En Route to Provide Airdrop Support for Army's 509th Infantry Regiment Readiness Exercise in Louisiana 

Columbia, S.C. - Approximately 15 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft from the 437th and 315th Airlift Wings based at Joint Base Charleston are scheduled to fly over the Cooper River Ravenel Bridge and the South Carolina State House tomorrow, Tuesday, May 22nd.   

The C-17s are scheduled to depart JB Charleston and fly over the Cooper River Ravenel Bridge at 12:44 p.m.  They will be joined by two F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 169th Fighter Wing, South Carolina Air National Guard as they fly over the South Carolina State House in Columbia at 1:30 p.m. en route to Fort Polk, Louisiana, where they will conduct airdrops and low-level tactical training. 

The community is encouraged to post their photos on social media of the flyover and use the hashtag: #SCAirpower!

“South Carolina’s commitment to a strong American military will be on full display tomorrow when the brave men and women from Joint Base Charleston fly over the Ravenel Bridge and the State House on their way to supporting training exercises in Louisiana,” said Gov. Henry McMaster. “I encourage every South Carolinian to take this opportunity tomorrow to pray for the safety of all of our men and women in uniform who serve our country so selflessly.”

"Our Rapid Global Mobility force is a partnership between active duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian workforces, working together to execute the air mobility mission around the world," said Col. Jimmy Canlas, 437th Airlift Wing commander. "Our Mobility Airmen enable the joint fight. Without our critical capabilities, combatant commanders would not be able to rapidly get the right people and equipment to the right place and time."

Paratroopers and critical equipment will be dropped to simulate a joint forcible entry of the global response force. 

The exercise has been coordinated with the Charleston County Aviation Authority and should not delay regularly scheduled flights at Charleston International Airport.