C-130 News: Philipines, First of 2 C-130T cargo planes from US now in the country

[casey]

MANILA - One of the two C-130T cargo planes that form part of the Philippine Air Force's capability upgrade funded by both national and US Foreign Military Financing arrived in the country just before midnight Wednesday.

A statement from the  public information office of the PAF’s 2nd Air Division said the C130T, one of two promised US President Barack Obama, landed at 11:25 p.m. at Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

“The C-130T aircraft may be viewed by the public for the first time during its formal transfer, acceptance and blessing in a ceremony presided by the Secretary of National Defense and temporarily scheduled in the afternoon of April 12, 2016 at Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base, Pasay City,” the PAF statement said.

The aircraft was acquired under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, but PAF did not say how much the government paid for the acquisitions.

The C130T, with tail number 5011, had Lieutenant Colonel Ian Earth S. Lamzon and Major Ian Dexter B. Danes as pilots in command; and Majs. Anthony R. Amora and Ramil I. Daet as pilots.

The other members of the crew are Master Sergeant Ma. Majelia C. Querubin andTechnical Sgt. Randy M. Avenido, both Flight Engineers; Staff Sgt. Ray H. Acojedo and SSgt. Emerson C. de Dios, both Radio Electrical Instrument Technicians; SSgts. Felix N. Geraldez and Rogelio P. Saroca Jr., both Propulsion Technician; and TSgts. Bernard DA Jonson and Luvin E. Bolo, both Loadmasters.

Heading the crew was Colonel Alejandro Baclayon, the Deputy Wing Commander of the 220th Airlift Wing (220AW). He acted as the aircraft commander.

The aircraft's almost 4-day transpacific journey started in Tucson, Arizona, on April 2, 2016. It made stopovers in California, Hawaii (weekend lay over), Wake Island and Guam.

“This C-130T acquisition is part of the PAF's capability upgrade plan that was supported by a mix of national fund and US Foreign Military Financing. The aircraft was initially taken from the US Marine Reserve's active fleet of operational aircraft and underwent reconfiguration from a tanker that performs refueling missions into a transport platform that can accommodate the PAF's operational lift requirements,” said the Air Force statement.

The PAF said the newly-acquired C-130T will augment the current fleet of operational PAF C-130 Hotel and Bravo models, boosting the PAF's "lift capabilities for rapid deployment of troops and logistics and for supporting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations."

Currently, "the 220AW based in BGBNEAB is preparing and installing with interior fittings the aircraft for field operational use,” it added.

Source:  http://interaksyon.com/article/126104/first-of-2-c-130t-cargo-planes-from-us-now-in-the-country

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