Tunisia will purchase two C-130J transports, becoming the first African nation to acquire the J-model aircraft, Lockheed Martin announced Tuesday. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2013 and 2014, the company said. Contract signing took place in February in Tunis. Tunisia already operates some C-130Hs and C-130Bs. It becomes the 12th nation to select the C-130J, joining Australia, Britain, Canada, Denmark, India, Iraq, Italy, Norway, Oman, Qatar, and the US. US Air Force C-130Js made their debut in Africa back in December supporting Air Forces Africa’s activities on that continent.
Members of the Air Force Reserve’s 920th Rescue Wing helped save 11 airplane crash survivors off the coast of Florida on May 12. The Reserve Airmen were flying an HC-130J Combat King II and an HH-60W Jolly Green II on a routine training flight when a Coast Guard call diverted…