Fri, Oct 30, 2009
Wrecked C-130 Will Be Used To Train Iraqi Mechanics
U.S. and Iraqi airmen moved parts of a wrecked C-130 Hercules
transport from Sather Air Base, Iraq to New Al Muthana Air Base,
where they will be used as training aids for Iraqi aircraft
maintainers. Elements of the 447th Expeditionary Air Group,
the 321st Air Expeditionary Advisory Group and Iraqi airmen moved
the parts October 27th.
File Photo
"This is something they'll have here for many years to come, and
they'll be able to train like we do in our Air Force," said Air
Force Master Sgt. Dellet Weaver, New Al Muthana production
superintendent. The parts removed include the left wing, a dry bay
and fuel cell sections, landing gear struts and electrical
components. They'll be modified to render them nonoperational
before they are deployed as training aids, Weaver added.
Air Force Capt. Martin Hagg, New Al Muthana maintenance advisor,
said he expects the training aids to be ready for use within the
next three months.
"It's always better to get hands-on training than it is to get
just theory training," he said. "You can always look at a picture
or take them out to an actual aircraft and point to the parts out
and say, 'This is how what we talked about works.' But if you can
actually get your hands on it, if you can cut wires and rework
wires, crawl inside a fuel cell -- that always gives you a higher
fidelity of training."
The benefits will become apparent soon after the parts are ready
to use, Hagg said. "I believe everyone is going to benefit from
it," he said. "The Americans will benefit on a personal level by
working with the Iraqi air force and getting to know them. The main
beneficiary will be the Iraqi air force, who will get to continue
on with their training."
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