Page 18 - Air Forces Monthly - September 2017

NEWS North America

Brazilian KC-10s join Talisman Saber

C295 visits KC-10A TANKERS from the
Canada 6th and the 9th Air Refueling
Squadrons at Travis AFB,
A FORÇA Aérea Brasileira California, supported
Talisman Saber 2017 in July
(FAB, Brazilian Air Force)
SC-105 Amazonas has with air refuelling missions
over Australia. The biennial
completed a tour of
Royal Canadian Air Force exercise focuses on military
training between US
(RCAF) bases, visiting
19 Wing Comox, British Pacific Command and the
Australian Defence Force.
Columbia, on July 24;
Three Extenders flew
17 Wing Winnipeg, from Hawaii and Wake
Manitoba, on July 25;
and 8 Wing Trenton, Island Airfield to refuel
five C-17As carrying 300-
Ontario, on July 26. A KC-10A from Travis AFB,
The visit was organised plus paratroopers across California, refuels a US
by Canada’s Minister the Pacific on July 13. The Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet
of National Defence tankers also refuelled US over the Pacifi c on July 14.
Navy F/A-18E/Fs and other
as the RCAF prepares USAF/2nd Lt Sarah Johnson
to receive the similar KC-10s during TS17.
C295W to replace the
CC-115 Buffalo and New medevac HH-60Ms for Hawaii
CC-130H Hercules.
The SC-105 crew
included members of A BRAND new medical activated in Hawaii. General Support Aviation been training crews up
The Hawaii Army
the FAB undergoing evacuation (medevac) National Guard’s Battalion (1-189th GSAB) to operational status.
unit equipped with the
is based at Wheeler
Their permanent
familiarisation training,
Airbus Defence and latest HH-60M Black Hawk Detachment 1, Company Army Airfield, Wahiawa, base will, however, be
at Kalaeloa, to which
Hawaii, where an
variant has been formally
G, 1st Battalion, 189th
Space pilots supporting
their training and activation and dedication the helicopters will
ceremony took place
return once a new Army
members of the RCAF’s
Fixed-Wing Search on July 9. The unit will Aviation Support Facility
specialise in aeromedical
has been completed
and Rescue Aircraft
Replacement Project evacuation operations there. Dave Allport
throughout Hawaii.
Management Office.
SC-105 6550 returned Three HH-60Ms for the US Navy
to Campo Grande air 1-189th GSAB arrived
base on August 3, after on Hawaii at Kalaeloa retires TC-12B
Airfield on October 28 last
completing a five-week THE US Navy TC-12B
demonstration tour year on board a US Air Huron fleet has been
Force C-17A Globemaster
through four continents. retired from service.
Construction of III. They were then The TC-12Bs had been
Canada’s first C295W reassembled on site and operated by Training
began in June, and Above: One of the new Hawaii Army National Guard/1-189th flown out to Wheeler AAF, Squadron (VT) 35
Army Aviation Support
the first delivery is GSAB HH-60M Black Hawks at Wheeler AAF during the ‘Stingrays’ as part of
expected in late 2019. activation ceremony on July 9. US Army National Guard/Sgt Facility No 1, where Training Air Wing 4 at
Tinisha Mellein-Fortson they have since then
Naval Air Station Corpus
North Carolina ANG’s C-130Hs bow out Christi, Texas, in the
multi-engine aircrew
training role. To mark
THE NORTH CAROLINA will transfer from Joint last year, having been Charlotte was loaded into the end of operations, a
Air National Guard (ANG) Base Charleston, South one of only four C-130H the hold of an 152nd AW ceremonial formation of
has completed its final Carolina, where the units equipped with the C-130H on September 7 three VT-35 TC-12Bs flew
Hercules deployment type is operated by the Modular Airborne Fire- last year and transported over Corpus Christi Bay
prior to transitioning to 315th Airlift Wing and Fighting System (MAFFS) to a new home with the and the surrounding
the C-17A Globemaster III. 437th Airlift Wing. for this purpose. Nevada Air National area on May 12.
Airmen and their As part of its drawdown, The last of these Guard, which has taken The last six aircraft
C-130Hs from the 145th the 145th AW relinquished portable fire-retardant over the role from the left the base on May
Airlift Wing’s 156th Airlift its aerial firefighting role delivery systems at 145th AW. Dave Allport 16, heading for Davis-
Squadron returned to Monthan Air Force Base,
their base at Charlotte- Arizona, for storage with
Douglas International the 309th Aerospace
Airport on July 7 after Maintenance and
serving in the Middle East Regeneration Group.
to support Operation Three arrived at AMARG
Freedom’s Sentinel. the next day, followed
More than 100 personnel by the others on May 18.
deployed with the unit A total of 25 TC-12Bs
on February 22 for a six- had been in service,
month rotation, providing having been converted
tactical airlift capabilities from UC-12B operational
to deliver troops, cargo support aircraft (OSA)
and equipment. no longer required
Eight C-17As will replace following reduction
the current C-130Hs from of the OSA fleet and
Fiscal Year 2018, which Above: North Carolina ANG C-130H3 Hercules 93-1563 arrives back at its base at Charlotte- replacement by newer
begins on October 1 this Douglas IAP on July 7 after a six-month deployment in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. aircraft. Dave Allport
year. The Globemasters USAF/Tech Sgt Nathan Clark
18 // SEPTEMBER 2017 #354 www.airforcesmonthly.com