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Pr ovi di ng t heUSmi l i t ar ywi t ht heabi l i t yt odepl oyt r oopsand equi pment wor l dwi de,Ai rMobi l i t yCommandr el i esonaf l eetoft r ans por tandt anker ai r cr af tt oper f or mi t sgl obal ai r l i f tmi s s i on.L ar ges tai r cr af tavai l abl et oAMC i st heL ockheedC5Gal ax y.PaulDunnvi s i t sT r avi sAF Bt of l ywi t ht he60t h AMW and meets ome oft he peopl e who oper at et hi shuge s t r at egi c ai r l i f t er .Al l i magesaut horunl es sot her wi s es t at ed. Ai rMobi l i t yCommand came i nt o bei ng on1 J une 1992,asa r es ul tofa pos t Col d War r eor gani s at i onoft heUS AF .I twascr eat edf r om el ement sofS t r at egi cAi rCommand( S AC)and Mi l i t ar y Ai r l i f t Command ( MAC) .Undert he pr evi ouss ys t em,whi l s tai r l i f toper at i onswer e t her es pons i bi l i t yofMAC,muchoft heUS AF ’ s t ankerf l eetf el lundert he command ofS AC. T he cr eat i on of AMC l ogi cal l y br ought t oget hert he vi t alr ol es ofai r l i f tand aer i al r ef uel l i ngunderauni f i edcommand. Oneoft hekeyr es pons i bi l i t i esoft heUS AFi st he
pr ovi s i onofr api dgl obal mobi l i t yf orUSf or ces , andt hi sr ol ef al l st oAMC.I nor dert opr ovi de t hi smobi l i t y,ati t shear tAMC hast hr eecor e capabi l i t i es – ai r l i f t , aer i al r ef uel l i ng and aer omedi calevacuat i on.F ort he ai r l i f t( and i ndeed aer omedi calevacuat i on)r ol e,t her e ar et hr eemai nt ypesavai l abl e;t heL ockheed C130Her cul es ,Boei ng C17Gl obemas t erI I I and L ockheed C5 Gal ax y. T he aer i al r ef uel l i ng f l eet cons i s t s of t wo t ypes ;t he Boei ng ( McDonnel l Dougl as ) KC10A Ex t enderandBoei ngKC135R/ TS t r at ot anker .
T hes e ai r cr af tar et he pr i mar yt ool st hatAMC us est o accompl i s hi t smi s s i on.Bet ween t hem, t he ai r l i f tand t ankerf l eet sal l ow t he US AFt o depl oy per s onneland equi pmentwor l dwi de; t he t anker f l eet al s o af f or ds ai r cr af t of Ai r Combat Command and Gl obal S t r i ke Command t he abi l i t y t o at t ack t ar get s t hr oughoutt hegl obe. I n addi t i on t o t he war f i ght i ng r ol e, AMC’ s per s onnelar e al s o cal l ed upon t o as s i s ti n humani t ar i an r el i efoper at i ons ,wi t ht he mos t r ecentex ampl ebei ngf ol l owi ngt heear t hquake i nHai t i i n2010.AMC’ sai r cr af twer eamongs tt he f i r s tont ot hes ceneoft hedi s as t er ,br i ngi ngwi t h t hem ai ds uppl i esand wor ker st o as s i s ti nt he r el i efoper at i on.
T he 60t h Ai rMobi l i t yWi ng ( AMW)i st he hos tuni tatT r avi sAF Band l ar ges tofi t st ypei nt heUS AF .T hewi ng cons i s t soff ourf l yi ng s quadr o oper at i ngt hr eedi f f er entt ypesofai r cr af t ,eachwi t hi t sowns peci al i s tr o T wo oft he s quadr onspr i mar i l yper f or m aer i alr ef uel l i ng,whi l et he ot t wof l yai r l i f tmi s s i ons .
Bot ht he 6t h and 9t h Ai rRef uel i ng S quadr ons( ARS )oper at et he KC Ex t enderi nt heaer i al r ef uel l i ngr ol e.T heKC10f l eetwasi nher i t edbyA f r om S AC,wi t ht he ai r cr af tbei ng or i gi nal l y or der ed t os uppor t s t r at egi cbomberf l eet .A t ot alof59KC10sar ecur r ent l yi ns er vi ce,s bet weent he 60t hAMW atT r avi sAF Band t he 305t hAMW atJ oi ntB McGui r eDi x L akehur s t ,NJ .
