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Formation of 7 aircraft with flag on the left

AFRC News

  • MAFFS crews train for mountain fire fighting scenarios

    Heat, high elevation and mountainous terrain are a combination that makes an already difficult mission that much tougher. The Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System trained C-130 Hercules pilots of the 731st Expeditionary Air Squadron have been dealing with these conditions since they started flying

  • MAFFS crews eager to fight fire another day

    A heavy smell of smoke and a thick haze greeted members of the 731st Expeditionary Air Squadron as they arrived on the flightline during the early morning June 27 here to prepare the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped C-130s for another day of aerial fire-fighting. The day before saw

  • Luke reservist one of Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen

    It's been said lightning only strikes once, but that's not true for Luke. For the second time in three years, a base Airman has been named an Air Force Outstanding Airman of the Year.Master Sgt. Sandra Plentzas, 944th Fighter Wing Chapel superintendent, was selected as one of the 12 Outstanding

  • Wildland fire fight presents operational, personal challenges

    The flightline here roared to life June 26 as the engines of four C-130 Hercules cranked up to begin day two of Modular Airborne Fire Fighting missions in Colorado. The scene was reminiscent of a NASCAR pit with aircraft landing and refueling quickly before taking flight. Today began the first full

  • Colorado wildland fire fight a Total Force effort

    Two Wyoming Air National Guard Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems-equipped C-130s arrived here June 25 after the National Interagency Fire Center requested Department of Defense wildland firefighting support for the Rocky Mountain area.The 153rd Airlift Wing's aircraft, along with 16 personnel,

  • "Son Tay" Talon flies into history

    After more than 23,500 hours of flight and approximately 47 years in service, the MC-130E Combat Talon I known as the "Godfather" left the ground here for the last time June 22 for its ultimate mission.The aircraft with the tail number 64-0523 took off for its final resting place - a special

  • Colorado Reserve unit called in to fight wildland fires

    The Air Force Reserve Command's 302nd Airlift Wing here received word June 24 that it was tasked to provide Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or MAFFS, support to the ongoing Colorado wildland fires. The request for assistance from The National Interagency Fire Center to the Department of

  • Trumpeter's first gig is band's last Independence Day concert

    By 30, many people have already set their course in life and know what they want to do. Airman 1st Class Mark Oates is not one of them.  He was 34 when he decided to join the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve."I might just be the oldest A1C in the Air Force," he said.Oates spent seven years working

  • Barksdale Total Force package produces weapons graduates

    Active duty and Reserve Airman, B-52 aircrews and maintainers from here combined to form a Total Force Enterprise package for a mission employment exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., June 4-15, 2012.The exercise was the final training phase of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School and capstone

  • Second day of Port Dawg gets physical

    The Air Force Reserve Command's bi-annual air mobility competition took a decidedly more physical turn on the second day of the three-day contest that ends June 21.Competitors from across the nation in the Port Dawg Challenge are locked in a battle to determine the best aerial port team in the Air