Up Close and Personal with the C-27J

The North Dakota Air National Guard’s 119th Wing last week hosted a C-27J transport so that its airmen could familiarize themselves with the new aircraft that they will start operating in early 2013. These Air Guardsmen got the chance to fly in the aircraft during the visit, which L-3 and Alenia, the C-27J industry team, sponsored. The wing relinquished its F-16s in 2007 and has been flying C-21s since then in the interim until its C-27s arrive. “Our airmen have brilliantly met the challenge of new missions in the past four years and we’ll be ready for the [C-27] mission,” said Col. Rick Gibney, 119th Wing commander. Fargo will operate four C-27Js. Also last week, the Air Force identified Great Falls, Mont., as the preferred location for the seventh operational C-27J unit. (Fargo report by Capt Penny Ripperger) (See also NBG release)