Airmen from the West Virginia Air National Guard’s 167th Airlift Wing flew their first operational mission in the mammoth C-5 airlifter, delivering two Marine Corps CH-53 Super Stallion helicopters and some 60 marines to Djibouti, Africa, for Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. The 167th AW just last year converted from the C-130 Hercules tactical airlifter to the largest USAF strategic lift aircraft. Col. Roger Nye, 167th Operations Group commander, told journalist TSgt. Carrie Bernard, the C-5 proved “a lot more comfortable than the C-130,” remarking on its lack of vibration. Nye also commented that the aircrew was “taking copious notes” on the real-world C-5 flying experience to share with the rest of the 167th AW.
United Launch Alliance’s new Vulcan Centaur rocket is slated to fly its second national security mission in February—nearly six months after its first operational launch and almost a year after it was certified to fly military payloads for the Space Force.
