Full speed ahead...
Tech. Sgt. Gregory Mathes, 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron, works the throttle in the control booth during an engine operations test as Senior Airman Beau Columbus, 379 EMXS, watches and records all results Sept. 3, 2008, at an undisclosed air base in Southwest Asia. The C-130 Hercules primarily performs the tactical portion of the airlift mission. The aircraft is capable of operating from rough, dirt strips and is the prime transport for air dropping troops and equipment into hostile areas. Sergeant Mathes, a native of Greenville, Tenn., is deployed from Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany and Airman Columbus, originally from Buffalo, N.Y., is deployed from Yokota Air Base, Japan. Both are supporting Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom and Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. (U. S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Michael Boquette/Released)