Al t houghnumer i cal l ymuchs mal l ert hant he KC135f l eet ,AMC’ sKC f or cei sex t r emel ycapabl eand ver ybus y,wi t ht heai r cr af t ’ sl ong r an and l ar ge f uell oad bei ng par t i cul ar l y us ef ulf ors uppor t i ng over s depl oyment soft act i cal ai r cr af t .T heyar eal s oof t ent as kedwi t hs uppor AMC’ st r ans por tai r cr af t ,es peci al l yC17and C5f l eet s ,wi t ht heKCf l eetnor mal l ybei ngas s i gnedt act i cal ,i nt heat r es uppor twor k.
T her emai ni ngt wos quadr onsoft he60t hAMW bot hoper at ei nt hea r ol e, and bot h have cl os el y r el at ed backgr ounds , havi ng be es t abl i s hed i nAus t r al i ai n1942.Bot hs quadr onsr ecent l ycel ebr at ed 70t hanni ver s ar yoft hei rf or mat i onandbot hhavedi s t i ngui s hedhi s t or i e ai r l i f toper at i ons .
Bot ht he 21s tand 22nd Ai r l i f tS quadr onss pentt he maj or i t y oft ex i s t encei nAs i a.I nt hecas eoft he21s tAS ,muchoft hatt i mewass p i nJ apan,wher et hes quadr onoper at edf r om avar i et yofbas esandf ai r cr af ts uch ast he C54 S kymas t er ,C119 F l yi ng Box carand CHer cul es .
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I n1993,t he21s tASr et ur nedt ot heUSandr ef or medaspar toft henewl yes t abl i s hed60t hAi r Mobi l i t y Wi ng atT r avi sAF B.T he s quadr on became a C5 oper at or ,and f l ew t he ai r cr af t al ongs i det he22ndASunt i l 2006.I nt hatyear ,ar eor gani s at i onmeantt hatt he21s tASr epl aced i t sGal ax i eswi t ht heC17AGl obemas t erI I I ,anai r cr af twhi chs t i l l equi pst hes quadr ont oday.
T he C5i s AMC’ sl ar ges tcapaci t y ai r cr af tand t he backbone oft he s t r at egi cai r l i f tf l eet .T heor i gi nalC5A f l eetwasdel i ver ed i nt heear l y1970s and s uppl ement ed by del i ver i esof C5Bsi nt he l at e 1980s .At247. 1f t ( 75. 3m)l ongand wi t hawi ngs panof 222. 9f t( 67. 9m) ,t he C5i sone oft he l ar ges tai r cr af ti ns er vi ce t hr oughout t hewor l d.T heof tquot eds t at i s t i ct hat t he di s t ance f l own by t he Wr i ght br ot her son t hei rf i r s tpower ed f l i ght coul d beaccommodat ed i ns i det he f us el ageofaC5gi vess omei deaof t heai r cr af t ’ ss cal e. T he US AFi st he onl yoper at oroft he C5,al t hough a ci vi l i an ver s i on was pl anned but not devel oped and, i ncr edi bl y, t he Gal ax y was once al mos tt he s ubj ectofan or derf r om t he I r ani an Ai rF or ce!T hi s was ,of cour s e,i nt he dayswhen I r an was r ul edbyt heS hahandenj oyedgood r el at i onswi t ht heUS . Cur r ent l yat ot alof103ai r cr af tar ei n s er vi ce,s pl i tbet ween ex ampl es of t he C5A/ B/ C Gal ax y and C5M S uperGal ax y.F ut ur epl anscal l f ort he C5BandC5C f l eett obeupgr aded t o C5M s t andar d,wi t h mos toft he C5A model sbei ngr et i r ed,l eavi nga s mal l er , but ar guabl y equal l y capabl ef or ce. T heC5C i sa l es s erknownvar i antof t heor i gi nal C5A,whi chi smodi f i edi n or der t o car r y l ar ge car go, s peci f i cal l ys at el l i t esands i mi l ari t ems f orus ebyNAS A.Onl yt woC5Cswer e s o modi f i ed and bot h ar ei ns er vi ce wi t ht he 22nd ASatT r avi sAF B.T hey ar eoccas i onal l yr equi r edbyNAS At o t r ans por t s at el l i t es bet ween t he manuf act ur er sandl aunchf aci l i t i es .
T he 22nd AS ( al s o known as t he ‘ Mi ght y Doubl e Deuce’ )i soneoft hemos tdi s t i ngui s hed ai r l i f tuni t si n t he US AF .Es t abl i s hed on 3 Apr i l1942 atEs s endon Ai r dr ome,Aus t r al i a,t he 22nd Ai rT r ans por tS quadr on ( AT S )f l ew a var i et y oft ypesi ncl udi ng t he Dougl as C39( DC2)andC47/ C53( DC3der i vat i ves ) .S hor t l y af t eri t sf or mat i on,t he s quadr on wasr edes i gnat ed t he 22nd T r oop Car r i er S quadr on ( T CS ) and par t i ci pat ed i n oper at i ons overNew Gui nea and l at t er l yt hePhi l i ppi nesdur i ngWWI I . T hes quadr onr emai nedi nt hePhi l i ppi nesaf t ert heend oft he war ,but i nS ept ember1948 depl oyed t o Wi es baden ABi n Wes tGer manyt ot ake par ti nt he Ber l i nAi r l i f t .Byt hi st i me,t he s quadr onwasf l yi ng t he Dougl asC54S kymas t er ,anai r cr af twhi chr emai nedi n s er vi ce dur i ng t he ear l ypar toft he Kor eanWar .T he 22ndT CSwasbas edatT achi kawaAB,J apanandf l ew t hous andsofmi s s i onsi ns uppor tofUN t r oopsont he Kor eanPeni ns ul a. T owar dst he end oft he Kor ean War ,t he s quadr on r eequi ppedwi t ht heDougl asC124Gl obemas t erI I ,a t ype whi ch i tl at erf l ew i ns uppor tofoper at i onsi n Vi et nam, unt i l 1969 when t he s quadr on was deact i vat edandt heC124r et i r ed. I nF ebr uar y 1972,t he 22nd Mi l i t ar y Ai r l i f tS quadr on ( MAS )wasr eact i vat edaspar toft he60t hMi l i t ar yAi r l i f t Wi ng atT r avi s AF B and equi pped wi t ht he C5A Gal ax y.S i nce t hatt i me,t he 22nd MAS( whi ch l at er became t he 22nd AS )hass uppor t ed al lmaj orUS mi l i t ar y oper at i ons ,i ncl udi ng Oper at i on J US TCAUS E ( Panama,1989)and Oper at i onsDES ERTS HI EL D and DES ERTS T ORM i n1991.T hes quadr onwasal s ocal l ed upon t o par t i ci pat ei ns ever alhumani t ar i an and di s as t err el i efoper at i ons .
I nt hewakeoft het er r or i s tat t acksof 11 S ept2001,C5soft he 22nd AS have been kept ver y bus y s uppor t i ng oper at i ons i n Af ghani s t an and I r aq,oper at i onal envi r onment st hatar e notwi t hout r i s k-s omet hi ngt hatt hemember sof t hes quadr onar eacut el yawar eof .
wasawar dedaDi s t i ngui s hedF l yi ng Cr os sf ors ucces s f ul l y deal i ng wi t h t hei nci dentandi t saf t er mat h.Capt Z ei nerwast ol eavet he22nds hor t l y af t er war ds ,buts i x year sl at erhe r et ur ned,havi ngbeenpr omot edt o L i eut enant Col onel , t o as s ume commandoft hes quadr on.
On8J anuar y2004,aC5A f r om t he 22nd AS , car r yi ng 52 t r oops , 11 cr ewmember sand 130, 000pounds ofcar go,wass t r uckbyas ur f acet o ai r mi s s i l e on depar t ur e f r om Baghdad I nt er nat i onalAi r por t .T he mi s s i l et ookoutt heai r cr af t ’ snumber f ourengi ne neces s i t at i ng a pr ompt emer gencyr et ur nt o Baghdad.T he ai r cr af tl anded s af el y and t her e wer enoi nj ur i est oanyoneonboar d.
