Air Force Reserve Command Hurricane Hunters tracking Tropical Storm Ernesto actually flew into Cuban airspace—many times and with Cuba’s permission, reports the Miami Herald. Actually, the newspaper says that it is not the first time. The National Hurricane Center arranged with the State Department for the specially configured C-130s of AFRC’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, which now flies the new WC-130J, to fly through Cuban airspace three years ago.
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
