QUONSET, RI - U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today joined with members of the 143rd Airlift Wing in touching down at Quonset State Airport to deliver the eighth and final C 130J Super Hercules airplane to the Rhode Island Air National Guard.

"This is a great day for the Guard and a great day for Rhode Island," said Reed, a senior member of the Armed Services Committee. "The men and women of the Rhode Island National Guard do an outstanding job of protecting our country, both at home and abroad. They deserve the best equipment and I am pleased to have led the charge to help modernize their fleet of C-130s. These planes will help the 143rd Airlift Wing transport troops, equipment, and supplies to combat and humanitarian missions around the world."

For over a decade, Senator Reed has been a tireless advocate for modernizing the Air Guard's fleet and securing these eight state-of-the-art C 130J-30 planes for the Rhode Island Air National Guard. In 1994 Senator Reed began working to ensure the delivery of eight new C130J cargo planes to the Rhode Island National Guard to replace the Guard's aging C130E cargo airplanes, built in 1963. Senator Reed ensured that funding for the planes was included in the Defense Appropriations bill.

In June of 2000 an attempt was made to redirect some of these aircraft from Rhode Island to California. Senator Reed intervened and succeeded in authoring a legislative provision ensuring the Air Force would direct future C 130Js to Rhode Island.

"The C 130J Super Hercules is the most modern tactical airlifter in the world. It can fly further, faster, and carry a heavier payload than its predecessors," noted Reed, who has flown in theater with the 143rd Airlift Wing's C-130s while visiting troops in Iraq and Afghanistan in January 2006. "I've seen firsthand what these planes can do under the leadership and direction of our outstanding Rhode Island airmen and women. These new planes will help the 143rd provide improved combat airlift and support to forces in the field and quickly and efficiently respond to a natural disaster or emergency here at home."

The 143rd received its first C 130J-30 in December of 2001. In 2004, the 143rd was the first U.S. unit to deploy a C-130J to Iraq.

Over the years, Senator Reed secured $37 million for construction of a new maintenance hanger for the planes at Quonset Point. The old maintenance hanger, built in 1941 was not large enough to accommodate the new planes.

"The older planes lacked updated avionics and defense systems. These C 130J Super Hercules planes have new technologies to help them perform well in severe weather or blackout operations," said Reed. "They will help increase our military readiness and the Guard's ability to respond to emergencies here at home."

In January of 2005, the Bush Administration proposed terminating the multiyear C-130J procurement contract. This would have left Rhode Island's Guard unit only partially modernized. Senator Reed called the cut "ill advised and untimely" and worked to undo it, noting that scrapping the program would have resulted in spending billions of dollars to repair and maintain older planes.

In March of 2005 the Pentagon relented and Rhode Island was able to receive the rest of its new planes.

FACTS & FIGURES

  • Rhode Island's C-130J-30s are over 112 feet long, 15 feet longer than the short-length C-130J aircraft, which translates to 30 percent more usable volume for increased seating and cargo. With a wingspan of 132 feet and seven inches and Rolls Royce engines coupled to an all-composite, six bladed propeller system, the planes can reach speeds of up to 410 miles per hour, travel a range of over 2,400 miles, and carry a payload of up to 44,000 pounds. It can carry seven pallets of cargo, two more than the standard C-130J, or 92 paratroopers and their equipment, 28 more than a C-130J.
  • The C-130J-30 also features a strengthened cargo ramp and improved airdrop system which helps minimize exposure to anti-aircraft fire in hostile areas. It only requires three crew members for most missions, so fewer flight crew members are exposed to potential threats in theater.
  • The C-130J-30s cost approximately $64 million each.
  • After Hurricane Katrina struck in the fall of 2005, the 143rd's fleet of C-130Js executed over 20 support missions, logging over 200 flight hours while moving over 600 military passengers and 200 tons of cargo in the region.
  • In May of 2007 a 143rd "J" supported the U.S. Coast Guard efforts in their search for a missing sailboat and its 4 Rhode Island crewmembers.
  • According to the Rhode Island National Guard, here are some of the numbers the 143rd helped compile as part of a C-130J joint force deployment for high tempo intra-theater operations over twenty (20) months. During the deployment, four C?130Js conducted 5,444 sorties over 10,750 flight hours, delivered 12,681 tons of cargo and carried 70,350 passengers.