Last C-130E Hercules aircraft leave Ramstein

[GOOSE]

From Defence Talk

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany: After more than 30 years of flying for the Air Force, the last C-130E Hercules aircraft here set forth Nov. 2 destined for a new life.

Tail number 1299, which has been at Ramstein since 2007, departed for Poland, under a Foreign Military Sales lease agreement between Air Force Materiel Command and Poland in support of our partnership and teamwork with United States allies.

"We are saying goodbye as it moves forward into a new era of air power," said Master Sgt. Patrick Perry, 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron section chief, during a ceremony held on the flightline to commemorate the momentous event.

As part of this partnership, members of the Polish Air Force learned maintenance techniques on the aircraft while 86th Maintenance Group personnel performed a scheduled home station check during the week leading up to the aircraft's departure.

This aircraft is in addition to the five C-130Es Poland is authorized to receive from the United States in an effort to help build up Poland's airlift capability sooner and allow them to support their forces in Afghanistan.

The departure of the aircraft is also part of the transition to the new, more capable and cost effective J-model C-130 aircraft, of which Ramstein will have 14. Part of the upgrade includes a new system onboard the aircraft.


More HERE - http://www.defencetalk.com/last-c-130e- ... ein-22848/