Ohio Guard unit is first to switch to C-27J

The Air Force’s adoption of the C-27J Spartan cargo plane reaches a milestone Saturday when the 179th Airlift Wing in Mansfield, Ohio, becomes the first unit to convert to C-27J operations.

The 179th, part of the Ohio National Guard, had flown the C-130H Hercules. In anticipation of the switch, crews traveled to the C-27J school house at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., for qualification training.

The Air Force is buying 37 C-27Js whose crews will focus on flying airlift missions for Army units and state Guard units.