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Air Force, Army planners find ways to see greater jump in airdrops
An arriving C-130 Hercules taxies to a large hangar where about 60 Army paratroopers wait to board. Lugging about 100 pounds of gear, the Soldiers quickly line up and load into the aircraft as its four idling engines blow hot gusts over the tarmac. Minutes later, the plane is flying at 150 mph and the paratroopers jump, being whisked away in a rush of fresh air during the routine training mission -- one of hundreds held each year at Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina. While short lived, these airdrops are meticulously prepared months ahead by dozens of Air Force and Army planners. Their goal: to get Airmen and Soldiers primed to rapidly respond to urgent combat or humanitarian efforts.
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8/24
2016
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