Davis-Monthan AFB (DMA, KDMA)/AMARG

[bilwor]

General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon-Viper 89-2112 OH 112 FS Stingers Toledo Express AP


General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon-Viper 89-2082 OH 112 FS Stingers Toledo Express AP

[bilwor]

Boeing EC-6B TACAMO Mercury  USN 164409  VQ-4 Shadows  Tinker AFB

[Barry Griffiths]

 
Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker s/n 62-3548 PACAF 16th Wing 909th Air Refueling Squadron "Shoguns" ZZ Kadena AFB, Japan by Barry Griffiths CAD, on Flickr

[bilwor]

Good catch Barry, He's a long way from home. Always nice to get a KC-135 not from Sky Harbor.

[bilwor]

Alenia C-27A Spartan N2290J DOSAW C-1 US Department of State Air Wing Formerly USAF 90-0174

[josephea6]

Great catch Bill! 

[Jay Beckman]

The State Department has an "Air Wing?"  Really?   

[bilwor]

Department of State Air Wing

In 1978, the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) formed an office to use excess military and government aircraft for support of foreign nations' counter-narcotics operations. The first aircraft used was a crop duster used for eradication of illicit crops in Mexico in cooperation with the local authorities. The separate Air Wing was established in 1986 as use of aviation assets grew in the war on drugs.

The aircraft fleet grew from crop spraying aircraft to larger transports and helicopters used to support ground troops and transport personnel. As these operations became more involved in direct combat, a further need for search and rescue and armed escort helicopters was evident. Operations in the 1980s and 1990s were primarily carried out in Colombia, Guatemala, Peru, Bolivia and Belize. Many aircraft have since been passed on to the governments involved, as they became capable of taking over the operations themselves.

Following the events of the September 11 attacks, and the subsequent war on terror, the Air Wing went on to expand their operations from mainly anti-narcotics operations to also support security of United States nationals and interests, primarily in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Safe transport for various diplomatic missions were undertaken, requiring the acquisition of larger aircraft types, such as Sikorsky S-61, Beechcraft King Air and De Haviland DHC-8-300. Armed escorts were also increased using various helicopters fitted as gunships.

In 2011, the Air Wing was operating more than 230 aircraft around the world, the main missions still being counter narcotics and transportation of state officials.

[Barry Griffiths]

Super catch, Bill.

[Ned Harris]

Great catch Bill. Sorry I had to miss this one.

[bilwor]

Thanks for the comments fellas, much appreciated
bill

[Joe Copalman]

For a time, DOS Air Wing was one of the world's largest operators of OV-10s, using de-militarized OV-10Ds and upgraded OV-10Gs for counternarcotics work in Colombia and Ecuador.  They're out of the OV-10 business now, but still have a pretty robust Air Wing.  The two C-9s in active storage at Willie were supposed to be going to the DOS Air Wing, and the civvie-reg CH-46s that have come through have also been DOS birds.

Awesome catch, Bill.  Wondering how much longer these will be around.  Maintenance nightmares, from what I've read.

[bilwor]

Thanks Joe

[mrblujet]

For a time, DOS Air Wing was one of the world's largest operators of OV-10s, using de-militarized OV-10Ds and upgraded OV-10Gs for counternarcotics work in Colombia and Ecuador.  They're out of the OV-10 business now, but still have a pretty robust Air Wing.  The two C-9s in active storage at Willie were supposed to be going to the DOS Air Wing, and the civvie-reg CH-46s that have come through have also been DOS birds.

Awesome catch, Bill.  Wondering how much longer these will be around.  Maintenance nightmares, from what I've read.

Someone needs to take a bulldozer to those two C-9s' parked at Gateway and just scrap them - make these government dipsticks fly coach on United or someone else.

[Bubak]