2016
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Philippine Air Force outgoing commanding general Lieutenant General Jeffrey Delgado stated that one of the two refurbished C-130 aircraft amounting to PHP1.6 Billion from the United States of America will be delivered on March 15. For now, the Philippine Air Force technical working group is in US to inspect the C-130 before it will be delivered in March while the other one will be delivered in September. Meanwhile, for the last time, the outgoing PAF commanding general will inspect Air Force troops and air assets during his retirement and turnover ceremony in Lipa, Batangas tomorrow. At the same time, the two FA-50 fighter jets acquired by the Armed Forces of…
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There were many happy reunions on Monday at the Delaware Air National Guard Base when about 60 airmen returned home from their recent deployments serving overseas. Families and friends dotted the tarmac to greet the members of the 166th Airlift Wing as they returned home from taking part in Operation Freedom Sentinel. The group was comprised of pilots, crew, and maintenance teams operating the C-130s that transport personnel and cargo. Staff Sgt. Matthew Secamiglio embraced his children and wife after he got off the plane. He said the family had tried to stay in touch using technology and social media, but that didn't compare to reuniting in person. "Everythin…
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“Integrated system-health” engines will be increasingly seen helping machines keep track of their own performance, CEMSol LLC engineering vice president David Cirulli said in a story from NASA. Critical systems like those on board spacecraft could gain a huge advantage by being a bit more self-aware, able to ‘verbalize’ their own possible failings, Cirulli said in an interview posted Thursday. CEMSol’s Integrated System Health Management software has been used at the NASA Ames Research Center since 2003, and was able to help engineers model data for experimental tests automatically. “Historically, system-health management has been an afterthought,” Cirul…
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In a $7.2 billion wish list of items the Air Force will submit to Congress, the service is asking for funds to restore the five F-35 joint strike fighters and eight C-130J transport planes it was forced to cut in its latest budget request. The document is par for the course of the Pentagon’s budget season. Congress asks for a so-called “unfunded priorities list” from each of the armed services every year. Lawmakers can choose to add funding to buy the requested items or ignore the request altogether. This year, the Air Force requested $7.2 billion in total, including about $2.9 billion to buy back capability the service cut in its fiscal year 2017 budget…
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Ukraine has lost Crimea and much of its eastern border region as well, to invading troops from Russia. But could this beleaguered country soon book a win in the airplane market? Several recent news items suggest that it could -- and that it could do this at Lockheed Martin's expense. Last month, we relayed to you the shocking news that Ukraine had officially shut down its Antonov Aviation Concern (AAC), the holding company that owned the Antonov Company, which builds the world's largest transport aircraft. We also pointed out, though, that just because AAC is going out of business, this doesn't necessarily keep Antonov Company from continuing to build airplanes. …
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The cancelled C-130 Avionics Modernization Program is relaunching as a two-phase upgrade to bring legacy C-130Hs in compliance with airspace regulations, followed by later cockpit enhancements. “We’ve got the plans and money already programed” to begin AMP I, Air Mobility Command boss Gen, Carlton Everhart said at AES16 on Wednesday. “We have an FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] mandate of 2020 to have everything [communications, navigation, surveillance/air traffic management] compliant. … We’ll meet that mandate,” he said. AMP II will begin shortly after AMP I is completed in 2020, and notionally includes features such as flat-panel glass cockpit displays, similar t…
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Air Force officials told lawmakers Tuesday that the service is giving priority to its mobility aircraft as it funds upgrades necessary so that the planes can fly over U.S. airspace in accordance with new Federal Aviation Administration mandates going into effect in 2020. Under the new rules, all aircraft, including military, must be equipped with the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast system, which continually broadcasts an aircraft's position, identity and velocity over an unencrypted data system to render the most accurate picture for air traffic management. Military aircraft will be able to alter their identifiers when necessary for security reasons. …
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The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, “Hurricane Hunters,” spent Feb. 11-24 flying through "atmospheric rivers" in the Pacific Ocean stretching from Hawaii to U.S. West Coast in efforts to improve storm predictions. The squadron teamed up with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service, Scripps Institution of Oceanography California, and Oregon and Washington emergency management offices for the research mission aimed at improving forecaster's ability to predict where these atmospheric river storms will make landfall. Atmospheric rivers, a corridor of concentrated moisture in the atmosphere, can lead to flooding, mudslides an…
