Airmen continue to add flying hours to the heavily tasked C-130 tactical airlift fleet operating in Iraq, not to mention side trips to Africa, to deliver supplies and passengers throughout the theater. Remember, the Air Force picked up this mission to help keep convoys off the roads. According to a recent Air Force release, the in-theater C-130 Hercules operations, over the course of just one week, airlift enough to eliminate road trips for more than 22 buses and 42 trucks.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.