The Tennessee Air National Guard’s 118th Airlift Wing in Nashville used four of its C-130 transports to airlift 16 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems to Fort Chaffee, Ark., so that its state Guard brethren in the Chattanooga-based 1/181st Field Artillery Battalion could train. “Overall, this was a phenomenal effort by the Tennessee Air and Army Guard,” said Lt. Col. Jay Jackson, chief of the 118th AW’s Operational Support Flight. “The Army was very pleased with the efficiency and the training they received by airlifting these systems, and our air folks received very valuable training as well.” The Air Guardsmen made multiple trips June 3-4 to deliver all of the HIMARS. Jackson said this operation was the first time that the wing conducted this type of airlift “in such a massive way.” (Smyrna report by TSgt. Robin Olsen)
The Air Force plans to complete testing of a full-scale blended wing body cargo/tanker aircraft within four years, according to the department’s new Climate Action Plan. The demonstrator could be a prototype for a future operational mobility aircraft or family of aircraft, and the plan suggests the Air Force may…