US donates two C-130Hs to Chile

摘要

TWO US Air Force C-130H Hercules are being transferred to the Fuerza Aerea de Chile (FACh, Chilean Air Force), to supplement its transport fleet.The first of these, 74-1674 (c/n 382-4631), arrived in Chile at Base Aerea El Bosque, Santiago, on April 22. It was still in the full markings of its previous operator, the Montana Air National Guard/120th Airlift Wing's 186th Airlift Squadron 'Vigilantes', from Great Falls Air National Guard Base, Great Falls International Airport, Montana. It brought with it a cargo of donated COVID-19 relief supplies, comprising 87,000 personal protection items. The aircraft is due to take up FACh serial 993 (previously worn by a long-since retired C-130B). The aircraft are being supplied free of charge by the US government, through the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) programme. Authorisation to supply the aircraft as EDA was granted on May 3, 2019. The second aircraft will follow within the next few months. They join six other FACh Hercules (one C-130B, two C-130HS and three KC-130RS) operated by Grupo de Aviacion 10 at Base Aerea Pudahuel,Santiago/Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport.