51 years ago when I joined the military, I was on my Air Supply Course at the Joint Air Training Centre in Rivers Manitoba. We trained on C-119 Flying Box Cars but had a few days of training on Wooden Mockups of the new C-130.
Aircraft crews and especially the loadies, so many that I can't mention everyone, must be envious of the new machines. The old standby Hercs were superior aircraft. Canada's military used them for 1/2 a century far exceeding the limits propossed by Lockheed when they were built.
This Conservative Government has certainly kept it's promises to the military. Fine men need fine equipment and PM Harper and MND MacKay have certainly produced on the purchases.
The first of Canada's new Hercules C-130J aircraft arrived at Kandahar Airfield over the weekend, with a second scheduled to arrive later this spring.The new C-130J models will eventually replace the older, smaller and slower Hercules aircraft, which have been in service for nearly 50 years.
Some of the older aircraft have logged as many as 45,000 hours in the air — nearly double the flying time that they were meant for.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2011/01/02/hercules-kandahar.html#ixzz19u6US68H With 2011 now fully here we look forward to a wind down for our battle weary troops in Afghanistan. I pray that they all come home safe and sound. Please always remember our troops and their families. Nil Sine Labore Robby
