An inquest into the downing of an RAF Special Forces aircraft in Iraq, January 2005, is expected to hear evidence that vital safety gear that could have prevented the loss of the aircraft and crew should have been fitted.
The C-130K Hercules flown by the Special Forces Flight of 47 Squadron, RAF, was hit by enemy ground fire whilst flying low following a mission flown in support of the Special Air Service. A fire broke out on board the Hercules which quickly spread and caused an explosion which brought the aircraft down, killing all 10 servicemen on board.
Experts say that had the Hercules been fitted with an Explosive Suppressant Foam (ESF) system, specifically designed to extinguish aircraft fires, then it may well have been able to land safely. ESF systems are fitted as standard on American Hercules and have now been fitted to the RAF Hercules fleet.
RAF Special Forces Hercules are specially-equipped with additional defences against surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) as well as carrying extra sensors and communications gear. 47 Sqn SF flight fly in support of UKSF ground operations, inserting and extracting SAS and SBS troops and carrying out other tactical operations such as TALO (tactical air landing operations) - airfield seizures in which up to 4 C-130s land Paras directly onto enemy-held runways.
further reading:
US delay may have doomed targeted Britons
(Telegraph online report)
info on RAF 47 Squadron Special Forces flight
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