Photo By Senior Airman Imani West | Jared “Cappie” Capp, "Building Outside The Lines” TV show host, saws into a rock at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, Sept. 3, 2025. The excavation into the rock face was intentionally engineered to create a stable and secure foundation for supporting a bench structure comprised of repurposed C-130 aircraft parts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Imani West) see less
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LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, ARKANSAS, UNITED STATES
Heritage in hardware: new display showcases the mighty herk legacy
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. – Jared “Cappie” Capp, former C-130 loadmaster and host of the show “Building Outside the Lines”, returned to Little Rock Air Force Base Aug. 31 – Sept. 5, 2025, to lead a unique construction project that ties together the heritage of the Hercules with the heart of Team Little Rock.
Cappie and his construction team volunteered to design and build a display featuring a commemorative rock and a custom bench crafted from repurposed C-130 aircraft parts. The bench and rock now stand as a permanent tribute to the Airmen, past and present, who have supported the C-130 mission at the installation.
“It’s a Type 5 airdrop platform with a section of flap off of the C-130,” said Cappie. “The leg is a bit of a steampunk thing with some airdrop parts and then a little rock to go with it.”
The display also features a propeller blade that was shipped to South Dakota from Miami and then brought to Arkansas for the project.
Cappie has been building and designing since the age of thirteen, learning from his father and grandfather. His fascination with a more natural approach to building only grew as he traveled the world as a loadmaster and noticed more sustainable construction styles.
The innovative builder’s connection to Little Rock runs deep, making this a more personal and meaningful project for him.
Not only did he serve here as a C-130 loadmaster from 1994 to 1999, but his father also wore the same wings, flying as a loadmaster before him. Returning to the base to create a lasting symbol of that shared heritage.
The reveal of the completed display coincided with the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Consolidated Fuselage Trainer (FuT) Facility that took place on Sept. 5, 2025, highlighting the balance of innovation and tradition.
“Over 350 loadmasters will pass annually in building 618. The 314th Airlift Wing, our Nova Tech partners, Giants, C-130, Air Education and Training, we all build the future loadmaster giants of tomorrow,” said Col. Marty Smith, 314th Airlift Wing Commander. “Speaking of giants, the team didn’t just want to do a ribbon cutting. We wanted to give this facility a soul. We wanted to honor a loadmaster, a pioneer and legend by dedicating the facility in their name.”
Building 618 is dedicated to loadmasters Chief Master Sgt. John “Scotty” Henderson and Master Sgt. Jeffery “JD” Ehler. The Air Mobility Command and the installation commander have both approved the building to be renamed to the Henderson-Ehler Loadmaster Center of Excellence in honor of those great loadmasters.
As the newest additions to the base landscape, the new FuT facility and C-130 bench display not only provides a place for Airmen to reflect but also symbolizes the enduring pride, heritage, and mission focus that define Little Rock Air Force Base.
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