Special Task Force 919 has officially made its last flight with C-145A Combat Coyote aircraft.
Pilots from the Air Force Reserve’s 711th Special Operations Squadron departed Duke Field on December 15, 2022, in four C-145A Combat Coyotes for the last time in 10 years of service. for Air Force Special Operations Command.
The C-145A is a twin-engine, high-wing aircraft with twin vertical fins and a non-retractable tricycle capable of short take-offs and landings. It is based on the Polish-built PZL Mielec M-28 Skytruck.
– ADVERTISING – CONTINUE READING BELOW –
The 919th Special Operations Wing was the last US Air Force unit to fly the aircraft before they were decommissioned.
The Combat Coyote landed in order and proceeded in tight formation down the tarmac as if to offer one final performance to the small waiting audience.
“There aren’t many other aircraft in the Air Force like this one,” said retired Sgt. Bobby Barton, former senior enlisted leader of the 919th Special Operations Group. “These guys love this plane, it really stands out from the crowd.”
The 919th Special Operations Wing began using the Combat Coyote in 2012. Combat Aviation Advisors from the 711th SOS used the aircraft to maintain qualification before instructing the crew of the partner country. on a wide range of advanced aviation tactics. Instructors from the 5th Special Operations Squadron, 1st Squadron at Duke Field have trained US Air Force pilots on board aircraft for the Air Force Special Operations Command.
Although it has not been used for overseas deployment in recent years, the Combat Coyote has provided the advantage of tactical mobility for low-altitude missions when they were initially purchased by the command. They can land and take off in short periods of time, making them ideal for rural, undeveloped airports and transporting cargo to forward operating bases.
Major Kristoffer Williams, head of safety for the 711th SOS, said: “Today’s flight was a bit bittersweet. “It’s a great plane to fly, Wolfhound has been very good to us for as long as it’s been in existence.”
The 919th SOW was the last wing to operate the airframe, officially retiring it from the United States Air Force. Citizen Air Commandos and their families gathered on the runway to watch the plane land and congratulate the pilots on their final flight.
“We poured a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this airframe,” Williams said. “We’ve learned to appreciate it, but it’s time to move on to the next plane.”
The wing has a historical precedent of adapting to the needs of the Air Force. The previous 919th SOW decommissioned the beloved AC-130H Specter and MC-130E Combat Talon I. As it had done in previous years, the wing is ready to be converted to meet the future needs of the aircraft. Air Force Special Operations Command.
“The only constant in the Air Force is change,” says Barton. “The C-145 drivers love it. It’s been a great plane to own for a while, but I’m looking forward to the next one.”