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BodyText Developmental testing of the next generation AC-130J Ghostrider gunship has been suspended until the first 105 mm gun-armed aircraft is delivered, Air Force Materiel Command boss Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski said. After reviewing the original C-130J flight test data after the mishap that totaled the first AC-130J prototype, testers found that the gunship was similar enough to the base-model aircraft that repeating certain tests would be redundant, Air Force Special Operations Command boss Lt. Gen. Bradley Heithold added. Furthermore, there is very little point to continuing developmental testing “prior to the addition of that gun,” which will equip the producti…
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (News Release) - The Arkansas Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing has been tapped to be a major player in the development of a high-accuracy air drop and reconnaissance system, sending aircraft and aircrews to an Arizona test center. Two Arkansas C-130 H aircraft, two aircrews and 14 maintainers from the 189th Airlift Wing are part of the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Command Test Center (AATC)’ s LITENING POD program, which aims to adapt existing targeting technology to eventually provide incredible high altitude air drop accuracy. The Arkansas Air National Guard aircraft and personnel are at the Tucson Air National Guard base for a…
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MANSFIELD – Approximately 100 members of the Ohio Air National Guard’s 179th Airlift Wing departed today for a near four-month deployment to the Middle East in support of Operation New Dawn. A majority of the members are from the 164th Airlift Squadron and will be flying C-130H aircraft as part of intra-theater operations, according to a news release from the airlift wing. The Mansfield-based unit is joining with active duty troops and members of the Alaska National Guard. This deployment is particularly significant for the participating units in the fact that Alaska Air National Guard will be the lead unit in a combined group and that the mission comple…
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Members of the Scotia-based 109th Airlift Wing were expected to fly 1,400 miles across Antarctica on Friday to pick up 35 stranded Australian researchers. The eight-person New York National Guard crew will use its ski-equipped L-C130 to extricate members of the expedition from Davis research station after a ship that was supposed to carry the Australians home ran aground in driving snow and freezing temperatures, according to the U.S. National Science Foundation. "What happened there was extremely bad weather at Mawson, an Australian station," said Peter West, spokesman for the National Science Foundation. The 109th fl…
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Rolls-Royce has delivered the first T56 Series 3.5 engine upgrade kits to the US Air Force as the service introduces the improvements to its C-130H transport fleet. The Series 3.5 engine upgrade kits are already demonstrating success in a Hurricane Hunter WP-3D aircraft of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with fuel savings exceeding 12% and improved range and payload capability. NOAA flight data also shows significantly lower turbine temperatures, improved high-altitude performance and much faster engine starts. USAF and US Air National Guard C-130Hs will begin receiving the T56 engine upgrades, starting with Air National Guard units in Wyomi…
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More than 100 members of Alaska’s Air National Guard are deploying to the Middle East Tuesday evening. The majority is from the 144 Airlift Squadron within the Guard’s 176th Wing, and will be flying C-130H aircraft as part of intratheater operations. “Instead of ferrying materials around the globe in and out of the theater of operation, they’ll be operating within the theater, taking supplies and personnel from point to point,” said Capt. John Callahan, chief of public affairs for the 176th Wing. The Alaska unit is joining with active duty troops and members of the Ohio National Guard in operations combating the ISIL in Iraq and Syria. For security reaso…
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Charlotte may not be home to the Air National Guard's C-130 planes much longer. The plane based at Charlotte Douglas International Airport are often used to fight wildfires and have operated out of Charlotte since the 1960s. But starting in 2018 the Air Force wants to station C-17 planes in Charlotte instead. They're much larger and are used to transport large, heavy cargo. Officials have not said where the C-130s may end up. Source: http://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/air-national-guard-c-130s-may-be-removed-from-charlotte/92786812 View full article
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The 440th Airlift Wing has dropped its last paratroopers into the skies above Fort Bragg. The Air Force Reserve wing, slated for inactivation later this year, quietly conducted it's last airborne operation with Fort Bragg soldiers Wednesday. As the sun set, both literally and figuratively, on the wing's mission to support Bragg troops, about 330 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers were dropped from one of the wing's remaining C-130H planes. After a nearly two year fight to save the wing, many believe the battle is over and the 440th -- first slated to be closed in the 2015 Air Force budget -- will be inactivated this fall. Despite sever…
