J-model en route to Ramstein

Tail number 8601, the first J-model C-130 aircraft built for the 86th Airlift Wing, departed Marietta, Ga., Monday to begin a four-leg flight overseas to Ramstein.

Gen. Roger Brady, U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, was on hand at the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Plant to officially accept ownership of the new Super Hercules on behalf of the 86th AW.

“There are several thousand people at the 86th Airlift Wing this morning who are looking forward to this airplane arriving in a couple of days,” he said to an all-hands meeting of Lockheed employees. “We’ve looked forward to it for a long time.”

General Brady, with the support of aircrew members and a maintenance team from the 86th, later took the controls of the aircraft and departed the facility to Andrews Air Force Base, Md. The new aircraft is also scheduled to stop at St. Johns International Airport in Newfoundland, Canada, Scotland’s Glasgow Prestwick Airport and Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, before arriving at Ramstein.

On Tuesday, the Super Hercules is scheduled to land on-station at Ramstein for the first time during a ceremony held not only to honor the arrival of the new aircraft, but also the new era in operations for the 86th AW. The J-model provides approximately 20 percent improvement over previous C-130 models in speed, fuel efficiency, cargo capacity and altitude capabilities.

Thirteen additional J-model aircraft are scheduled to make the same journey from Marietta over the next 12 months, rounding out a completely new fleet operated by the 37th Airlift Squadron.