Second C-130J Super Hercules makes Youngstown Air Reserve Station its home

If you hear a new rumble from above or see another large plane overhead in the Valley, it could be another new C-130j-30 Super Hercules aircraft that now calls the Youngstown Air Reserve Station home.
Last week the 76th Aerial Port Squadron loaded an airdrop training pallet onto the second Super Hercules aircraft to arrive at the station.
The first plane flew to Vienna Township this past July as part of YARS' three-year conversion from C-130H Hercules aircraft. Plans are to have eight Super Hercules planes at the base.
According to Lockheed Martin's website, the C-130J-30 Super Hercules is a stretch version of its C-130J aircraft, which adds 15 feet to its main body, increasing the usable space in the cargo compartment.
In December of 2022, YARS was selected as the preferred location to replace the Air Force's eight C-130Hs with eight C-130Js after a site survey was conducted assessing the location based on factors related to the mission, infrastructure capacity, community support, environmental considerations, and cost.
The new aircraft is valued at approximately $109.75 million per unit for a total investment of about $878 million for the 910th Airlift Wing, YARS, and the Mahoning Valley. These are YARS's first new aircraft in 30 years.
The 910th Airlift Wing received its first C-130 aircraft in 1981 and operated multiple variants for over 40 years. The unit's current fleet is 1989 to 1992 models which were assigned in 1994.