YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --
The 374th Airlift Wing is the last active duty wing in the
Air Force to operate the reliable and versatile work horse of airlift: the
C-130 Hercules. Recently, the 374 AW received the U.S. Air Force’s last
active duty loadmaster trained on the C-130H; Airman 1st Class
Stephen Clark, 36th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, will soon begin contributing
to the last chapters of the H-model’s 40-year airlift story here.
“It’s good to be here,” Clark said. “I’m
excited to do my job and I’m looking forward to working.”
Yokota Air Base has hosted C-130s since 1975, when they were
assigned to the 345th Tactical Airlift Squadron. Clark, as one of
the last parts of that legacy, said that his fellow airlifters assigned to the
36 AS have taken to jokingly calling him “The Last Samurai.”
In technical school, Clark was the only active duty member
in class. He was surrounded by the National Guard and Reserve members who
continue to work on H models.
Clark admitted to feeling a little sad that so much history
is being retired from active duty and he’s sure he’ll miss the H models. Despite
this, he also stated that the change will be a good one.
Yokota’s aircraft are scheduled to be replaced by the upgraded
C-130J Super Hercules which features more automated functions, superior
performance and new capabilities. It performs a diverse
number of roles, including aerial firefighting, special operations, aerial
delivery, hurricane hunting, search and rescue and personnel transport. As
Yokota progresses to the latest technological developments in its mission to
move cargo through the skies, it is receiving the world’s most advanced
tactical airlifter.
The 374 AW projects that the last of the H models will
leave Yokota within three years to go to National Guard and Reserve bases. The
first J model is due to arrive in late fall this year.
Many H model loadmasters will be retrained to the J model,
as Clark may be. Until then, he said, he takes pride in working on the H
models.
“The J model will be easier, which is nice, but I enjoy
getting my hands dirty,” Clark said.
The Super Hercules performs part of a loadmaster’s work with
automated components. The advanced technology present
in the J models eliminates the need for navigators and flight engineers, reducing
the aircrew to the pilot, copilot and loadmasters. Yokota recently received its
last C-130 H navigator as well.
This newest C-130 model has already proven its reliability
with more than 1.2 million flight hours logged. It is operated by 16 countries
and has been used to set 54 world records.
Lockheed Martin, producer of the C-130s, describes the
newest model on its website.
“There is no aircraft in aviation history, either developed
or under development, which can match the flexibility, versatility and relevance
of the C-130J Super Hercules,” the website states. “In continuous production
longer than any other military aircraft, the C-130 has earned a reputation as a
workhorse ready for any mission, anywhere, anytime.”
Reflecting on the next stage of Yokota’s airlift, Clark
said that change is good and he’s excited to learn more about a sophisticated
new aircraft and its capabilities.