Welcome to the neighborhood: Open house introduces C-130 Combat Airlift to Drake Field community

  • Published
  • By Arlo Taylor
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Northwest Arkansas residents got a close -up look at a Little Rock AFB C-130J during an open house Friday, Jan. 28, at Drake Field.

The C-130J was at the airfield for fire rescue training for Drake Field firefighters in preparation for the base to use the airport as a transition field for Little Rock Air Force Base aircrews. Transition airfields are local and regional airports used to vary training opportunities and terrain for Air Force aircrews. Team Little Rock currently trains at 18 local airports through the Mid-South.

Drake Field's unique geographic location will provide crucial training for team Little Rock's C-130 Combat Airlifters. The Airfield is in a "bowl" of mountainous terrain that challenges aircrews to practice tactics not necessarily used flying sorties around the base.

"Drake Field offers our aircrews unique training opportunities with terrain similar to what they will experience flying lifesaving missions over Afghanistan," said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Gast, 19th Operations Support Squadron commander. "It is vital to training our aircrews for the challenges they will experience flying C-130 Combat Airlift missions over Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as around the world."

Team Little Rock C-130 Combat Airlifters have delivered more than 31,000 tons of cargo and nearly 171,000 passengers -- that equals more than 3,900 trucks and more than 4,200 buses taken off the roads of Afghanistan and Iraq thanks to our C-130 airlift.

More than 200 Drake Field neighbors attended the open house after the training event. Little Rock Air Force airspace manager Jonah Woods said these events are important for community neighbors to learn about the base's C-130 Combat Airlift mission and the importance of the training at their local airport.

"The positive support from the community is outstanding," said Mr. Woods. "There is almost no other airfield in Arkansas that can provide this type of challenging terrain and training. We appreciate the opportunity to train at Drake Field and grateful for the support of our Arkansas neighbors."

Little Rock AFB flying operations at Drake Field should begin in approximately one month once the letter of agreement between the base and airport is signed.