First C-130 H3 arrives in Minneapolis from NY

  • Published
  • By Capt. S.J. Brown
  • 934th Airlift Wing
Minneapolis, St. Paul --  

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL AIR RESERVE STATION, MINN -- The first C-130/H3 model aircraft touched down at the 934th Airlift Wing at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Air Reserve Station May 20 at 2:30 p.m. marking the beginning of the 2006 Base Realignment and Closure directive to trade eight H2 model aircraft from Minneapolis with eight H3 models from the 914th Airlift Wing at Niagara Air Reserve Station, N.Y.

The switch will strengthen the 914th AW's association with the 107th Air Refueling Wing
NY Air National Guard since the Air National Guard unit there owns four of the H2 models. This will give the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station a dozen of the same model aircraft which will likely make maintenance and operations more streamlined.

Meanwhile, because of the trade, the 934th AW will own the same model of aircraft as the 133rd Airlift Wing (Minneapolis Air National Guard).

"This switch was primarily for the New York Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard so they could streamline their operations," said Col. Allan Swartzmiller, 934th Operations Group commander, who added that the trade should be complete by the end of July. "But it will possibly benefit us as well since we will now have the same aircraft as the National Guard unit based near us."
The primary differences in H2 and H3 models are related to avionics and instrumentation upgrades. The H3 model, the newer of the two, has what is commonly referred to as a "glass cockpit" (i.e. the instrument panel is more technologically advanced with a computer screen replacing multiple mechanical dials). Pilots claim that the "glass cockpit" is more user-friendly providing greater amount of information in a shorter amount of time.
"We are excited about the switch," said Col. Tim Tarchick, 934th AW commander. "We have always worked efficiently, side-by-side with our Minneapolis Air National Guard counterparts. But now that we will have the same aircraft models, I see that relationship growing even stronger."