Soldiers praise 'workhorse' aircraft

Photo By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry | Mississippi Army National Guard 1st Sgt. Cliff Long and Texas Army National Guard Sgt. Carlos Melgar transport their gear to a C-23 Sherpa prior to a flight at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Dec. 14, 2009.  

02.02.2010

Story by Staff Sgt. Jeff Lowry 

Task Force 38

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - When in the course of human events it becomes necessary to fly troops and cargo around, one should Iraq look no further Task Force 38's C-23 Sherpa unit, F Company, 1st Battalion, 207th Tactical Aviation Regiment.

The C-23 Sherpa is twin turboprop, boxy-shaped cargo plane that, according to the unit's Soldiers, is very dependable.

"It's very reliable and because of that [reliability], it's very useful here in Iraq," said Sgt. Carlos Melgar, Austin, Texas, a flight engineer with F Company.

The unit's Soldiers heaped praise on the aircraft that flew heaps of cargo around the southwest Asian country.

"This airplane is a workhorse," said Command Sgt. Maj. Tim Dughman, of Anchorage, Alaska, and the senior enlisted Soldier for F Company. "The airplane is so cost effective over here. The engines have been in service a long time and have been refined, and are on a lot of aircraft."

According to 1st Sgt. Cliff Long, an F Company flight engineer, the 58-foot long C-23 can carry three tons of a combination of fuel, equipment and personnel, which varies depending on mission requirements.

"The Sherpa can carry blood, bullets, weapons, troops like you wouldn't believe," he said of the plane's versatility. "Whatever you want to move," said Long of Gulfport, Miss.

According to one of the unit's pilots, Chief Warrant Officer Paul Moore, Anchorage, Alaska, the Sherpas were much like the freight companies in the states.

"We've cornered the Army niche of when it positively, absolutely has to be there overnight; the Sherpas deliver," said Moore.

• Date Taken: 02.02.2010
• Date Posted: 02.02.2010 04:05
• Story ID: 44770