The 61st Airlift Squadron at Little Rock AFB, Ark., took delivery of a factory-fresh C-130J airlifter, announced aircraft manufacturer Lockheed Martin. Lt. Gen. Brooks Bash, Air Mobility Command’s vice commander, ferried the C-130J from the company’s assembly facility in Marietta, Ga., to Little Rock on May 15, states the company’s release. This airframe, serial number 5745, is one of nine new-build C-130Js scheduled for beddown with the squadron. The first of these touched down at Little Rock, a hub of C-130 training and operations, in October 2013. Two subsequent deliveries took place in December followed by one in March, according to the company’s website.
The Air Force has finished modifying and testing the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft that will serve as a temporary Air Force One, the service announced May 1. All that’s left now is to finish painting the jet before it starts flying this summer.