The USAF C-130 Hercules unit that moved to Balad AB, Iraq, in January, becoming the first Herc unit to operate from a base in a forward location, flies twice the number of missions as other C-130 units traversing Southwest Asia. And, the airmen of the 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron accomplish this feat with the standard complement of aircrews and maintainers, reports Air Force journalist SrA. Kerry Solan-Johnson. USAF moved the unit into theater to alleviate more of the Army’s truck convoy missions. The unit flies seven missions a day, with the help of 15 six-man aircrews, along with maintainers, life support technicians, flight medics, and other support personnel.
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.