“Super Wide” C-130J, 37th AMU FCC Jet Black Canvas Print.

The 37th Aircraft Maintenance Unit (37th AMU) is apart of the 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (86th AMXS) at Ramstein AB, Germany. They work 24/7, 365 days a year maintaining the C-130 aircraft so the 37th AS can complete any mission in support of our country. Within their AMU they have an elite set of maintainers called “Flying Crew Chiefs” (FCC) who are always flying with the plane/pilots to austere locations, by themselves and without support to ensure the aircraft work properly so the pilots can complete their mission. These FCC’s, while apart of the crew, are specialized maintenance personnel that typically work long after the pilots have gone home to ensure the aircraft is ready for the next day’s mission.

The C-130J Super Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. The C-130J is a comprehensive update of the C-130 Hercules, with new engines, flight deck, and other systems. The Hercules family has the longest continuous production run of any military aircraft in history. During more than 60 years of service, the family has participated in military, civilian, and humanitarian aid operations. The Hercules has outlived several planned successor designs, most notably the Advanced Medium STOL Transport contestants. Fifteen nations have placed orders for a total of 300 C-130Js, of which 250 aircraft have been delivered as of February 2012.