U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. James Hecker, 19th Air Force commander delivered the last new C-130J aircraft to the 314th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base and presented a ceremonial key to Staff Sgt. Joshua Shields marking the occasion.
This was the 14th and final C-130J model delivery and completes the 314th’s transition from the C-130H model.
As an international C-130 Center of Excellence, the 314th AW supports both training and operational missions.
Heckler believes housing the two mission sets together works well. “Our airmen training within the Air Education and Training Command (AETC) are able to look across the street or even the room and see the application of the training they are currently receiving,” Hecker said, according to a press release.
The 314th AW is also home of the largest international flight training program in the Department of Defense, training pilots from more than 45 different countries. – Air Force Magazine
The 314th Airlift Wing trains pilots from more than 45 countries from around the world making it the largest international flight training center in the Department of Defense. Little Rock Air Force Base has also been called the largest C-130 base in the world.
The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules has all new engines, digital avionics including a heads up display (HUD) for the pilots and a smaller crew requirement. The flight engineer and navigator are no longer required. The C-130 has the longest active production run of any military aircraft in history.
Featured image of U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. James Hecker, 19th Air Force commander, as he presents a ceremonial key to U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Joshua Shields, 314th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron C-130J crew chief, Feb. 27, 2017, at Little Rock Air Force Base. Photo by Airman 1st Class Kevin Sommer Giron, US Air Force
