Around The World

A US Air Force crew from the 522nd Special Operations Squadron at Cannon AFB, New Mexico, completed the first continuous trip around the world in an MC-130J Commando II special operations airlifter on 9 July 2014. The MC-130J crew's mission, which covered five continents and approximately 28,000 miles, was to escort single-engine Air Force Special Operations Command aircraft to a destination in the Pacific Area of Responsibility. The mission crew of twenty-six Airmen included aircrew, maintainers, and pararescuemen from the 308th Rescue Squadron at Patrick AFB, Florida, and the pilots of the three aircraft being ferried. The MC-130J required no major maintenance during the trip and there were no schedule delays during the twenty-seven day mission.