Hope Alive For New Manned Air Mission For Happy Hooligans

A Washington lobbyist hired to help keep plans alive for C-27 transport aircraft for the North Dakota Air National Guard has been in Fargo talking strategy with local leaders.

 

 

 

 

(KFGO News File Photo)

A Washington lobbyist hired to help keep plans alive for C-27 transport aircraft for the North Dakota Air National Guard has been in Fargo talking strategy with local leaders. The 119th Wing was due to get the new, smaller aircraft as its C-21 Lear Jet mission ends next year. But the Air Force, looking at budget cuts, suspended the program. That angered the Air Guard because their units were in line to fly most of the fleet.  Retired general Paul Weaver says the effort to save the C-27's got a big boost last week with U.S. Senate action. Weaver says he's "energized" by the decision.

Senator John Hoeven had a big hand in the C-27 provision. He says he worked through the Appropriations Committee to fund authorization of the transport aircraft.  He says the Air Force must now determine what it's going to do.

Hoeven says the C-27 is newer and less expensive to operate than the larger C-130 it would replace.

 

Don Haney

   

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