T oday,a s ect i on oft he damaged number f our engi ne cowl i ng i s di s pl ayed ( bot t om l ef t )wi t hi nt he 22ndASbui l di ngatT r avi s ,asL tCol Z ei nerex pl ai ns .
T heai r cr af tcommanderont hatday wasCaptZ achar yB.Z ei nerand he
A1C Madel yn Ot t em/USAF
“T he cowl i ng was pl aced i n i t s cur r entpos i t i onbymycommander att he t i me,asa r emi ndert o al l member s oft he 22nd AS oft he danger si nvol vedi nourgl obal ai r l i f t mi s s i on. ”
T hat gl obal ai r l i f t mi s s i on i s i n s omet hi ngofat r ans i t i on at t he moment . US combat f or ces Si l houet t edagai nstt compl et ed t hei r moder nCF6engi ne wi t hdr awalf r om I r aql as t year and t he l engt hy pr oces s of wi t hdr awal f r om Af ghani s t an i s now andAf ghani s t a under way. US f or ces ar e t hedemandw i ncr eas i ngl yl ooki ng outacr os s t he Paci f i c,i nr es pons et ot he “Ast he dr aw gr owi ng mi l i t ar y t hr eat f r om ar es t ar t i ngt os Chi na and cont i nued t he Paci f i c. I bel l i ger encef r om Nor t hKor ea. s quadr on f u F ort he member soft he 22nd Af ghani s t anex AS ,i tmeansa r et ur nt ot hei r and we ar e no mor e t r adi t i onal oper at i ng t oPaci f i coper envi r onment ,asL tColS hane getex per i enc T ur ner ,an Eval uat or / I ns t r uct or oper at i onsus e Pi l otwi t ht hes quadr on,r el at es . t hey’ r enotr ou “T hePaci f i ci sourbackgr ound, and t r adi t i onal l yt hatwasour mi s s i on.However ,af t er9/ 11, t he f ocuss hi f t ed t o mi s s i onsi n s uppor tofoper at i ons i nI r aq
Ar et ur nt ot he s ome di f f er ent weat her , t hunder s t or ms ai r f i el dsal lma
tt her i si ngsuni soneoft hehugeTF39engi nesf i t t edt ot heC5B.Theseengi nesar eduef orr epl acementwi t hmor e eswhent heai r cr af tar eupgr adedt oC5M st andar d
s t an,ast hatwaswher e was .
w down happens ,we s hi f tourf ocusbackt o It hi nk we have a f ul l of I r aq and ex per i enced cr ews now i nt r oduci ng t hem er at i onsasweneedt o ce l evel s up.Paci f i c s ed t o be r out i ne,but ut i neanymor e. ”
ePaci f i cbr i ngswi t hi t ntchal l enges–s ever e i ncl udi ng l ar ge s and unf ami l i ar ake demandson t he
ai r f i el dsal lmake demandson t he cr ews ,and t hi scomesata t i me whent heC5f l eetasa whol ei si n t he t hr oes of a maj or upgr ade pr ogr amme.
T hi s upgr ade i s i n f act bei ng conduct ed i nt wo di s t i nctphas es , wi t ht he f i r s tphas e,t he Avi oni cs Moder ni s at i on Pr ogr am ( AMP) whi ch began i n 2004.T hi supdat e package br ought cons i der abl e i mpr ovement s t o t he ai r cr af t ’ s avi oni cs ,i ncl udi ng a moder n gl as s cockpi t , whi ch r epl aced t he
or i gi nal anal ogue i ns t r ument s . F ur t heri mpr ovement swer e made t ot he ai r cr af t ’ snavi gat i ons ys t ems andaut opi l ot ,i mpr ovement swhi ch wi l lal l ow t he ai r cr af tt o oper at ei n ci vi l i anai r wayswor l dwi de. T he C5AMPcommenced i n 2004 atDoverAF B butmoved t oT r avi s AF B a yearl at er .S i nce t hen t he maj or i t y oft he f l eetofC5A/ B/ C ai r cr af tf r om t he US AF ,AF RC and ANG have been putt hr ough t he upgr ade, wi t h t he f i nal t hr ee ai r cr af ts chedul edt obecompl et ed l at ert hi syear .
