2020
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A rainy June 2, 2020, was a historic day for the 39th Rescue Squadron as aircrew members flew the first fully operational HC-130J Combat King II training mission. This first operational flight marks an important milestone for the 39th RQS because the HC-130J replaced the HC-130 P/N as the only Air Force dedicated fixed-wing personnel recovery platform. The new aircraft came directly off the production line from Lockheed Martin and went straight to the flight line earlier just two months ago. “The Combat King II, flies faster, higher and further. It’s capabilities, far exceeds that of its predecessor” said Col. Ian, the 920th RQW vice commander…
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Lockheed Martin provided the final of 86 C-130 Super Hercules aircraft that were part of a Multi-Year 2 contract announced in December 2015 when it delivered a KC-130J tanker-transport platform to a US Marine Corps (USMC) reserve squadron on 28 May. The KC-130J is assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR-452), the Marine Forces Reserve squadron at Stewart Air National Guard Base in New York. KC-130s are operated in support of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) commander by providing tactical in-flight refuelling for fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and tiltrotor aircraft; aviation-delivered ground refuelling of aircraft or tactical vehicles; and air …
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Following on from the Night Vision System upgrade modification of the Flight Management System in 2017, Marshall ADG will now design and update the Electronic Flight Instrument System displays, Standby Instrument and Flight Management System across the fleet. “We’re thrilled to be awarded the contract to do this avionics modification work, which will extend the current capabilities of the aircraft,” said Duncan Eldridge, Managing Director of Marshall ADG’s Military Aerospace business. “The Austrian Air Force is an important customer and we know that their C -130 fleet is used extensively to perform supply tasks in support of their troops around the globe, as wel…
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The Air Force is asking for proposals to conduct electronic evaluations of one of its key assets, the C-130 weapon system family. In a notice posted June 2, the service stated it is conducting a market survey to see which companies might be able to study, analyze, develop or test advanced technology, including microelectronics, software and algorithm solutions to resolve obsolescence issues. It addition, the service would want to add capabilities and improve performance, reliability, maintainability and availability of EC-130J Commando Solos, EC-130J Super Js and AC-130Js. Moreover, the post notes that this requirement’s main purpose is to perform analysis and i…
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The U.S. Air Force is looking at arming otherwise unarmed cargo planes, pressing them into service as makeshift bombers. The service believes future wars with adversaries like Russia or China will require plenty of aerial firepower and transport planes, loaded with pallets of cruise missiles, could provide an inexpensive solution. According to Defense News, the Air Force thinks aircraft such as the C-130J Super Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III could become part-time missile trucks. The unarmed aircraft typically shuttle troops and equipment, but in a pinch, would be equipped with “smart pallets” carrying long-range cruise missiles and other munitions. The palle…
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Forecasting the movement and strength of hurricanes and tropical storms is quite tricky but of prime importance to public safety and protection of property. Now that tropical storms are increasing hurricane hunter recon missions are also on the increase. The proven tried and true standard. The workhorse of hurricane hunter force is the C-130J. The hurricane hunter fleet is comprised of airplanes manufactured by Lockheed Martin at a cost of up $30 million per plane. Frank Amadeo is wing commander of this outfit and was kind enough to give me a personal tour of the aircraft. "Alright so this is the WC-130J. We have ten hurricane aircraft in…
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SA Air Force (SAAF) technical personnel are stripping usable components from C-130BZ (tail number 403) next to the runway at Goma Airport in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after it was damaged during an incident at the beginning of the year. The 28 Squadron medium lift aircraft was left languishing askance with structural and engine damage after it hit a culvert a short distance from the runway in January. initial efforts at recovering usable parts from the four-engined transporter were hampered by United Nations bureaucracy. Additionally, the departure of a SAAF technical team was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic halting air transport and travel.…
