C-130 News: C-130 nose art celebrates Guard heritage

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LITTLE ROCK AFB, Ark. -- On a beautiful sunny day at Little Rock Air Force Base, an Arkansas Air National Guard C-130 got a special nose job. On October 16, Col. Robert Ator II, commander of the 189th Airlift Wing, helped unveil on his assigned aircraft new nose art that celebrates a special chapter of Arkansas Guard heritage.

A bright red razorback head now adorns each side of aircraft number 1396, a nod to the state's most well-known university mascot, and a preservation of a symbol that has been a long-standing part of the 189th's sister Air National Guard wing in Fort Smith.

The 188th Wing has been known as the Flying Razorbacks since 1976, with the famous symbol appearing on several types of aircraft, most recently the A-10 Thunderbolt II, "Warthog." In 2013, the 188th was selected to convert to an MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) wing. This included the world's first-ever space-focused targeting squadron. The conversion was completed in June when the last A-10 departed Fort Smith, leaving the Arkansas Air National Guard without one of its most well-known sights.

After the conversion, the 189th was given authorization by the National Guard Bureau to display the razorback head, and to take on the 188th's call sign of "Hawg," thus preserving an important part of Arkansas Air National Guard pride.

"We did this for a couple of reasons," said Col. Ator. "First, it's for esprit de corps for the wing and the maintenance guys, and for the state. When our sister wing the 188th lost their aircraft, we wanted to preserve some of the heritage.

"All together, this is a plus and a win for everyone included in the state of Arkansas and the Air National Guard," said Ator.

View original Article: http://www.thv11.com/story/news/local/jacksonville-lrafb/2014/10/21/arkansas-air-national-guard-c-130-nose-art/17661831/