CONTACT: Lt. Col. Deanna Miller, (716)-236-3142

FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, Jun 17, 2008

The New York Air National Guard ‘s 107th Airlift Wing flies its first C-130 mission today, marking the transition from an air refueling wing to an airlift wing. Majors Gregory Miller and Todd Guay will pilot the aircraft augmented by crewmembers of the 914th Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve. This will be a local training mission for pilot proficiency. These training missions prepare aircrew to employ the aircraft into combat areas when deployed overseas. This flight is the 107th Airlift Wing’s maiden voyage on the C-130H2 Hercules after completing months of conversion training from the KC-135 Stratotanker mission as the 107 Air Refueling Wing. “The tactical airlift mission of the C-130 is completely different than that of the in-air refueling mission of the KC-135,” Miller said. “The C-130 can, and does, operate from anywhere in world.” With the change of mission, the 107th will now send its aircrew members to conversion training at Dobbins ARS, Georgia and Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. Once training is complete, these members will be mission qualified in the C-130H2. This aircraft operates with a crew complement of five -- two pilots, a navigator, flight engineer and loadmaster. On April 1st, 2008, the 107th changed it’s designation from an Air Refueling Wing to an Airlift Wing and is in the process of converting to the C-130H2 aircraft as directed by the Base Realignment and Closure of 2005. While the primary responsibility of the aircraft will fall with the 914th Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve, both units will work together to employ these aircraft.