C-130J from Little Rock Air Force Base to Conduct Training Flights at Drake Field
A United States Air Force C-130J aircraft will be on hand for display and tours for the media and the public on Friday January 28, 2011, from noon until 2:00 pm. The primary purpose of the visit is for firefighter training in the morning. In the afternoon, a flight crew from the 19th Airlift Wing will be on hand to conduct tours and answer questions concerning the aircraft and the mission of the Airlift Wing. The 19th AW is currently deployed to Afghanistan, and flights into Drake Field provide realistic training in terrain similar to that found in Afghanistan.
Airport management is eager to have the training conducted at Drake Field in order to build operations numbers in the current aviation environment where the number of flights into and out of Drake reflect the same reductions being experienced through the aviation industry. Contract Air Traffic Control Towers depend on takeoff and landing numbers to ensure federal funding.
The public is invited to come to the Drake Field Terminal between noon and 2:00 Friday afternoon to see the aircraft and to talk with the crew.
For additional details, please contact Ray Boudreaux, Director of Aviation for the City of Fayetteville, at 479-718-7642.
