On 04AUG2024, the U.S. Air Force (USAF), and the Arkansas Air National Guard, used Highway 63, near Bono, as a runway for transport and special operations aircraft. It was part of the greater Emerald Warrior 24 Field Training eXercise (FTX) II (2).
Arkansas Air National Guard photo by Airman First Class Samuel Zang, 04AUG2024.
For the first time, Arkansas Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing used Highway 63 as a runway for it’s C-130H Hercules aircraft. Officially it is to “expand the Arkansas Air National Guard’s capabilities that can be used in humanitarian and disaster relief.”
On Hurlburt Field, Florida, Special Operations Airmen board a C-146A, bound for HWY 63. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Joseph Pick, 02AUG2024.
The USAF’s 492d Special Operations Wing (SOW) sent their C-146A Wolfhound (Do-328).
U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ty Pilgrim, 04AUG2024.
An MC-130J crewmember preps to fuel an AC-130J. USAF photo by Senior Airman Ty Pilgrim, 04AUG2024.
The 492nd SOW also sent their MC-130J Commando-2 to act as a FARP (Forward Arming Refueling Point) to resupply a 1st SOW AC-130J Ghostrider Gunship.
An AC-130J rolls in for fuel and ammo. USAF photo by Airman First Class Saisha Cornett, 04AUG2024.
Silent video of MC-130J & AC-130J:
MC-130J, 2023: Pennsylvania’s new Commando-2
C-130H, 2023: African Lion
EC-103H, 2022: Compass Call makes its last call?
AC-130U, 2019: Last days of the ‘Spooky’?