The Air Force’s in-demand C-130 tactical airlifters are making vital weekly runs to three remote contingency operating locations in the Horn of Africa, calling the missions HOA Flex. The C-130s and their crews are based in Southwest Asia but deliver people, food, water, and other supplies to two sites in Ethiopia and one in Kenya, an area about two-thirds the size of the US. Since the missions started in May 2006, the C-130s have delivered more than 3.5 million pounds of cargo and some 2,400 people, landing on dirt and crushed rock airstrips.
We looked back on the past 12 months to find the stories that resonated the most with you, our audience, and these 10 topped the list. Maybe you missed one the first time around, or perhaps you’d like to revisit a favorite.