New York National Guard sending 38 personnel a C-17 and LC-130 "Skibird" to South African Air Show

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NY Air Guard Staff Sgt. Brendon Quammie (left) and Tech. Sgt. Ken Martini speak to local students aboard a C-17 Globemaster III at the 2016 Africa Aerospace and Defense Airshow. ( Capt. Jean Kratzer)

LATHAM, NY (09/13/2018) (readMedia)-- The New York National Guard will send two Air National Guard cargo planes, an Army National Guard unmanned aerial vehicle and 38 Soldiers and Airmen to Africa's largest air show which begins Sept. 19 outside Pretoria, South Africa.

A C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifter from the 105th Airlift Wing, based at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, and an LC-130 tactical airlift plane from the 109th Airlift Wing, located at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia, will be the centerpiece of New York's contribution to the African Aerospace and Defence Air Show.

The LC-130 is the largest aircraft in the world which can land on runways or on ice and snow using skis or wheels.

The aircraft will leave on Sept. 15.

New York Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, which is headquartered in Syracuse, will be bringing an RQ-7 Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle along as part of the United States display at the air show.

The Shadow is a small radio-controlled 185 pound airplane with a 20 foot wingspan used for tactical reconnaissance by United States Army brigades.

The Soldiers who fly the Shadow are based at the Patriot Way Armory in Rochester.

A KC-135 Stratotanker air-to-air refueling plane from the 100th Airlift Wing based at RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom, and a C-130J "Super Hercules" from the 86th Airlift Wing from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, will also be part of the United States contingent at the Air Show.

The C-17 is used to fly supplies and troops and is one of the world's premier transportation aircraft. The 109th Airlift Wing LC-130s are used to fly supplies to scientific installations in Antarctica and Greenland.

The New York National Guard delegation will be led by Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Timothy LaBarge, a Tupper Lake resident, who serves as the Director of Joint Staff for the New York National Guard.

The African Aerospace and Defence show is a combination trade show and air show which is held every two years at South Africa's Air Force Base Waterkloof outside Pretoria. The first three days of the five day event are a trade show open to defense and aerospace officials, while the last two days are an air show open to the public.

The New York National Guard has a training and military exchange partnership with the South African National Defense Force through the National Guard's State Partnership Program. The program links a unique component of the Department of Defense - a state's National Guard - with the armed forces or equivalent of a partner country in a cooperative, mutually beneficial relationship.

The New York National Guard has been participating in the African Aerospace and Defence show since 2004.