L tColZ ei neri soneofanumberofpi l ot sont he s quadr onwhohaveex per i encedf l yi ngbot ht he or i gi nal C5andt heAMPupgr adedver s i onand i sver yi mpr es s edwi t ht hecapabi l i t i esof f er ed. “T hel eapf or war di nt er msofdat apr es ent at i on andt hevas tgai nsi ns i t uat i onal awar enes sf r om anal ogue t o di gi t ali st r ul yr emar kabl e.T he ai r cr af tf l i esex act l yt hes ameasbef or e,butt he pi l ot snow haves omuchus ef uldat apr es ent ed t ot hem i nt he cockpi t ,i ti sdi f f i cul tt oi magi ne how wegotbybef or e! ” F ol l owi ngonf r om t heAMP,t henex ts t agei st he Rel i abi l i t y Enhancement and Reengi ni ng Pr ogr am orRERP.T hi si nvol vesr epl acementof t he or i gi nalGener alEl ect r i cT F 39engi neswi t h mor e upt odat e CF 6 engi nes gi vi ng i mpr ovement si npower ,r angeandnoi s epr of i l e. Al s oi ncl udedar eot heri mpr ovement ss uchasa new APU,andmodi f i cat i onst ot hel andi nggear and ot hers ys t ems .Once anai r cr af thasbeen t hr ough bot ht he AMP and RERP upgr adesi t becomesknownasa C5M S uperGal ax y–t o dat e al ldel i ver i esofC5Mshave been t ot he 436t hAW atDoverAF B.
Oper at i ngaspar toft he60t hAi rMobi l i t y Wi ng gi ves t he 22nd AS good oppor t uni t i esf ori nt egr at ed t r ai ni ng wi t h t he ot her s quadr ons on t he bas e, es peci al l yt heAi rRef uel i ngS quadr ons ,as L tCol T ur nerex pl ai ns . “Each s quadr on hasan audi t or i um and we have a t r ai ni ng s t r uct ur e wher ea s quadr on wi l l hos t di f f er ent t r ai ni ng s es s i ons .Weal s ohavedai l ymeet i ngst o di s cus souroper at i ons ,s o we can s ee whateach ot heri sdoi ng.We can s ee whenot heruni t sar ebus yandt hathel ps ust of i gur e outwhen we can getour l ocal t r ai ni ngdone. �
S omel i ghthear t ed bant eras i de,t her e ex i s t sa genui ne r es pectbet ween t he communi t i es .I n or dert o accompl i s h t hegl obal ai r l i f tmi s s i on,aer i al r ef uel l i ng i savi t al s ki l l ,andonewhi chi spr act i s ed r egul ar l y.Ref uel l i ng anai r cr af tt he s i z e oft heGal ax yi schal l engi ngf orbot ht he C5 cr ew and al s ot hos e aboar dt he t anker . T heC5i ss uchamas s i vemachi net hat i t compr es s es t he ai r ahead of i t , cr eat i ngas ocal l ed“bow wave” .Asi t appr oachest het anker ,t hi sbow wave cr eat esa pocketofai rbet ween t he t wo ai r cr af twhi ch hast he ef f ectof pus hi ngt het ankerupwar dsandaway, meani ng t he t ankerpi l ot shave t ot r i m t hei rai r cr af ti nt heoppos i t edi r ect i ont o keept heai r cr af ts t eadyandi npos i t i on. Whenr ef uel l i ng f r om a KC10,wi t ht he aut opi l ot engaged,t hi si sl es s of a pr obl em.However ,t he C5cr ew mus t s t i l lt ake car et o appr oach t he t anker s moot hl y.I tbecomesmor e ofani s s ue when t aki ng on f uelf r om a KC135;a l i ght er ai r cr af t wi t h an ol der ,l es s s ophi s t i cat ed aut opi l ot ,whi ch cannot t r i mr api dl yenough t o count er actt he bow wave i ft he r ecei verappr oaches t ooqui ckl y. T he C5cr ew mus tal s or ecogni s et he bow wave t hems el vesand t ake s t eps t o count er acti t .CaptAus t i nHor ni sa f ai r l y new C5 pi l ot ,havi ng r ecent l y qual i f i edasai r cr af tcommander . “AsC5 pi l ot swe can f eeli t .Asyou appr oach i t ,you have t o add power and t r i m al i t t l e bi tt o bas i cal l y br eak t hr ought hebow waveand t henonce youbr eakt hr oughi tyouhavet obr i ng t hepowerbackand t r i mt heoppos i t e way, s o i t ’ s cons t ant movement s . Ot her wi s e you can s t agnat e att hat bow wave. ”
Mos toft heC5pi l ot ss eemedt oagr eet hatt heKC10was t hei rpr ef er r ed choi ce f orr ef uel l i ng,par t l yf ort he r eas ons des cr i bedabove,butal s opar t l ybecaus eoff ami l i ar i t y,as CaptHor ncont i nues . “It hi nkourpi l ot s ,es peci al l y young guysl i ke mys el f ,ar e mor e comf or t abl e on a KC10 t han on a KC135 aswe haveaKC10avai l abl et hr eet i mesaweekt ogof l yon.Not onl yt hatbutt heboom movement sar emor ef or gi vi ngand i t ’ sabi ggerai r pl aneandmor es t abl e. T hevi s ual r ef er ences ar eal s omuchbet t er . ”
KC10pi l ot sgett oexper i enceaer i alr ef uel l i ngf r om bot hper spect i ves-j ustpr i ort ocont act ,GUCCI20cl oseson QUEST12
Anot herl es sobvi ousr eas on f orpr ef er r i ng t he KC10i st hef actt hatt heKC10i si t s el fcapabl e of aer i al r ef uel l i ng, meani ng t hat i t s pi l ot s r egul ar l ypr act i s et aki ngonf uel t hems el ves .T he t heor ygoest hatt hi sf ami l i ar i t ywi t h act i ng as bot ht ankerand r ecei vergi vesKC10 pi l ot sa bet t er appr eci at i on of t he needs of t hei r “cus t omer s ”t hant hei rcol l eaguesi nt heKC135 communi t y. F l tL tJ as onOr ri sanRAFex changepi l otcur r ent l y as s i gned t ot he 9t h ARSon t he KC10.Pr i ort o t aki ng up t he ex change pos t i ng,he f l ew t he VC10,an ai r cr af t ofs i mi l arvi nt age t ot he KC135. He agr ees t hat t her e i s an under s t andi ng of t he chal l enges f aced by r ecei verpi l ot s . “We t r yt o be s ympat het i ct ot he r ecei ver s , par t i cul ar l ywhen conduct i ng t r ai ni ng wi t ht he aut opi l otof f ,byt r yi ng nott o be j er kywi t ht he cont r ol sbecaus et her e’ sa guys atmaybef i ve f eetbehi ndyout r yi ngt ogetacont act .
“I t ’ si mpor t antt obever ys moot hi nt hecl os ur e, asat ankerandar ecei ver .Anyl i t t l emovement wi l lgi ve you a t r i m change and make t hi ngs mor e uns t abl e and asyoucani magi ne wi t ha bi g ai r cr af tl i ke a C5,i t ’ s mor e di f f i cul tt o mai nt ai nt hatgent l e cl os ur e and t hati deal pos i t i on. ”
ex per i enced C5pi l otwho r ecent l yj oi ned t he s quadr on,havi ng f l owna pr evi oust ouront he ai r cr af ts omeyear sago.
