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 incoming head of the 7th Air Force will face an intense mission while relying on 4th-generation fighters to stave off looming threats from North Korea and China.