PAF C-130 plane back in the air
MANILA, Philippines - A newly refurbished Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130 cargo and troop transport plane is back in the air following major repair amounting to $4.5 million (P216 million).
The Hercules plane with tail no. 4726 is now in Cebu undergoing further airworthiness tests while awaiting for its official re-commissioning.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said the aircraft would be placed under the operational control of the PAF’s 220th Airlift Wing, which is stationed at the Brig. Gen. Benito Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City.
Col. Ronaldo Hautea Jr., head of the 220th Airlift Wing, said the military plane will replace another one that was lost after takeoff from the Davao International Airport last year.
“There is no more problem with the plane but our test flights will continue until an order from higher headquarters is issued for the commissioning of the aircraft,” Hautea said.
The funding for the plane’s repair was bankrolled by the country’s foreign military grant from the United States.
Major repair was undertaken by the US-based Lockheed Martin Corp., manufacturer of C130s, through the Asian Aerospace Corp. (ACC) that won the bid to rehabilitate the aircraft in its repair facility at Clark Field in Angeles, Pampanga.
- Latest
- Trending
