Uncontrolled copy not subject to amendment

Airmanship Knowledge for Air Cadets

Learning Outcome 3

Know How to Identify Military Aircraft

Part 3b: No2 Group Combat Support

Revision 3.00

Contents

1. C-17A Globemaster III

2. Hercules C1 / C3

3. Hercules C4 / C5

4. Tristar

5. VC10

6. Airbus A400M

7. Voyager

Aircraft in No 2 Group – Combat Support (Part 2):

1. C-17A Globemaster IIIReporting Name: Globemaster III

Role Letters and Marks: C-17A

Role: Long range, strategic

heavy-lift transport

C-17A Globemaster III

• Long-range, strategic heavy-lift transport aircraft

• Capable of operating into austere strips with short runways and limited facilities

• Basic crew of two pilots and one air loadmaster• Can carry ‘outsize’ loads up to 135,000lbs

single-item weight• Self-supporting, needing little or no ground

equipment for off-load of cargo• Declared part of the UK’s Joint Rapid Reaction

Force

Technical Data

Wing Span: 52M

Length: 53M

Crew: 3

Maximum Speed: Mach 0.85

Engines: 4 x Four Pratt & Whitney F117- PW 100

turbofans

C-17A Globemaster III

2. Hercules C1 / C3

Reporting Name: Hercules

Role Letters and Marks: C1 / C3

Role: Tactical Transport

Hercules C1 / C3

• This versatile work horse is intended primarily for tactical operations and can operate from short unprepared airstrips

• Its role includes supply dropping, freight carrying, trooping and air ambulance duties

• The original RAF versions are designated Hercules C1 and C3

Technical Data

Wing Span: 40.41M

Length: C1=29.78M C3=34.37M

Crew: 5

Maximum Speed: 335kts (621km/h) at 20,000ft

Engines: Four Allison T56 turboprops or

Four Allison AE2100DTurboprops - C130J

Hercules C1 / C3

3. Hercules C4 / C5

Reporting Name: Hercules

Role Letters and Marks: C4, C5

Role: Tactical Transport

Hercules C4 / C5

• This versatile work horse is intended primarily for tactical operations and can operate from short unprepared airstrips

• Its role includes supply dropping, freight carrying, trooping and air ambulance duties

• The new RAF versions are designated Hercules C4 and C5

• Hercules C4 / C5 have up-rated engines with composite 6 bladed propellers as well as a glass cockpit and a head up display

Technical Data

Wing Span: 40.41M

Length: C4=29.78M C5=34.37M

Crew: 5

Maximum Speed: 335kts (621km/h) at 20,000ft

Engines: Four Allison AE2100DTurboprops

Hercules C4 / C5

4. Tristar

Reporting Name: Tristar

Role Letters and Marks: K1, KC1, KC2

Role: Transport/Tanker

Tristar

• These conversions of a successful Lockheed civil airliner, have given the RAF a greatly increased strategic transport and refuelling capability

• The alterations include the fitting of an in-flight refuelling probe and centre-line hose drum unit (HDU)

• The tanker role has a close circuit television (CCTV) system fitted to allow the crew to monitor the refuelling operation

• The interior of the aircraft has been reworked to military specifications and can take a wide variety of loads, including up to 20 pallets of equipment or 250 passengers

Technical Data

Wing Span: 50M

Length: 50M

Crew: 3

Maximum Speed: 527kts (978km/h) at 30,000ft

Engines: Three Rolls-Royce RB211

turbofans

Tristar

5. VC10

Reporting Name: VC10

Role Letters and Marks: C1, C1K, K2, K3, K4

Role: Transport/Tanker

VC10

• VC10 has been in RAF service since 1967 and has been developed to fulfill many roles over the years

• As a transporter the VC10 C1 can carry up to 150 troops or 24,516 kg of freight on pallets using a roller conveyor system

• The original fleet of VC10 C1 aircraft have been modified and supplemented by ex-civilian VC10s and super VC10s (4m longer)

• The tanker versions (K) are fitted with two Mk 32 in-flight refueling pods, one under each wing

• The K 2, 3 and 4s are also fitted with a centre-line refueling hose drum unit making them 3-point tankers

Technical Data

Wing Span: 44.5M

Length: K2=50.59M K3=54.55M

Crew: 4

Maximum Speed: 500kts (922km/h) at 30,000ft

Engines: Four Rolls-Royce Conway 301

turbojets

VC10

6. Airbus A400M

Reporting Name: A400M

Role: Transport

Technical Data

Wing Span: 42.4m

Length: 45.1m

Crew: 4

Maximum Speed: Mach 0.68 – 0.72

Engines: 4 x EuroProp International TP400-D6

Airbus A400M

7. VoyagerReporting Name: Voyager

Role Letters and Marks: To be confirmed

Role: Tanker / Transport

Technical Data

Wing Span: 60.3 M

Length: 58.8 M

Crew: 3 to 4

Maximum Speed: Mach 0.82

Engines: 2 x Trent 700 turbofans

Voyager

Any questions?