The 250th C-130J Super Hercules off Lockheed Martin’s production line lifted off on a ferry flight from Marietta, Ga., to its new home at Dyess AFB, Tex., announced the company. The 317th Airlift Group’s 15th Super Herk arrived on Feb. 16, exactly one week after the 14th C-130J became the first new airframe to join the group’s 39th Airlift Squadron. “Since the J-model was first introduced, it has been the workhorse of airlift worldwide. This milestone is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the C-130 enterprise,” said Lorraine Martin, Lockheed Martin’s vice president for C-130 programs. Dyess’ new bird is the second of 11 total airframes that Lockheed Martin is slated to deliver to the Texas base this year. Upon receiving its 28th and final C-130J in 2013, Dyess will host the world’s largest C-130J force, according to the company.
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
