C-130 Hercules formation flights resume at Rosecrans

Monica Dunn, St. Joseph News-Press, Mo.
·2 min read

Jan. 20—The 139th Airlift Wing has its second C-130 Hercules back up flying after the U.S. Air Force grounded the aircraft in September.

The second aircraft allows Rosecrans Air National Guard pilots to resume formation flights at their own base, instead of going elsewhere for training.

"We had a process in place where we were going to Little Rock Air Force Base to train," said Lt. Col. Ryan Stepp, deputy operations group commander for the wing. "But, that's obviously more of a challenge and takes longer, and especially with monthly requirements, that was going to be a challenge to sustain long term."

139th Airlift Wing commander Col. John Cluck said the second aircraft is vital for the wing.

"Our crews are required to fly formation," Cluck said. "A lot of our wartime tasking would require multiple aircraft, and so this gives us the ability to keep current in both not only single-ship operations but multi-ship operations."

When the Air Force Air Mobility Command issued the grounding order due to a persistent hydraulic fluid leak, Sapp said morale took a hit for his team.

"In the operations world, that's what we do is fly airplanes," Sapp said. "When the airplanes aren't there, we're not getting to do the job that we've been trained to do."

Having the wing's first C-130 Hercules back flying earlier than originally anticipated and the second one has helped morale.

"As the good news starts to flow, the morale improves," Sapp said. "As you get one aircraft flying and you get to do the job, you start getting back to a new normal with fewer airplanes, but at least a normalcy of having aircraft to fly. Everybody's morale dramatically improves."

The base was able to accomplish about 70% of its training flying one first C-130 Hercules, Sapp estimated. The second aircraft, allows the wing to check off the other 30%.

"When we do requirements for low-level flying, it requires pilots to have formation flying as part of that operation as part of their training," Sapp said.

Cluck anticipates getting propellers for its third aircraft by the end of the month.

"We're expecting to have a third aircraft up probably within the next three to four weeks maybe and all checked out and good to go," Cluck said. "So then, we're really back into a pretty good position."