Philippine Air Force (PAF) commissions newly refurbished assets

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Friday commissioned newly-refurbished ground and air assets including the first ever C-130 cargo plane repaired completely by Filipino airmen.

Commissioned during simple ceremonies in Villamor Airbase in Pasay were the C-130 cargo plane, one Cessna LC-210 weather aircraft, a UH-1H helicopter and 12 M-3 trucks.

The maintenance and repair of all these assets cost P579.4 million.

“The commissioning of these air and ground assets will definitely increase the capability of the Philippine Air Force in the performance of its multi-faceted roles,” Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino dela Cruz said in a message read by his Vice Commander Maj. Gen. Raul Dimatatac.

The Air Force spent P549 million for the repair and maintenance of the C-130, the third cargo plane in its inventory.


Source: By Alexis Romero - MANILA, Philippines (philstar.com) - 28 December 2012

Photo: The Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130 Hercules and UH-1H Huey.(Photo by Frances Mangosing/INQUIRER.net)

Photo Story: Philippines–A newly refurbished C-130 cargo plane and other air and ground assets were turned over at the Philippine Air Force Headquarters at Villamor Air Base Friday.

Aside from the 48-year-old C-130B (3633), the PAF will also have one rainmaker aircraft (LC-210), one recovered Huey, and 12 M-35 trucks, all of which were blessed in the ceremony.

The restored assets were part of the military’s P579.4 million maintenance project. The C130 (3633) project took 33 months. It was the first C130 to be completely repaired locally, according to Vice Commander Major General Raul Gabriel Dimatatac who led the ceremonies.

Dimatatac also recognized the project team behind the restoration of C130, composed of personnel from Air Logistics Command, 200th Airlift Wing and 410th Maintenance Wing.

There are now three C-130s in the Air Force inventory, with another (#4704) that underwent the Programmed Depot Maintenance in Mojave, California using US Foreign Military funding which lasted for 27 months and cost P549.8 million for structural work alone.


(28.12.2012)