C-130 Transformation

Col. Merle D. Hart, 440th Airlift Wing commander, is a master navigator with more than 5,500 flying hours to his credit. He has flown in many major worldwide contingencies during the past two decades and has served in a variety of enlisted and officer positions throughout his active duty and Air Force Reserve career. (U.S. Air Force photo)

C-130 transformation

Staff Sgt. Alan Hunter works to secure the landing gear doors on a 440th Airlift Wing C-130H Hercules on the Blue Ramp at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., after receiving a high-wind warning. Sergeant Hunter is a former member of the 43rd Airlift Wing, the Regular Air Force?s host unit at Pope AFB. He is the second active-duty Airman to join the 440th Maintenance Group. He was stationed at Pope AFB for six years before joining the Air Force Reserve. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Farewell Flying Badgers

(From left) Maj. Gen. Martin M. Mazick, 22nd Air Force commander; Col. Merle D. Hart 440th Airlift Wing commander; and Col. Timothy Zadalis, 43rd AW commander, salute during the playing of the National Anthem at the 440th AW?s relocation ceremony at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., June 10, 2007. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joe Oliva)

Farewell Flying Badgers

(From left) Col. Merle D. Hart, 440th Airlift Wing commander; Col. Timothy Zadalis, 43rd AW commander; and Chief Master Sgt. Carmon Francher, 440th AW command chief master sergeant, follow Maj. Gen. Martin M. Mazick, 22nd Air Force commander, to the 440th AW?s relocation ceremony upon landing at Pope Air Force Base, N.C. on June 10, 2007. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joe Oliva)

Farewell Flying Badgers

Col. Merle D. Hart, 440th Airlift Wing commander, stands with Chief Master Sgt. Carmon Francher, wing command chief master sergeant, during the unit's relocation ceremony June 9, 2007, at Gen. Mitchell International Airport Air Reserve Station in Milwaukee. The motto on the wing flag is Nunquam Non Paratus ? ?Never unprepared." (U.S. Air Force photo/Joe Oliva)

Hurricane Season Arrives

The Citizen Airmen of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron "Hurricane Hunters" mark the start of the hurricane season on June 1 by keeping an eye on disturbances in the Pacific and Caribbean. The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, the only operational hurricane reconnaissance squadron in the world, started early this year when they flew Subtropical Storm Andrea in early May. The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration predicts 13 to 17 named storms with seven to 10 becoming hurricanes. This season, the state-of-the-art WC-130J will be equipped with the Stepped-Frequency Microwave Radiometer, which continuously measures surface winds and rainfall rates occurring below the aircraft. The data collected by the Hurricane Hunters increase the accuracy of the National Hurricane Center Forecast up to 30 percent. (Air Force Photo/ Tech. Sgt. James Pritchett)