squadron raaf squadron maintenance unit royal_australian_air_force raaf formed august transport wing operated new_south_wales squadron transferred june relocated april returning richmond august commence maintenance wing newly delivered lockheed hercules squadron disbanded august march 1980s 1990s responsible raaf boeing tanker transports hercules squadron disbanded richmond october functions handed wing hercules squadrons history maintenance squadron established new_south_wales august commanded wing commander allocated strength including officers unit transport wing controlled nos squadrons flying base squadron squadron disbanded february squadron march june wing comprising nos squadrons relocated nearby raaf station richmond squadron role included replacing engines fitting long range fuel tanks equipment occasionally serviced addition maintenance tasks april wing transferred help satisfy federal government transport needs squadron maintained squadron returned richmond august anticipation entry raaf service lockheed hercules official history post war air_force described hercules probably biggest step aircraft capabilities raaf received considering roughly times effective taking account improvements range speed hercules aircraft operated raaf arrival meant time squadron maintaining types transport aircraft hercules heavier maintenance upgrades hercules carried based richmond availability lockheed spare parts caused problems squadron early australian service grounding aircraft year wing disbanded following entry service raaf canada tactical transports april primarily support australian_army overarching wing headquarters hercules considered inappropriate august squadron disbanded equipment staff records divided nos squadrons squadron established richmond february flying hercules consequently march squadron formed auspices service models technicians squadron killed car accident near windsor june unit maintenance program reorganised september played significant role supporting relief efforts wake struck darwin christmas day squadron thirteen hercules available night december new years day nineteen aircraft flew hours carrying passengers pounds cargo operated squadron replaced models having accident free flying hours squadron celebrated 40th anniversary august wing formed richmond february newly established squadron wing controlled squadron flying boeing transports nos squadrons flying hercules respectively development unit squadron responsible operational intermediate level maintenance hercules managed flight ground based equipment operated squadron achieved accident free flying hours years later squadron achieved accident free flying hours maintenance tasks commercial firms beginning late 1980s won year depot maintenance contract following conversion squadron aircraft aerial squadron took responsibility pods australian government employed hercules boeing transport pilots dispute curtailed operations domestic resulting spike operational hours necessitated squadron sending detachments locations country cope increased maintenance demands squadron personnel accompanied hercules transporting australian troops taken united_nations humanitarian operations mid-1990s squadron strength personnel challenges availability spare parts boeing engines undertook heavier maintenance jet base mascot depot level maintenance wing aircraft responsibility wing formed july squadron disbanded october transferring functions nos squadrons
No. 486 Squadron RAAF