The country's fourth Lockheed C-130 cargo transport plane
will formally be turned over to the Philippine Air Force (PAF) during short
ceremonies at Villamor Air Base, Pasay
City
This will take place 2 p.m., said PAF spokesperson Col.
Araus Robert Musico.
He said this C-130 has a tail number of 5011 and one of the
two "T" models acquired from the US
Musico said Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin will act as
the guest-of-honor during the turn over ceremony.
The fourth C-130 arrived 11:25 p.m. at Benito Ebuen Airbase,
Mactan, Cebu last April 5.
It was flown by Filipino pilots headed by Col. Alejando
Baclayon, Lt. Col. Ian Earth Lamzon, Major Ian Dexter Danes, Major Anthony
Amora, and Major Ramil Daet.
The two C-130Ts are worth US$ 61 million.
Musico said the second aircraft is expected to arrive this
September or October.
The aircraft took off from Tucson ,
Arizona early this week and made stopovers in California , Hawaii , Wake
and Guam Islands
before heading for the Philippines
Arrival of these planes will boost the PAF's heavy lift
capability.
"Remember if we need to move a big number of troops and
supplies (especially) heavy equipment for rapid deployment, it will be much
easier as we have additional (C-130) aircraft," Musico pointed out.
Originally, these two C-130Ts were configured for tanker
missions and were later converted for transport missions before being acquired
by the Philippines
Aside from the C-130s, the PAF has three Airbus Military
C-295 medium and three Fokker F-27 transports for its logistics and lift
missions.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=874767
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