RAAF set to start flight training on C-27J Spartan aircraft

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) personnel are set to start flight training on the new C-27 J Spartan battlefield airlift aircraft.

Australian Defence Minister Parliamentary Secretary Darren Chester said the airborne training will start in Texas, US, over the coming weeks.

He said: "These pilots and loadmasters will go on to become our first qualified C-27J crew members."

The Australian Government ordered ten C-27J aircraft along with contractor logistics support, spares and training from L-3 Communications under a $900m foreign military sales deal in May 2012.

The aircraft are supplied by Alenia Aermacchi. They are expected to enhance the Australian Defence Forces' (ADF) ability to move troops, equipment, and supplies in absence of DHC-4 Caribou aircraft fleet, which was retired in 2009.