A FAMILIAR sight over Lithgow's skies is set to make a return to help commemorate Anzac Day services in the city.
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The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-130J Hercules often flies over the Central West during regular training missions to help crews prepare for overseas deployments.
The huge aircraft - which is 34.3 metres long and has a wingspan of 40.4 metres - will soar over the city at 11.10am.
A RAAF spokesman said it will fly in a south to north direction and pass over the Lithgow Cenotaph, Main Street and Queen Elizabeth Park.
"The flypast will give the residents a proper view of the aircraft," he said.
VIDEO: The C-130J Hercules during a recent trip to Bathurst
The Hercules and its crew have conducted numerous flypasts over Lithgow in the past to commemorate Anzac Day and the spokesman said these can happen at the request of RSL clubs or the local council.
On Anzac Day, this Hercules aircraft will conduct eight flypasts, it will start over Freshwater on Sydney's Northern Beaches, before flying over Richmond, North Richmond, Springwood, Lawson, Lithgow, Crookwell and finally Mount Pritchard.
A fleet of 12 C-130J Hercules aircraft are operated by the No.37 Squadron at the RAAF base at Richmond .
The spokesman said these aircraft fulfil a number of roles which can include: cargo drops, paratroop drops, personnel deployment and emergency evacuations.
"It was recently used for evacuations during Cyclone Trevor in March in the Northern Territory. We evacuated 800 people in a single day," he said.
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The spokesman said two C-130J Hercules are currently on overseas deployment to provide assistance to medical treatment locations.
"We've had a continuing presence with the C-130 in the Middle East for the past 16 years," he said.
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