In an exciting first for the Air Force, a KC-30A has conducted the longest, non-stop RAAF flight on record.
The KC-30A flew from RAAF Base Amberley to Jerez, Spain, in 23.3 hours, with two refuelling brackets supplied from a second RAAF KC-30A.
Consisting of 21 Air Force personnel, Flight Lieutenant Elliott Hyder was one of five pilots who rotated to share fatigue load.
“We were able to successfully manage both flight endurance and aircrew fatigue to achieve the maximum result,” Flight Lieutenant Hyder said.
As part of a week-long interoperability exercise with French Air and Space Force’s (FASF) 31 Aeronautical Technical Support Squadron, RAAF’s 33 Squadron travelled to Istres, France, to participate in air-to-air refuelling and maintenance exchange activities.
“Myself and one other pilot, 33 Squadron’s FASF exchange pilot Squadron Leader Kevin Theatre, flew the local flight with the FASF Eurofighters,” Flight Lieutenant Hyder said.
“Other than that, our role was to support the maintenance and logistics crews on deployment, which was the main focus.”
33 Squadron aviation technician Corporal Anthony Everitt said the exchange was a valuable experience.
“RAAF 33 Squadron maintenance, logistics and quality specialists worked alongside their French counterparts to understand each other’s processes, share lessons learnt, and build the friendship initially started during Pitch Black 2024 earlier in the year,” Corporal Everitt said.
“We operate under a similar regulatory structure, which makes understanding the training and authorisation of each other’s maintenance procedures much easier.
“Once the process is fully developed, it will be great to see our respective maintenance staff working with each other all over the world.”
Enhancing interoperability between the two nations on the return journey to RAAF Base Amberley, the RAAF KC-30A was refuelled by both a RAAF KC-30A and a FASF Multi-Role Tanker Transport.
Flight Lieutenant Hyder said it was a beneficial experience.
“The highlights for me were the successful spare parts and logistics exchange, the knowledge sharing to increase both the RAAF and the FASF processes – and the cuisine, of course, which the locals gladly helped us explore,” Flight Lieutenant Hyder said.
