C-130J delivered to the Rock

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nathan Allen
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  The 19th Airlift Wing welcomed its 16th C-130J aircraft at an inaugural ceremony at base operations July 7. 

"This is an exciting day as we bring our twelfth 'Super Hercules' home to the C-130 'center of the universe' right here at Little Rock Air Force Base," said Col. Greg Otey, 19 AW commander. The cargo aircraft is the 12th J model purchased from Lockheed-Martin in the current buy. 

The aircraft, flown to Little Rock Air Force Base by Maj. Gen. Winfield W. Scott III, 18th Air Force commander, was delivered from the Lockheed-Martin plant in Marietta, Ga. The plant, he stated, was an impressive place to visit as he observed the skilled craftsmen who assemble the mighty C-130s. 

"I had an opportunity to tour the plant and meet the fine men and women that put the C-130Js together," he said. "You'd be quite proud of them. They're very motivated and they're very dedicated to producing the best C-130 aircraft in the world today." 

General Scott expressed his pride in being able to bring the last C-130J under the current contract to the "Home of Combat Airlift." 

"To have the opportunity to deliver this twelfth C-130J to Little Rock is an honor second to none," he said. 

According to Colonel Otey, this airlifter belongs to everyone on base and the task of keeping the base's newest C-130J fit to fight belongs to each and every Airman at the Rock. 

"Accomplishing our mission and the mission of the C-130J doesn't start when the aircrew turns on the four fans of freedom," he said. "It starts with each and every one of the unsung heroes at the Rock who support the mission behind the scenes."
The 314th Airlift Wing's 48th Airlift Squadron has seven C-130Js.