Free Republic

2/15/2008 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Feb. 14, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer dropped guided bomb unit-38s onto an enemy combatant firing position. The mission was declared successful by an on-scene joint terminal attack controller. A show of force was performed by a Royal Air Force GR-7 Harrier in order to deter enemy activities in the area of Sangin. A JTAC reported the mission as a success. In total, 24...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 2006 -- The same global positioning technology that helps fighter and bomber pilots deliver smart bombs with pinpoint accuracy now allows bundles dropped from cargo planes to steer themselves to drop zones. A new GPS-guided “Screamer” bundle from the Joint Precision Air Drop System falls out the back of a C-130 Hercules over Afghanistan Aug. 26. The drop was made from 17,500 feet above mean sea level and was the first joint Air Force-Army operational drop of JPADS in the Central Command area of responsibility. Four bundles were dropped from the Alaska Air National Guard C-130....

8/11/2006 - BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- A C-130 unit assigned here is carrying a fairly conventional piece of equipment throughout the skies over the Central Command area of responsibility in an unconventional way. Instead of hauling people and cargo, the 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron is carrying an airborne command and control communications suite, helping convoy commanders communicate on the ground. The Joint Airborne Command and Control Command Post, what the unit calls Jackpot, fits nicely into the back of a Hercules, said Lt. Col. Mark Czelusta, 777th EAS commander. "It's a way to use airlift other than from...

4/14/2006 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- No one wishes for an aircraft to break -- especially flying crew chiefs. But, that’s when the mobile C-130 Hercules maintainers receive the most attention -- when something is wrong with the plane and they are far away from home. “Fortunately, C-130s are extremely reliable,” said Senior Master Sgt. Edward Rife, production supervisor for the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron. “They seldom break to the point where the aircraft can’t return to base. But, if that happens, the flying crew chiefs come to the rescue.” Sergeant Rife said most of the C-130s used in Southwest...

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (USAFENS) – Ramstein Airmen deployed to Iraq for five months to train Iraqis to fly and maintain C-130 aircraft; standing up the first Iraqi airlift squadron under the country’s new regime. A Ramstein pilot, navigator and enlisted maintainers deployed from August of 2005 through January to train their Iraqi counterparts to fly and maintain the Iraqi 23rd Squadron’s three C-130 Es on Ali Base, Iraq. “This was the world’s toughest training environment,” said Capt. Jeremy Smith, 37th Airlift Squadron navigator. “We were teaching Iraqis to fly in a hostile environment with a language and culture barrier.”...

C-130s are SUVs of airlift by Lanorris Askew Warner Robins Air Logistics Center Public Affairs 03/31/03 - ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFPN) -- In a world where fighters are seen as the sleek Lamborghinis of the flying world, C-130s are still carrying the load as the SUVs of airlift. According to workers from of the C-130 system program office and the production people who maintain the aircraft here, that is just what it should be doing. While smaller jet planes may get all of the attention, the mighty C-130 Hercules has its place firmly established in military warfare and...

Heard on News Hour that the last couple of bombing attacks have NOT had any anti-aircraft fire in Baghdad. That means the Spectre and C-130's can fly. And if C-130 comes by, can a BLU82 be far behind? John Byrnes is one of my favorite reporters in Baghdad.