“Icamet ot heC5f r om t heT 1,whi chwasj us t meandt hecopi l ot ,andnow wecangoupt o 1014peopl eont hecr ew,wi t hal l t hei nput st hat br i ngs .Managi ngal ar get eam andget t i ngt he T he Gal ax y’ sphys i cals i z e al s o makesgr ound pl ane t hr ough t he s ys t em It hi nk i st he bi g oper at i ons f ar f r om s t r ai ght f or war d. chal l enge – l ogi s t i cs , cr ew dynami cs and Cons i der abl et eamwor ki sr equi r ed f r om al lt he per s onal i t i es . ” cr ew i n or dert o keep t he ai r cr af ts af e on t he gr ound,es peci al l yatunf ami l i arai r por t s ,s uchas t hos e whi chwi l lbe encount er ed i nt he Paci f i c as t he s quadr on t akes on a mor e wes t er l y F r om amai nt enanceper s pect i ve,t heC5hasa out l ook. r eput at i onf orbei ngs omewhatdemandi ng.T he ai r cr af tt echni ci anshavear oundt hecl ockt as k Cr ew r es our ce management( CRM)can al s o t o keep t he f l eeti nt he ai r .Ass uch a l ar ge be chal l engi ng,es peci al l y wi t hs uch a l ar ge ai r cr af t ,t he Gal ax y has a huge amountof cr ew on boar d.T he mi ni mum cr ew f ort he component sands ys t ems–andt hemor epar t s ai r cr af ti ss even,buti npr act i s et hatnumbercan t o an ai r cr af t ,t he mor e par t st hat can be much hi gher . MajF r ed Gal l egos i s an pot ent i al l ybr eakdown! F orS S gtZ ang,a l ead t echni ci anwi t ht he 60t h Ai r cr af tMai nt enance S quadr on,i ti sa di f f i cul t j ob,butonewhi chbr i ngsgr eatr ewar ds . “Ever y mor ni ng we have a meet i ng wi t h s uper vi s i onand f l i ghtl i necr ew,and s omet i mes you hearwhatt he guyshave done overt he weekend,when we’ ve gone i nt o a weekend wi t ht hr ee br oken ai r pl anesand by Monday mor ni ng t hey’ r e al lf i x ed asever ybodyhasput ever yt hi ngt heyhadi nt oi t . “T hatgi vesyou a l i t t l e bi tofpr i de,es peci al l y havi ng come f r om ot herai r f r ameswher et hey wer en’ tqui t easdi f f i cul t .Is t ar t edmycar eeron C130sandt hatai r cr af twaspr et t yeas yt owor k onbutcomi ngt ot heC5wasahugewakeup cal l .S oi t ’ sgoodt ocomet oal ar gerai r cr af tas a new guybecaus ei fyoucanwor kona C5 youcanwor konpr et t ymuchanyt hi ng! ” Wi t ht he S uperGal ax yupgr ade pr ogr amme i n f ul ls wi ng,t hi spr es ent scons i der abl echal l enges t ot het echni ci ansandmai nt ai ner s .F ornow,t he 22ndASoper at esofaf l eetC5BandC model s whi chhaveunder gonet heAMPupgr ade,and t he t echni ci ans ar e ver y f ami l i ar wi t h t hi s conf i gur at i on,asMS gtBur mood f r om t he 60t h AMSr el at es .
“It hi nk t her es year ss butour nevers cockpi
I nt egr a mor ec t he ai r pr obl em r eengi Bur moo pr oces al s o l encoun
“Ri ght equi pm pl acef i ndi vi du T hey’ l l t r ai ned
Thevi ew gr ound,
FRED 05hol dsi nt hepr econt actposi t i on
nkt he ol derpeopl ei nt he s quadr on,i ncl udi ng s er vi s t s ,havebeenont heai r cr af tf orupt o30 s ot hey’ vedeal twi t ht heAmodelequi pment , urs quadr onhasayoungwor kf or ce,s ot hey’ ve rs een an Amodel .T hey’ ve onl ys een a gl as s pi t ,nevert heol derver s i on. ”
r at i ng t he RERPs ect i onoft he upgr ade wi l lbe chal l engi ng and,i ndeed,t he i nt r oduct i on of ai r cr af tatDoverAF B has notbeen wi t hout l ems .T hef i r s tai r cr af tf r om T r avi swi l lbes entf or gi ni ngt owar dst heendoft hes ummer .F orMS gt ood and hi scol l eagues ,t hi si st he s t ar tofa es sofpr epar i ngt or ecei vet henew ai r cr af tand l ear ni ng f r om s ome of t he di f f i cul t i es unt er edwi t ht heC5M’ sent r yi nt os er vi ce.