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2/19/2016 - DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Arizona -- Teamwork and ongoing process improvement efforts at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group resulted in an early shipment of the first of seven refurbished outer wing sets for the MC-130H Combat Talon IIs operated by Air Force Special Operations Command. The 309th AMARG is based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, and is a geographically separated unit within the Ogden Air Logistics Complex at Hill AFB, Utah. The MC-130H, a specialized, low density/high-demand platform, is currently undergoing accelerated programmed depot maintenance at Robins AFB, Georgia. And, since the aircraft is limited…
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Northrop Grumman (NG, Chalet CD01) Technology Services is offering legacy C-130 Hercules operators a center wing box (CWB) restoration solution. The offer derives from a refurbishment program on five C-130H airlifters that Australia gifted to the Indonesian air force. The Australian aircraft were overhauled before delivery by NG’s Integrated Defense Services (IDS) facility–the former Qantas Defense Services (QDS) company that the American corporation bought in 2013. QDS had provided deep maintenance support to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-130 fleet since 1958. One of the five ‘Herks’ for Indonesia proved to have a corroded CWB that needed repl…
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The war on terrorism is getting a boost from the efficiency of maintenance workers at Robins Air Force Base. Friday, crews prepared to send off an AC-130U gunship after a record maintenance stop. "It typically takes 181 days to do this work package on this aircraft," said Jim Russell, director of the 560th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "But because our customer asked us to accelerate due to the fact they need more aircraft in the field, we actually worked this airplane and were able to produce it in 100 days, which is a world record here for Warner Robins. " For every day a plane is in the shop, it is out of commission for nightly mis…
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International Air Response's N118TG (ex-USAF RC-130A 57-0512) c/n 3219 View full article
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Little Rock AFB, Ark. -- The 913th Airlift Group flew its final C-130H mission Jan. 28, as the wing prepared to transition to the J-model of the venerable Hercules transporter. This flight means the mission for the 913th has officially changed from the “H” to the “J” model,” said Lt. Col. Keith Jasmin, chief of current operations for the 913th Operations Support Squadron. “We’ve been balancing both, but now, we transition to the J.”From its modest beginnings in October 2010, as 22nd Air Force Detachment One, the 913 AG has grown from two Airmen to more than 800. The group’s personnel flew, maintained and supported the Air Force mission in 14 C-130H Hercules. But …
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. (WNCN) – The 440th Airlift Wing at Fort Bragg’s Pope Airfield appears on the brink of being deactivated, according to a letter that has already drawn a blistering response from North Carolina Congressional leaders. A letter from military leaders, including Secretary of the Air Force Debora Lee James, notes that the Air Force is looking to reallocate resources. “With increasing budget pressures, and to continue support to the Army while accomplishing all other missions, the Air Force must manage its tactical airlift fleet in the most efficient manner,” the letter states. WNCN obtained a copy of the letter Friday afternoon. In a s…
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KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Lt. Col. Stuart Rubio assumed command of the Air Force Reserve's 815th Airlift Squadron "Flying Jennies" from Lt. Col. Shannon Hailes Saturday. As part of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013, the Air Force announced plans to transfer 10 of the 403rd Wing's C-130J aircraft. A 2015 report from the Secretary of the Air Force reversed that recommendation, beginning the programming and budgeting work to restore personnel and mission capability at Keesler. Rubio, a C-130 pilot with 3,400 hours, comes to Keesler from the 48th Airlift Squadron, 314th Airlift Wing, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, where he served as the dir…
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Rolls-Royce has been contracted by the U.S. Air Force to supply spare engines and provide propulsion system sustainment for their C-130J aircraft. Under the $71 million spare engine contract, the company will provide 24 AE2100DE commercial engines for the airlifters. The order also includes foreign military sales to the government of Saudi Arabia. Rolls-Royce received an additional $76 million contract for C-130J propulsion system sustainment, which tasks the company with providing logistics and management support in addition to engineering services, spares, and technical data support for the aircraft's propulsion system. …
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WASHINGTON — The Air Force plans to request funding in its new budget to recapitalize the EC-130H Compass Call fleet by moving the electronics on the aging planes onto new business jet bodies, sources tell Defense News. The EC-130H is a key component of the Air Force’s electronic attack capability. The fleet went operational in 1983, and while there have been a number of upgrades to the electronic systems, the airframes themselves are becoming a concern. Because of the wear on the plane, the Air Force attempted to retire seven of the 14 EC-130Hs in inventory in its fiscal year 2016 budget. However, Congress — led by Rep. Martha McSally, a former Air Forc…
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