31 episodes
Workhorse - RAAF C-130s Bill 'K9' Kourelakos
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- History
"Workhorse" is a podcast about Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft from their earliest history through to modern times. The series is based on the soon to be released book “Air Mobility Workhorse”, which will be available from Big Sky Publishing.
Topics include:
Operations from around the globe, including all four corners of the planet, from 1959 to nowAircraft technical discussionsTrainingRoles (Search and Rescue, Air Logistics, Airborne Operations, Special Operations, Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief, Surveillance, Non-combatant Evacuation, Aeromedical Evacuation and Firefighting)Maintenance and modificationsLogisticsAnd, of course, the people that made it all possible.
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Workhorse - E31 - Strategic Circumstances from mid 70s - mid 90s
This episode explores the 'Defence of Australia' years and how this strategy impacted C-130 operations. The impact of the Dibb Review is also discussed.
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Workhorse - E30 - Unique Loads of the 70s
This short episode covers a few unique loads carried by Royal Australian Air Force C-130s in the 1970s and early 1980s. Included are:A bull taken to ChinaThe entombed warriors (China again)Stock to TongaA 3-day trip for a crocA giant pigDarwin Beer Can Regatta and, F-111 maintenance into Johnston Atoll
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Workhorse - E29 - Airlift Competitions with Gary Robinson
This episode covers off on three airlift competitions that RAAF C-130s won on several occasions: Volant Rodeo, Bullseye, and Air Tattoo. The details are discussed with retired WOFF Gary 'Robbo' Robinson, an ex 36SQN Loadmaster. Of note, Robbo was a crewmember on the only RAAF contingent to ever win 'Best Wing '- the top prize at Rodeo.Robbo also discusses his role as part of the crew that flew the aircraft in this podcast's photo - featuring a C-130H doing a flare dump.
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Workhorse - E28 - Tactics and NVGs - with John Samulski
During the 1975-1986 era, the Australian Army reinvigorated Airborne Operations.With the drive to enhance airborne operations capabilities came the notion of operating C-130s into contested environments, and that meant improving RAAF C-130 tactics.Modern tactics development led 36SQN to consider electronic warfare, operating as low as they could, and using night vision goggles (NVGs).Retired Air Commodore John 'Sam' Samulski provides some insight into the tactics development of that era and h...
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Workhorse - E27 - Airborne Ops Development - 1975-1986
The advent of the 1976 White Paper came with a reduction in the ADF's combat operations, and an emphasis on preparedness for the defence of Australia. As a result, the ADF put a great deal of energy into exercising and developing combat skills and proficiency. This effort led to the re-establishment of a permanent Regular Army airborne operations capability (first with 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, then 3 RAR) and along with those capabilities came C-130 tactics development.This i...
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Workhorse - E26 - Unique Missions - 1975-86
This episode covers unique operations of the 1975-1986 era. These missions are all reflective of the flexibility inherent in the C-130 and Australia’s growing dependence on the Hercules to deliver a variety of effects. The missions covered include:Non-combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) of TehranUN supply missions to the Middle East1981 Qantas strikeIntercepting a drug runner