Maxwell Air Force Base’s 908th Airlift Wing, an Air Force Reserve Command, celebrated the “Trojan Warrior Spirit” on Tuesday when they unveiled a C-130 Hercules airplane with Troy University “nose art.”
The artwork was revealed during a ceremony at Troy’s Municipal Airport Tuesday that designated the plane “The Trojan Warrior Spirit.”
“We’e got several of our C-130’s that are dedicated to state universities. We’ve got one from the university of Alabama, one from Auburn University, and now we’ve got Troy University added to the mix,” explained Colonel Don Richey of Maxwell Air Force Base during the ceremony according to the Alabama News Network.
“This is one of the most famous and venerable aircraft in the storied history of the Air Force,” said retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Walter Givhan, Senior Vice Chancellor for Advancement and Economic Development and a former command pilot according to Troy Today. “We are certainly honored to have this aircraft at Troy Municipal Airport on the ramp with the opportunity to dedicate it as the Trojan Warrior Spirit.”
According to the U.S. Air Force, the C-130 is workhorse of the Air Force combat airlift fleet and the C-130 Hercules has been in service for more than half a century. Designed specifically to transport troops and equipment in the combat zone via airdrop or short runways, the Hercules operates throughout the U.S. Air Force fulfilling a wide range of operational missions in both peace and war situations.
During Saturday’s football game against Coastal Carolina the airplane will fly over the stadium for Military Appreciation Day where the school will highlight the service of Vietnam veterans, as the C-130 played a prominent role in the Vietnam War.
