A Royal Australian Air Force plane has become the largest aircraft to ever land at Sunshine Coast Airport, touching down last week as part of a training exercise.
The KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport visited last Monday, making it the first Code E aircraft to land at the airport.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation classifies a Code E aircraft as having a wingspan between 52m and 65m. The KC-30A is a heavily modified Airbus A330 airliner with a wingspan of 60.3m.
A Defence spokesperson told Sunshine Coast News the visit was to help the aircraft crew develop skills.
“The KC-30A crew, who are based at RAAF Base Amberley, were conducting a crew training mission to maintain pilot skills and proficiency,” they said.
“The mission involved flying from RAAF Base Amberley to RAAF Base Townsville, then to Sunshine Coast Airport and back to RAAF Base Amberley.
“The aircraft landed following an instrument approach, then remained on a taxiway with the engines running whilst the crew prepared for the following sector from Sunshine Coast to RAAF Base Amberley.
“The KC-30A did not open doors and the crew remained on the aircraft due to mission timing constraints.
“The KC-30A was on the ground at Sunshine Coast Airport for approximately 40 minutes.
“Sunshine Coast Airport was chosen as it is one of the suitable alternate landing airfields in vicinity of RAAF Base Amberley.
“The coordination and planning conducted with the Sunshine Coast airfield manager provided valuable information on the support services available and provided outstanding training opportunities for KC-30A pilots.”
According to the RAAF website, the KC-30A is used for air-to-air refuelling and strategic airlift.
It can carry a fuel load of more than 100 tonnes, and is capable of taking 270 passengers and 34 tonnes of equipment.
It measures 59m long, 17.4m high and has a cruising speed of 860km/h.
The RAAF has seven KC-30A aircraft based at RAAF Base Amberley, operated by No.33 Squadron.
Sunshine Coast Airport posted on social media saying an aircraft of this size was only able to land as a result of the runway expansion project that was completed in June 2020.
Local journalists supporting local people. Help keep independent and fair Sunshine Coast news coming by subscribing to our FREE daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email at the bottom of this article.
