A C-130H of the Delaware Air National Guard’s 166th Airlift Wing flew past 10,000 hours last month, according to a July 21 Guard release, which noted the event marked a new milestone for the unit’s Hercules tactical transports. According to the release, the unit has another four Herks with more than 9,600 hours. Of note, too, is that #213, a veteran of Operation Desert Storm, has served in combat theaters around the world, including time during recent operations in Afghanistan where it was shot up by ground fire. Col. Daniel Van Wyk, commander of the 166th Maintenance Group, said that after that the aircraft underwent repairs in Portugal over several months. The wing averages a million miles a year among its eight C-130s, and, wing commander Col. Jonathan Groff said, “This milestone highlights the excellent maintenance work performed on these aircraft, and the proficiency and professionalism of the aircrew that have flown them over two decades.”
A U.S. Air Force MQ-9 suffered an engine failure flying over Africa in May 2023, forcing the drone’s pilot to down it in the ocean where it was not recovered, according to a new Air Force report. The cost of the mishap was more than $21 million.