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The 'sports car' of the transport fleet

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Carolyn Viss
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  While huge cargo planes are delivering tons of personnel and supplies throughout the Persian Gulf region and the Horn of Africa, a sleek jet in Southwest Asia gets distinguished visitors to and from bases quickly and efficiently. 

Tasked and scheduled by the Combined Air and Space Operations Center, C-21s, Lear Jets flown by 379th Expeditionary Operations Group pilots, are some of the smallest aircraft assigned to the Air Mobility Command, yet they play an important role here. 

"We're a support airlift unit," said Capt. Jim Lacey, director of operations deployed from Andrews Air Force Base, Md. "We move people to support operations in HOA, the Persian Gulf, and sometimes Iraq and Afghanistan." 

From high-ranking servicemembers to prominent civilians, the 10 pilots assigned here stay busy flying a variety of missions in order to keep the heavy aircraft available for combat missions, he said. 

"We airlifted congressmen to Islamabad for the Pakistan elections last year," the Air Force Academy graduate said. "Also, if someone needs a blood transfusion we ship it out to be used by combat-engaged forces on the ground. It's a pretty cool mission to fly." 

Fashioned after Swedish fighter jets, the 4' 4" tall cabin doesn't have much room inside but packs a decent punch: although it only weighs 18,000 pounds when fully loaded and fueled, it boasts a 7,000-pound thrust. Since the beginning of 2008, the three planes assigned here have flown 95 missions, carrying 406 passengers in 455 hours, Capt. Lacey said.

"Basically we are taking business aircraft into a combat environment," Captain Lacey said. "Some of the youngest pilots are able to fly these, get good experience, and even make instructor as a first lieutenant or young captain." As a former C-5 pilot, he boasts the record of flying the biggest and the smallest aircraft in AMC. "It's like driving a sports car instead of a school bus," he said. 

In addition to the 10 pilots assigned here for a 90-day rotation, the unit has a corps of civilian maintainers who voluntarily deploy for a year or more to keep these little birds in the air. Four contractors and an enlisted quality assurance representative work together to ensure all runs smoothly. 

"With 24-year-old aircraft, it's important to keep experienced maintainers on hand," Captain Lacey said. "We have great site supervisors, and the guys who are here make sure everything gets done on time so the planes here are available when they're needed." 

James Dial, one of the contractors deployed from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., said he volunteered for the deployment because he enjoys serving those who serve. He said he might even extend his one-year deployment if the next three months go as well as the last nine have. 

"The jet is awesome, too. It's reliable, sleek, and fun to maintain - plus I gain some valuable experience," he said. "Every day, I get to watch Airmen take off and I know that they're able to do their job because I did mine."