Airmen from the 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron render salutes to the base's last C-130E Hercules as it taxies down the flightline for departure Nov. 2, 2009, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Caleb Pierce)
Senior Airman Jason Ricke marshals the base's last C-130E Hercules onto the flightline for departure Nov. 2, 2009, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Airman Ricke is an 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Caleb Pierce)
by Senior Airman Amanda Dick
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
11/4/2009 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- Ramstein Air Base officials said goodbye to their last C-130E Hercules Nov. 2 after more than 30 years of flying for the Air Force,
C-130 tail number 1299, which has been at Ramstein AB since 2007, departed for Poland under a Foreign Military Sales lease agreement between officials from Air Force Materiel Command and Poland.
"We are saying goodbye as it moves forward into a new era of airpower," said Master Sgt. Patrick Perry, a section chief of the 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron during a ceremony held on the flightline to commemorate the 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 C-130 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 from Ramstein AB is also part of the transition to the new, more capable and cost effective J-model C-130 aircraft, of which Ramstein AB officials will have 14. Part of the upgrade includes a new system onboard the aircraft.
"The J-model is all computerized and automated," said Master Sgt. Jay Mitchell, a 37th Airlift Squadron flight engineer. "So, they've done away with the flight engineer and navigator positions."
But, this is no loss for navigators and flight engineers as it opens up other opportunities. For example, Sergeant Mitchell will be heading to Hurlburt Field, Fla., to fly on the AC-130 Gunships.
As the aircraft taxied down the runway, Ramstein AB members saluted one last time as two fire trucks sprayed an archway of water for 1299 to pass through.
"It's a day in history we will never forget," Sergeant Mitchell said. "This is an awesome aircraft. The C-130 has always been the workhorse of the Air Force and will continue that way with the J-model, but to see the last C-130E leaving here; we're sad to see it go."
