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NCANG C-130s Fly Their Last 8-Ship Formation
August 6, 2017 (by
SSgt. Laura Montgomery) -
The “Queen City” looked as though it was holding its breath in awe as eight C-130 Hercules aircraft maneuvered their way towards the Charlotte Douglas International airport after flying their last max flight training mission over North Carolina, August 5, 2017.
"It's bittersweet, we love the C-130 obviously, but moving forward we have to think about the future and the C-17 will get us there," said U.S. Air Force Major Joshua Nemitz, a seven year veteran with the North Carolina Air National Guard and lead C-130 Hercules pilot for the exercise.
A max flight with C-130's is when all the aircraft assigned to a unit start their engines and fly off in a synchronized manner and attempt simulated airdrops with sand bags. The North Carolina Air National Guard flew eight of the unit assigned aircraft in an "eight-ship" formation out to the 263rd Communications Squadron in Stanly County and completed the drops.
"We are closing a chapter on the C-130 mission and opening up a chapter on the C-17 mission," said Col. Troy Gerock, 145th Airlift Wing Commander. "Between now and the end of the year, we will see these planes take off and not come back."
The North Carolina Air National Guard will start a conversion this year from its tactical airlift mission requiring C-130 Hercules aircraft, which are equipped to carry large loads of cargo to remote locations and execute air drops, to a strategic airlift mission with C-17 Globemaster II aircraft that are much larger in size and geared towards heavy airdrops and cargo transport of items such as helicopters and Humvees.
Eight C-130H Hercules aircraft assigned to the NCANG taxi onto the runway of the Charlotte Douglas IAP, after performing a training mission doing airdrops and proficiency flying on August 5, 2017. The C-130s were part of an eight-ship fleet bound for a tactical training mission involving airdrops over Stanly County airport and a flyover above uptown Charlotte. [ANG photo by SSgt. Laura J. Montgomery]
A max flight with C-130's is when all the aircraft assigned to a unit start their engines and fly off in a synchronized manner and attempt simulated airdrops with sand bags. The North Carolina Air National Guard flew eight of the unit assigned aircraft in an "eight-ship" formation out to the 263rd Communications Squadron in Stanly County and completed the drops.
"We are closing a chapter on the C-130 mission and opening up a chapter on the C-17 mission," said Col. Troy Gerock, 145th Airlift Wing Commander. "Between now and the end of the year, we will see these planes take off and not come back."
The North Carolina Air National Guard will start a conversion this year from its tactical airlift mission requiring C-130 Hercules aircraft, which are equipped to carry large loads of cargo to remote locations and execute air drops, to a strategic airlift mission with C-17 Globemaster II aircraft that are much larger in size and geared towards heavy airdrops and cargo transport of items such as helicopters and Humvees.
Courtesy of 145th Airlift Wing
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USAF C-130 Hercules aircraft from the 156th AS taxi off the runway after a MAX flight mission at the NCANG Base, Charlotte Douglas IIAP on Aug. 5, 2017. MAX flight is a term used to describe a mission where the entire operational fleet of C-130 Hercules aircraft and pallets assigned to the 145th AW are utilized in a single event. This MAX flight is special in that it culminates the C-130 Hercules aircraft over 30 year assignment to NCANG Base as the 145th AW transitions to the C-17 Globemaster II. [ANG photo]
USAF members of the 156th AS fly eight C-130 Hercules aircraft in formation during a MAX flight mission at the NCANG Base, Charlotte Douglas IAP on August 5, 2017. [ANG photo]