908th Airlift Wing evaluates new C-130 avionics upgrade Published Sept. 26, 2008 By Carl Bergquist Air University Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The 908th Airlift Wing conducted an isochronal inspection here recently of the first C-130 Hercules aircraft involved in the Avionics Modernization Program, or AMP. The aircraft will be assigned to Pope Air Force Base, N.C. Under AMP, the aircraft, AMP 1, received a fully integrated, night-vision-goggle compatible, digital glass cockpit and a new digital avionics system, increasing situational awareness for the warfighter. The 908th AW's isochronal inspection was a comprehensive nose-to-tail inspection and system check. Col. Kerry Kohler, 908th AW Maintenance Group commander, said the wing performed the inspection on the aircraft from July 24 until the plane's departure from Maxwell on Aug. 28. "Our ISO team did a great job working with the Boeing team from Edwards AFB, Calif., to complete inspections of the aircraft needed to continue its test regime at Edwards," Colonel Kohler said. "We performed an ISO inspection and completed other maintenance on the first [Avionics Modernization Program]." The visit to Maxwell followed Boeing aircraft's first C-130 Avionics Modernization Program flight which marked the completion of the software development for the program. The milestone was achieved following the successful flight test of aircraft AMP 2 conducted by Boeing and the Air Force on Aug. 18. AMP 2 will continue ground and flight testing at the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards. "This is a great day for the AMP team," said Mark Angelo, Boeing C-130 AMP program manager. "This flight marks the completion of the developmental stage of both the aircraft's hardware and software. We are ready to begin Low Rate Initial Production early next year." Boeing will install kits on 11 C-130 transport aircraft under the LRIP agreement. The company is expected to provide the AMP modifications and upgrades to more than 200 C-130 aircraft under the Air Force contract awarded in 2001. A third aircraft, AMP 3, is undergoing modifications and upgrades at Boeing Support Systems' San Antonio facility. The aircraft will also receive a fully-integrated, night-vision-goggle-compatible digital glass cockpit and a new digital avionics system. The Avionics Modernization Program upgrades will bring commonality to the C-130 fleet and offers flexibility in assigning aircrew, regardless of the model design type.