.airframes.org/, http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/2012.html , Scramble Magazine, Airframes.org.
Emails: Brendan Cowan, Dave Soderstrom, Andrew McLaughlin, Gordon Birkett, David Inskip, Alberto Cucini, Rick Wise, Jochem Manders, Jamie Gow, Stuart Smith.
Updated 17th January 2020
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