air force's newest gunship ac-130j ghostrider

In the fall of 2009, the secretary of defense decided to recapitalize the AC-130 with C-130Js to build the platforms. Sluggo’s impacts on Whiskey and Ghostrider have been nothing short of outstanding and are honored to have him in attendance today. Stan ‘Sluggo’ Siefke who was instrumental in the developments of the precision strike package prior to cutting first metal on the MC-130W. Aircraft #31 is no different and is being named in honor of Mr. He also explained how pilots would stencil names or call signs on their aircraft, providing a sense of connection and further a feeling of pride for themselves and the crew that kept the airplane flying. Joe Allen, Gunship Program manager and narrator for the event, briefly discussed the history of nose art and how it became a common way of depicting the name of an airplane. Slife, working at the Pentagon for the Office of Secretary of Defense, began the messaging and formative language that initiated the program that he’s seeing come full circle. Slife recalled that it had been only a few years back when then Col. Jim Slife, AFSOC commander, represented the command at the ceremony and spoke about his experience with acquiring and receiving the AC-130J. During the AC-130J Ghostrider dedication and delivery ceremony, Lt. Following a commemoration ceremony at the Lockheed Martin Gunship Modification Facility in Crestview November 2, the final AC-130J was delivered to the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico.

Air Force Special Operations Command received its 31st and final AC-130J Ghostrider Gunship, completing the command’s transition from the legacy AC-130W, AC-130U and AC-130H fleets.

Air force's newest gunship ac-130j ghostrider