MC-130J Combat Shadow II Airborne

Photo by John Rossino

The first MC-130J Combat Shadow II for US Air Force Special Operations Command was flown for the first time on 20 April 2011 at the Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta, Georgia. The company flight crew consisted of Eric Thompson, Jeff Anderson, Lucky Madsen, David Files, and Tom Potteiger. The new special operations aircraft is based on the KC-130J tanker and has a boom refueling receptacle, more powerful electrical generators, an electro-optical/infrared sensor, and a combat systems operator station on the flight deck. Fifteen MC-130Js are on order. This first Combat Shadow II will be delivered to Cannon AFB, New Mexico, in September. This photo was taken on the aircraft’s second flight on 22 April.