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Minneapolis gets first C-130H3 from Niagara Falls

  • Published
  • By Capt. S.J. Brown
  • 934th Airlift Wing
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, Minn. --  The first C-130H3 aircraft touched down at Minneapolis-St. Paul Air Reserve Station May 20.

The arrival of the aircraft marked the beginning of a 2006 Base Realignment and Closure directive in which Minneapolis' 934th Airlift Wing will exchange its eight C-130H2 aircraft for eight C-130H3 aircraft from the 914th AW at Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.

The switch will strengthen the 914th AW's association with the Air National Guard's 107th Air Refueling Wing, N.Y., which has since become an air reserve associate airlift unit and acquired four C-130 H2 aircraft. The move will give Niagara Falls ARS a dozen of the same model aircraft thus streamlining maintenance and operations.

Meanwhile, because of the trade, the 934th AW will own the same model of aircraft as the Air National Guard's 133rd AW.

"This switch was primarily for the New York Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard so they could streamline their operations," said Col. Allan Swartzmiller, 934th Operations Group commander. "But it will possibly benefit us as well since we will now have the same aircraft as the National Guard unit based near us."

The exchange of aircraft is expected to be completed by the end of July.

The H2 and H3 models differ primarily in avionics and instrumentation upgrades. The H3 model, the newer of the two, has what is commonly referred to as a "glass cockpit," a technologically advanced instrument panel with a computer screen replacing multiple mechanical dials.

Pilots claim the glass cockpit is more user-friendly, providing more information in a shorter period of time.

"We are excited about the switch," said Col. Tim Tarchick, 934th AW commander. "We have always worked efficiently, side-by-side with our Minneapolis Air National Guard counterparts. But now that we will have the same aircraft models, I see that relationship growing even stronger." (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)