Air Force Reserve Command’s 815th Airlift Squadron from Keesler AFB, Miss., returns to Southwest Asia operations this month for the start of a new deployment with the newest Hercules, the C-130J. The Flying Jennies teamed with the Air National Guard in 2004 to put the first of the new Herks into action in the war on terror, even as the aircraft was still undergoing testing in the US. The 814th AS also has flown its J models around the world, showcasing the new airlifter at international air shows.
The "Air Force One" replacement will be two to three years late due to pandemic issues, testing, and the loss of a subcontractor on the interior, USAF officials reported at a House Armed Services Committee hearing. They were also warned that some HASC members will insist on a competition for…