Flying Jennies Receive Final C-130J-30

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Tabitha Spinks
  • 403rd Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AFB, Miss. --  A crew from the 815th Airlift Squadron delivered the unit's final C-130J-30 aircraft to Keesler Jan. 9 after taking delivery from the manufacturer at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga.

Maj. Gen. Hanferd "Rusty" J. Moen Jr. was selected to pilot the aircraft from Georgia to Mississippi. General Moen is the Director of Intelligence, Air, Space and Information Operations, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Ga.

Delivery ends a conversion to the J-model that began Oct. 12, 1999. The 815th AS, also known as the Flying Jennies, has been instrumental in the process of qualifying the J-model for combat. The unit has participated in testing and evaluation of this new weapons system since 1998.

Most recently, the unit was deployed to Central and South America to assist U.S. Southern Command with drug interdiction efforts. In the past, they have deployed an aircraft and aircrews to Southwest Asia in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

Their participation in the Air Force's first combat deployment of the new C-130J-30 a "stretched" version of the aircraft, proved it can travel faster, farther and higher than older Hercules while carrying more troops and equipment.

This delivery fleshes out the full complement of aircraft for the 403rd Wing which now employs 10 WC-130Js and eight C-130J-30s.