One hundred fifty paratroopers from six countries poured forth from a pair of C-130Js and a C-17 over Germany during international jump week, an annual event hosted by the 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein Air Base. “We practiced jumps into Alzey, Germany, to trade tactics, techniques, and procedures as well as build partnerships,” said Col. Mark Visconi, commander of Ramstein’s 435th Contingency Response Group, in an Aug. 16 base release. A C-17 from the multinational Heavy Airlift Wing at Pápa AB, Hungary, joined C-130Js from Ramstein’s 37th Airlift Squadron for the jumps. “Our procedures within the aircraft are different, but all static-line parachutes are mostly the same. You just jump out and count to four,” said SSgt. Tyler Buckingham, the non-commissioned officer in charge of air operations. Parachutists from the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain, jumped alongside Air Force and Army personnel during the exercise, which concludes on Aug. 17. (Ramstein report by A1C Trevor Rhynes)
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.