Record Airdrop For C-130J

Photo by SrA Nancy Hooks

The 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron dropped a squadron-record fifty-six containerized delivery system, or CDS, bundles over three different drop zones within Afghanistan from the same aircraft on the same day—27 January 2010. The test comes as a part of preparation for the increase of troops in the southern region of Afghanistan as well as an increased demand for airdrops. For the test, the squadron loaded and airdropped twenty bundles from a C-130J, returned for another twenty bundles, and then dropped an additional sixteen bundles on the day’s final mission. Each bundle weighed approximately 1,500 to 2,000 pounds. The airdrops combat improvised explosive devices by keeping vehicles and troops off the roads.