1275 takes its final flight Published Dec. 18, 2006 By 1st Lt. Lisa Ferguson Chief of Internal Information POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Nearly two years after being grounded, Pope's C-130, tail number 1275 took its final flight to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center adjoining Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. In February 2005, Congress authorized 51 C-130s to be transferred to the AMARC. Pope had eight aircraft that had been grounded due to center wing box cracks, and one plane flew to Arizona Dec. 5. "Born" in 1970, 1275 carried a crew of five on its final flight, including Capt. Jason Strickler, aircraft commander; 1st Lt. Tyler Tracy, co-pilot; Capt. Kevin Esau, navigator; Master Sgt. Ian Leonard, flight engineer; and Tech. Sgt. Jeff Begley, loadmaster. "We're taking a plane out to pasture that has more deployments than the combined 17 of the crew of five," Sergeant Leonard said. According to Lt. Col. Mary Behne, 43rd Maintenance Group deputy commander, the repair cost of the planes is why they are being sent to the AMARC. "It will cost the Air Force $8 million to repair the planes," she said. "So, instead we're buying the new J models." Colonel Behne said the grounded planes have been costing Pope 300 man-hours every month, because the planes have to be kept in a condition to where they could be approved for one flight out of here, such as during a hurricane evacuation. "What is actually grounding the aircraft is the airframe hours," she said. "When it meets or exceeds 45,000 equivalent baseline hours, it's grounded. It's been found that after that, the plane tends to have more cracks in the wings." Colonel Behne explained that EBH is like miles on a car. "Highway miles are easier on cars than city miles," she said. "An aircraft doing assault landings racks up more EBH than an aircraft flying straight and level just hauling cargo from point A to point B. It's based on the mission profile of the aircraft and how much stress you're putting on the aircraft during those times." The aircraft commander reflects on the significance of taking the plane to its final destination. "We're taking a 25 to 30 year old airplane to the boneyard," Captain Strickler said. "It's done its bit; it's seen more and done more than just about anybody." "It's probably fought in every major conflict since Vietnam, and now it's going to spend its days in the sun. Captain Strickler made one observation about the eight planes heading to Arizona. "All planes taken to the boneyard are the only ones left with the 43rd Airlift Wing Gryphon on them," he said. Each C-130 will be maintained in stable condition at the AMARC. Though the aircraft are retired, they can be returned to operational status. The process is usually short and is possible due to anti-corrosion and re-preservation work that is done on each aircraft.