This ought to be interesting to watch. The initial plan was to put 6 birds at 6 locations (2 at the schoolhouse). Latest and greatest has 12 birds at 3 locations. ANG wanted a 3.0:1 Crew to Aircraft ratio, bet big blue goes with 1.5:1 (standard ratio).
Publically we've said half of the birds will be in the AOR on any given day, ANG always tries to do these missions with volunteers. It'll be interesting to see how long "volunteerism" keeps the mission going. I wonder if OH got the first squadron because the unemplyment rate is so high they'll have a long list of volunteers. I also wonder how long before the Air Guard Leadership tries to make it a 21 day rotation.
Anyway, here is the link (for the photo) and the story:
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2010/08/airforce_c27j_spartan_081210w/
The Air Force’s adoption of the C-27J Spartan cargo plane reaches a milestone Saturday when the 179th Airlift Wing in Columbus, Ohio, becomes the first unit to convert to C-27J operations.
The 179th, part of the Ohio National Guard, had flown the C-130H Hercules. In anticipation of the switch, crews traveled to the C-27J school house at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., for qualification training.
The Air Force is buying 37 C-27Js whose crews will focus on flying airlift missions for Army units and state Guard units.
Publically we've said half of the birds will be in the AOR on any given day, ANG always tries to do these missions with volunteers. It'll be interesting to see how long "volunteerism" keeps the mission going. I wonder if OH got the first squadron because the unemplyment rate is so high they'll have a long list of volunteers. I also wonder how long before the Air Guard Leadership tries to make it a 21 day rotation.
Anyway, here is the link (for the photo) and the story:
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2010/08/airforce_c27j_spartan_081210w/
The Air Force’s adoption of the C-27J Spartan cargo plane reaches a milestone Saturday when the 179th Airlift Wing in Columbus, Ohio, becomes the first unit to convert to C-27J operations.
The 179th, part of the Ohio National Guard, had flown the C-130H Hercules. In anticipation of the switch, crews traveled to the C-27J school house at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., for qualification training.
The Air Force is buying 37 C-27Js whose crews will focus on flying airlift missions for Army units and state Guard units.