t now we ar e s t ar t i ng t o r ecei ve C5M ments owecangearup,andt her ear epl ansi n f orours quadr ont os endqui t eabi ggr oupof i dual soutt o Doverbef or e ourf i r s tone ar r i ves . l ls pend t wo t ot hr ee mont hst her e and get dands i gnedof fi nal l t hecar eerf i el dss owhen
wegetourf i r s tMmodel ,we’ l lhaveacor egr oupof peopl ewhoar et r ai ned and r eadyt ogo.T heycan pas sal l t hatknowl edget ot heot herguyswhodi dn’ t gett o go.Hopef ul l yt hatmeanswe can s t ayone s t epaheadandgetf ewergr owi ngpai ns . ” T hear r i valoft heC5M wi l lal s ocaus echal l engesf or t he C5ai r cr ew,al t houghf r om anai r cr af thandl i ng per s pect i ve,L tColZ ei neri sconf i dentt he t r ans i t i on wi l l bes moot h. “Ido notex pectRERP t o be ex t r emel y di f f i cul tt o l ear n.T hedat ai spr es ent edex act l yasi ti snow i nt he AMP,s o pi l ot sar es i mpl yl ear ni ng how t he ai r pl ane handl eswi t hmor epowerandnewerengi nes ” T he har d par twi l lper haps be i n oper at i ng t wo di s t i nctt ypesdur i ngt het r ans i t i on,wi t hcr ew qual i f i ed t of l y ei t hert he C5B/ C ort he C5M.T hi sr equi r es keepi ng a bal ance bet ween t r ai ni ng cr ewson t he new t ype,butal s o keepi ng s uf f i ci entnumber ss t i l l qual i f i edont heear l i erver s i ont ocont i nuef l yi ngt he mi s s i ondur i ngt hi sper i od.
ew f r om t hef l i ghtdeckescapehat ch ofaC5,emphasi si ng t hesheersi zeoft heai r cr af t .When manoeuvr i ng on t he d,acr ew memberi sof t enst at i onedatt heopenhat cht owat choutf orobst acl es
F or now t hough, t he s quadr on’ s r ecent 70t h anni ver s ar y al l ows i t s cur r entper s onnelt o cel ebr at e and al s ot ocons i deri t si l l us t r i ouspas t ,asL t Col T ur nerex pl ai ns . " T hi s i s an oppor t uni t y f or t he member soft he 22nd ASt ot ake a momentt ol ook back atourr i ch her i t ageandcel ebr at et hel egacyof t he s quadr on.We t ake pr i de i n our l egacyand wi l lcont i nue t o honori t dai l y aswe f l y mi s s i onsar ound t he wor l d.Asnew of f i cer sandAi r menj oi n t hes quadr on,we' l lkeept hatl egacy al i veast heuni tevol vest omat cht he demandsofournat i on. "
T he cel ebr at i onshave al s o gi venan oppor t uni t yf ors ome oft he newer member soft he s quadr on t ol ear n mor e about t he hi s t or y of t he s quadr on,es peci al l yWWI Ioper at i ons i nNew Gui nea.T he22ndASembl em f eat ur esa det er mi ned l ooki ng mul e cl i mbi ng a s l ope; t he mul e i s des cr i bed ascl i mbi ng “t he hump” . T hi sr ef er st o oper at i ons over t he 13, 000f t Owen S t anl ey Mount ai n Range ofNew Gui nea,whi ch was ni cknamed “t he hump” by pi l ot s oper at i ngi nt hear ea,r at hert hant he bet t er known r out e over t he Hi mal ayaswhi chal s o had t he s ame moni ker .
F orL tCol Z ei ner ,t her ei sagr eatdeal ofpr i de i n bei ng t he commandi ng of f i cer of t he 22nd AS .S peaki ng ahead of t he anni ver s ar y cel ebr at i onsi nApr i l ,hi saf f ect i onf or t hes quadr onhel eadswasobvi ous . “I am ex t r emel yf or t unat e t o be commandi ng t he 22nd AS ,t he Mi ght y Doubl e Deuce. T hi s oppor t uni t yi spar t i cul ar l ys peci alt o me s i nce Igr ew up i nt he s quadr on s ever alyear sago.Ret ur ni ng ast he commander s ever al year s l at er ( s omet hi ng whi ch doesnothappen ver yof t eni nt heAi rF or ce)hasbeena t r ul yamaz i ngex per i ence.
“We ar el ooki ng f or war dt o our70t h anni ver s ar y and cel ebr at i ng s even decadesofmobi l i t yex cel l ence. ”
T he aut hor woul d l i ke t ot hank t he f ol l owi ng f or t hei r as s i s t ance i n pr oduci ng t hi sar t i cl e:L tColZ achar yZ ei ner andt heof f i cer sandai r menof22ndAS;t hecr ewsofGUCCI 20,QUEST12andF RED 05;2ndL tKat i eBat chel derandA1C Madel ynOt t em,60t hAMW Publ i cAf f ai r s .