A C-130J Super Hercules left Lockheed Martin’s production facility at Marietta Ga., on its ferry flight to Dyess AFB, Tex. Delivered to the base’s 317th Airlift Group on April 18, the stretched C-130J-30 is the 18th of Dyess’ planned 28 new airlifters. Col. Gerald Goodfellow, Dyess’ 7th Bomb Wing vice commander, piloted the aircraft on the ferry flight and handed over the airlifter’s ceremonial keys to the 317th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, according to a base release. Dyess took delivery of its 17th C-130J—also a stretched dash-thirty—on April 4.
The Air Force’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile is behind schedule and may significantly overrun its expected cost, which could partially explain why the service is reviving the hypersonic AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid-Response Weapon.