The New
York Air National Guard’s 107th Airlift Wing and Air Force Reserve Command’s 914th Airlift Wing accepted the first two C-130H2 transport aircraft that they will operate together during a ceremony May 2 at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. The two units will jointly operate 12 C-130H2s under their new association—the first of its kind for Guard and Reserve C-130 units—which resulted from BRAC 2005. Under the BRAC changes, the Guard unit lost its KC-135s tankers, but is joining with the 914th AW to operate the C-130H2s that the latter received in exchange for relinquishing the eight C-130H3 models that it had been flying.
The Air Force has finished modifying and testing the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft that will serve as a temporary Air Force One, the service announced May 1. All that’s left now is to finish painting the jet before it starts flying this summer.