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A total force integration team of active-duty testers and Air National Guard Airmen were rewarded recently for their combined efforts on a money-saving C-130H propeller system. The C-130H NP2000 test team made up of 417th Flight Test Squadron and Wyoming ANG's 153rd Airlift Wing personnel earned the 2019 Gen. Mark A. Welsh III One Air Force Award. More than eight different organizations were ultimately involved with the test effort. “Congratulations to this innovative and strategic-minded team for creating positive impacts across the total force,” said Brig. Gen. Scott Cain, 96th Test Wing commander. “This successful initiative paved the way for future integrate…
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The Air Education and Training Command’s mission is to recruit, train and educate exceptional Airmen. Ensuring Airmen in training make it to their next destination safely and on time is essential to maintaining the Air Force’s readiness. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, transporting students from one location to the next has brought about challenges. The 62nd Airlift Squadron here accepted the task of providing essential transportation to hundreds of students across the country in support of AETC’s training pipeline. The squadron’s airlift capabilities are an innovative way to protect and maintain AETC’s training pipeline. “These students would ordinarily fly …
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Air Force Reserve Receives First HC-130J Combat King II Hercules history was made on April 2, when a crew from the 920th Rescue Wing (RQW) from Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, accepted delivery of the U.S. Air Force’s Reserve first HC-130J Combat King II search and rescue aircraft. This HC-130J will be operated by the 39th Rescue Squadron (RQS), which is part of the 920th RQW. These Reservists are long-time operators of legacy HC-130 P/N Combat King combat search-and-rescue aircraft, flying and maintaining HC-130s since the 1960s — using HC-130s to save more than 3,000 lives. The HC-130J is the sole dedicated fixed-wing personnel recovery platform operated…
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The first production Air National Guard C-130H3 with the #CollinsAerospace NP2000 eight bladed propeller completed a functional check flight and was released back to the 152nd Airlift Wing, Reno, Nevada. The Air Reserve Component has been working for the past six years to bring this capability to the field and it's great to see production aircraft now in service. This particular aircraft has the large orange “8” in reference to the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) Aircraft #8. The NP2000 brings increased safety, performance, and maintainability to not only the airborne firefighting mission, but normal airdrop and air land missions as well. Thanks to Chris Swa…
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End of the line Air Force C–130 makes final trip—by road March 19, 2020 By Mike Collins It’s not very often that you hear the command, “Pull chocks,” on a city street, miles from the nearest airport. But the phrase was shouted several times in the early morning hours March 14, as a retired U.S. Air Force C–130H Hercules was pulled—on its own wheels—some 7.5 miles through the streets and highways of Frederick, Maryland, to its final assignment. Rosemont Avenue traffic is stopped for a U.S. Air Force Lockheed C-130H Hercules aircraft during an overnight move from Frederick Muni…
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March 6, 2020 Lockheed Martin Aeronautics has been awarded a firm-fixed-price contract, worth around $16 million, from the U.S. Air Force for the C-130J center wing box replacement program. This contract provides for 14 C-130J Super Hercules enhanced center wing boxes and 14 component kits. Work will be performed in Marietta, Georgia, and is expected to be complete by March 30, 2027. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 procurement funds for the contract amount are being obligated at time of award. The U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity (FA8…
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Report: C-130 crashed after clipping tree during retardant drop By Reuters | February 27, 2020 at 4:45 p.m. By Jamie Freed | Reuters SYDNEY – A C-130 tanker plane that crashed and killed all three Americans on board while fighting fires in Australia last month hit the ground shortly after making a two-second fire retardant drop at an altitude of 200 feet, investigators said on Friday. In a preliminary report into the crash, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said after the drop, the aircraft was flying at a very low height with its left wing down and it hit a tree before crashing into the ground, leading to a post-impact …
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The New South Wales Rural Fire Service confirms three people have died after a C-130 heavy air tanker owned by Coulson Aviation crashed in Australia this afternoon. The aircraft was deployed to fires in the Snowy Mountains. They lost contact with the machine and the flight tracker stopped. “There’s no indication at this time what caused the accident,” NSW RFS commission Shane Fitzsimmons said in a press conference tonight. There were approximately four other aircraft in the area fighting the fire at the time. The weather has been hot, dry and windy with smoke and dust in the area. “It was another very difficult, aggressive fire day.” “We are …
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