N.M., Texas cadets get rare look at present, future of air combat technology

 

 

(1)   
Cadets from Amarillo, Lubbock, and Clovis Composite Squadrons in front of the newest Reaper Drone being built by 27th Special Operations Group members.

(2)   
Two of the C-130E Allison engines thunder on through three different cloud decks caused by unseasonable wet weather.

(3)   
Cadet Chief Master Sgt. Ryan Eckles of the Lubbock Composite Squadron stands in the doorway of a V-22 Osprey.

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Cadet Senior Master Sgt. Robert Vernon of the Lubbock Composite Squadron stands in front of an MQ-1 Predator Drone.


1st Lt. Kyle Vernon
Deputy Commander for Cadets
Lubbock Composite Squadron
Texas Wing

NEW MEXICO – Cadets from two Texas Wing squadrons and one New Mexico unit received the first ever public tour of the U.S. Air Force 27th Special Operations Group at Cannon Air Force Base – along with an unforgettable glimpse of aspects of current and future aerial warfare.

The 25 cadets from the Amarillo and Lubbock composite squadrons in Texas and New Mexico’s Clovis Composite Squadron visited a tarmac that some years ago held F-16 fighters but is now filled with Predator and Reaper drones, V-22 Osprey tilt-rotors and AC-130 Spectres.

The tour and an accompanying C-130 flight was a carefully planned event, coordinated between 1st Lt. Kyle Vernon, the Lubbock unit’s deputy commander for cadets, and staff at Cannon. During the tour, under the military's watchful eye, cadets were told when and where pictures could be taken, since much of what the Special Operations Group does and uses is classified.

Gone are the days of saturation bombing. The realities of war now include remote-controlled aircraft capable of destroying enemy combatants with precision-guided munitions.

For the visitors, a hangar filled with four MQ-1 Predator Drones or an MQ-9 Reaper Drone under assembly were particularly impressive sights. Traffic Control tower and the Radar Approach Control center.

The day began with a tour of the AC-130, often described as one of the world’s deadliest weapon system. Cadets were shown the massive gun barrels protruding from the aircraft's side and briefly told of the extensive countermeasures the aircraft is equipped to take in order to deal with anti-aircraft missiles and radar-tracking anti-aircraft artillery on the ground.

The cadets got the impression that the AC-130 was bristling with layers of countermeasures to survive a modern battlefield.

A few minutes later the cadets were led into a V-22 Osprey maintenance hangar to tour a tilt rotor, while nearby another V-22 prepared for a noisy departure. Folded and tucked away, the aircraft's massive blades fit easily into the former F-16 hangar, with room to spare. Cadets boarded the aircraft for a close view of the miles of tubes and wires stretching across its ceiling.

A short time later, in another hangar, the cadets observed airmen assembling an MQ-9 Reaper Drone right out of the box. Far from stumbling over the vexing “some assembly required” instructions so universally familiar, each airman in the team worked quickly and efficiently to make the craft ready for flight.

Then it was off to preflight. In a room filled with the flags of each of the squadron’s eight AC-130 Spectre aircraft, the cadets were briefed on safety and the flight they were about to take.

Once on the C-130E, the cadets were treated to a full-power departure that had the aircraft off the ground in less than 2,500 feet. Climbing quickly through the scud, the cadets were allowed to walk around the airplane and tour the flight deck during the hourlong flight.

Afterward, the Air Force provided lunch in the “Drop Zone” Family Community Center.

The afternoon was spent touring the various groups that keep the planes flying. Informative visits to the air traffic control tower, radar approach control center, weather briefing and field operations rounded out an unforgettable day.

On the Lubbock squadron’s return trip home, a quick check revealed that all the cadets now wanted to join the USAF. The tour had been a perfect combination of flying, fun and information.