Afghan pilots reach new heights with C-130

An Afghanistan Air Force C-130H sits on the flightline waiting to depart to Afghanistan, Sept. 22, 2013, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. The Afghanistan Air Force received its first two C-130H aircraft Oct. 9, 2013, from the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Russ Scalf)

by Staff Sgt. Caleb Pierce 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark.  -- Team Little Rock Airmen, at home and downrange, are playing an integral role in standing up the Afghanistan Air Force's C-130 capabilities.

Two Afghan pilots completed their nation's first-ever C-130 training flight Sept. 3 here and approximately a month later, Oct. 9, the AAF received its first two C-130H aircraft from the United States.

Little Rock AFB is the home of C-130 Combat Airlift and host's the premiere C-130 formal training unit, which trains students from 46 partner nations, most recently including Afghanistan.

Lt. Col. Aimal Sayedi Pacha and Lt. Khial Shinwari were the first from the AAF and Afghanistan to accomplish training and flying a C-130 with the 314th Airlift Wing.

"We are the first from Afghanistan here, and the first from Afghanistan to fly a C-130," said Pacha. "I feel very happy to be part of the training for C-130s and to be the first to come here and be one-step forward to building our air force and to helping our people."

The five-month long training consisted of rigorous academics, simulators and culminated with their first flight followed by several other qualifying flights.

"[This training] will help a lot of us for the future of our air force and for our safety of Afghanistan," said Pacha. "We can use the experience and the new things we learn here to support our troops and support our country."

While the training for the Shinwari and Pacha was a new experience, it fully prepared them for their first flight.

"The training was almost perfect, because whatever we did in the simulator we did in the airplane with just some minor differences," said Shinwari. "The first day I was thinking that when I took off I was still in the simulator because it was the same; everything I learned in the simulator I was doing [on the flight], and the flight was perfect."

After completion of their first flight and the rest of their training, they graduated from the C-130 schoolhouse and returned to Afghanistan to assist their nation in building their C-130 mission.

"I feel so happy and amazed to be the first pilot," said Shinwari. "Sometimes I think to myself, in 10-20 years from now, I can tell my family that I was one of the first guys to fly this airplane."

Although the training for Shinwari and Pacha is complete here, there is still more to learn. NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan will be assisting the AAF until they can operate the aircraft completely on their own.

"Members of the Afghanistan Air Force are going to be training with us for a while," said Maj. Eric McEwen, 714th Training Squadron international military student officer. "The C-130 is a pretty complex plane; it takes a long time to get a C-130 program built up, so NATO is sending teams of trainers there to assist them until they are able to do it on their own."

The training not only helps the AAF, but also, helps build relations with other nations.

"The reason we train with other countries is so we have that interoperability with them, and it's great that we are able to assist them, especially in the case of the Afghans with the defense of their nation," said McEwen. "It is great to be a part of that and just contribute to their national goals and making friendships and partnerships around the world."

The AAF has relied heavily on helicopters for cargo air support over the past year. The capabilities of the new aircraft will help enable the Afghan forces with the same capabilities NATO forces have successfully used to supply military outposts throughout the country of Afghanistan.

Little Rock AFB members say goodbye to last C-130E

C-130E Hercules 61-2358 takes off from the flightline for the last time May 1, 2012, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. 61-2358 will be used as a static display at Edwards AFB, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chad Chisholm)

by Staff Sgt. Jacob Barreiro, 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. (AFNS) -- Airmen gathered for a ceremony here May 1 to say goodbye to the first C-130E Hercules ever produced and the last one to be retired.

Tail No. 61-2358 will retire to Edwards AFB where it will be used as a static display after more than 50 years of service. Leaders and Airmen from three different wings and civic leaders from the local community in attendance to honor the plane prior to its final flight.

"This plane represents a milestone in the history of the C-130 and the history of the Air Force," said Col. Brian Robinson, the 19th Airlift Wing commander. "This is the most capable, tough as nails aircraft, and it's been to every remote corner of the planet, including Antarctica."

Robinson said the aircraft had a distinguished career that fittingly began here. The aircraft flew its first operational mission Sept. 24, 1957, by the mandate of President Dwight Eisenhower, to airlift 1,200 paratroopers to enforce the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School. The mission was carried out successfully, the first of thousands upon thousands 2358 would be used for in its five-decade long career.

"She never rested; she did her mission to the end," Robinson said.

Fred Ross, the vice president of C-130 programs at Lockheed Martin, said the aircraft had a distinguished career, from its first flight to its twilight run to retirement.

"C-130s always carry the load," he said.

Ross said the plane's five decades in the sky is a rare sight, and that no other aircraft has been in continuous production for 57 years like the C-130.

Tail No. 2358 is the last of the C-130E models to be retired from the active duty fleet and is slated to be replaced by the newer J models. The J models are a huge leap in technology, Ross said, but will still be a Hercules in the C-130 tradition, a tradition exemplified by 2358.

"I'm proud of 2358 ... it's been involved in humanitarian airlifts all over the world and contributed numerous air drops in the lands of Afghanistan and Iraq. Most of all I'm proud it was built for (the Air Force) and served (the Air Force) well for more than 50 years."

Robinson said the retirement of 2358 was a great occasion to celebrate the history of combat airlift and to recognize the efforts of the local community.

"Today we not only recognize those who fly and maintain our aircraft, but also the local community and their leaders," he said. "Without your support these planes would not fly."

CRT Freqs at Little Rock

For my friends at the Little Rock AFB in Arkansas. Plug these freqs in and let me know what you hear.

CRT C2 Frequencies "Kingfish Papa"
141.300 VHF Primary
138.150 VHF Secondary
335.875 UHF Primary
313.550 UHF Secondary

New combat squadron stands up at Little Rock

The 41st Airlift Squadron became the newest unit of the 463rd Airlift Group at Little Rock Air Force Base in a ceremony April 6 as well as being named the first active-duty combat C-130J Hercules squadron in the Air Force.

The 41st AS moved here from Pope AFB, N.C., due to the Base Realignment and Closure process.

The Airmen of the 41st AS, known as the Black Cats, bring a distinguished history to the base as the third oldest and one of the most highly decorated airlift squadrons in U.S. military history.

The squadron's move is the first major change the base has experienced as a result of the latest round of BRAC recommendations.

Amongst a sea of Airmen, distinguished visitors, past 41st AS commanders and extended family, Lt. Col. Daniel Tulley assumed command.

During the next six months, the 41st AS will focus on moving in, qualifying aircrews and increasing readiness, Colonel Tulley said.

The 41st AS brings 155 Airmen and 16 C-130Js aircraft. The squadron will gain 15 more in the future.

The C-130 primarily performs the tactical portion of the Air Force's airlift mission. The 463rd Airlift Group has recently been credited with replacing more than 5,500 convoys in Iraq and Afghanistan with the older C-130E and C-130H3 aircraft. The C-130 is capable of operating from rough, dirt strips and is the prime transport for air dropping troops and equipment into hostile areas.