USAF Reserve Crew Takes Hercules On Worldwide Flight To
Showcase Aircraft
Crossing 33 time zones, and stopping in nine locations and seven
countries, a Reserve crew from the 403rd Wing has circumnavigated
the planet in a C-130J Hercules. This was a first for the new
airlifter.
The global trek was the culmination of a series of events that
included the Aero India International Air Show in Bangalore, a
showcase of military personnel and equipment that promoted strong
United States ties with its Asian-Pacific allies.
On the way to the air show, the crew stopped at the Kbely-Prague
Air Transport Base in the Czech Republic. The new heads-up display
and computer systems were popular with Czech pilots and their
counterparts in India, Brunei and Japan as the crew steered the
aircraft from continents to islands throughout the world.
The reservists traveled for 22 days as they chased time zones,
then crossed the International Dateline on their way to Hawaii and
the continental United States. They met three United States
ambassadors, dozens of business executives, flag officers from
allied nations, more than one hundred media representatives and
royalty.
One of the biggest moments of the trip included a visit by the
Deputy Sultan and Crown Prince of Brunei, His Royal Highness, Pg
Muda Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, who spent nearly an hour in the
aircraft as crew members demonstrated many features of the new
Hercules.
"The visit to Brunei provided an opportunity to showcase the
aircraft as one of the finest assets in rapid, global mobility,"
said Col. Michael Underkofler, 403rd Operations Group commander and
team leader for the trip. "We were very proud to have played a
small part in building relationships in all of the nations we
visited."
While in India, the Czech Republic and Brunei, the C-130J was
viewed by numerous government officials. The Department of Defense
does not participate in air and trade exhibitions to directly
promote sales of weapons systems, but as a matter of policy it does
support the sale of systems overseas when those sales promote the
national security interests of the United States.
"Our involvement was about improving relationships with our
allies," Colonel Underkofler said. "By participating, our
reservists were able to show our allies, and potential coalition
partners our commitment to their security."