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Little Rock legacy fliers 'prepared to win' at Air Mobility Rodeo 2011

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Mallory Glass
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  A hand-picked C-130 Hercules "legacy" aircrew will be representing the 19th Airlift Wing while competing in Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., from July 24 to 29.
 
The Rodeo team was chosen by all three 19th AW flying squadrons submitting names to the senior leaders of the 50th, 61st and 53rd Airlift Squadrons. The senior leaders then chose from the pool, said Maj. Harvey Heck, 19th Operations Group chief C-130E/H evaluator pilot.

The team is led by Heck of the 53rd AS, the co-pilot is Capt. Matt Niblett, 61st AS, and Capt. James Wilson, 50th AS, is the navigator. Tech. Sgt. Matt Blank, 50th AS, is the crew's flight engineer, the loadmaster is Staff Sgt. Mike Berry, 61st AS, and Senior Airman Dmitri Sokgobenzon, 53rd AS, is also a loadmaster.

"We are looking forward to doing what we do best," said Heck. "We have a great team and plan to showcase our operational capabilities."

They will be competing in a variety of events for C-130E/H against other teams from Air Mobility Command, the Air Force, and foreign nations. These events include visual low-level navigation, airdrop, personnel, assault landing, engine running off-load, and a joint competition with maintenance, reversing a C-130.

In order to prepare for Rodeo 2011, the crew has been flying together at least once a week, said Sokgobenzon. The most difficult part of our training has been scheduling the crew, from all three squadron, to fly at the same time.

"This is my first Rodeo," said Sokgobenzon. "I am looking forward to challenging my own skills, the competition aspect, and the great experience of working with and learning from other AMC bases and foreign countries."

"Our twice-a-week, night-and-day practices have built strong cohesion and camaraderie within this tactical airlift crew," said Wilson. "I am really honored to be a member of this exceptional crew and we are excited to bring back some titles for the 19th Airlift Wing and Little Rock Air Force Base."