History Air Mobility Rodeo

1 history

1.1 background
1.2 carp rodeo
1.3 combat airlift competition
1.4 volant rodeo
1.5 airlift rodeo
1.6 air mobility rodeo
1.7 list of winners

history
background

air mobility command s rodeo can trace roots 1956 , continental air command s rodeo competition. pictured here display of trophy 1959.

the rodeo competition name stems 1956 reserve troop carrier rodeo @ bakalar air force base, indiana hosted continental air command.

the active-duty force of 1960s received direction presidents dwight eisenhower , john f. kennedy. eisenhower administration recommended military air transport service (mats) change mission passenger service strictly military airlift aligning tactical u.s. army deployments under mats.

the kennedy administration further stressed importance of rapid global mobility in first state of union address stating “obtaining air transport mobility—and obtaining now—will better assure ability of our conventional forces respond, discrimination , speed, problem @ spot on globe @ moment’s notice.” president wanted u.s. have capability prevent both limited , guerrilla wars being able rapidly deploy military forces around world.

up direction kennedy administration mats had required troop carrier units equipped c-124 globemaster ii aircraft qualified in computed air release point (carp) aerial delivery technique. carp technique required aircrew file detailed flight plan detailing route along exact time on target (tot). using carp process correctly ensure airdrop made based on time , allow airdrop take place if @ night or if drop zone obscured weather. beginning in january 1961, however, mats required c-124 units become carp qualified.

carp rodeo

armed new direction in april 1961 commander of 1501st air transport wing, brigadier general richard bromiley, proposed command-wide carp rodeo method foster carp training. while mats working out details of such competition western transport air force (westaf) held own carp rodeo between 1501st air transport wing , 62d air transport wing. on 11 july 3 crews each wing flew low-level navigation routes , dropped miniature parachutes on part of winters-davis airport near travis air force base, california. 1501st won competition on 62d had more experience carp operations.

meanwhile, mats planning annual, command-wide competition similar strategic air command’s bombing competition , tactical air command’s william tell competition. first of these held @ scott air force base, illinois 16 – 22 april 1962. 7 wings, 62d air transport wing, 63d troop carrier wing, 1501st air transport wing, 1502d air transport wing, 1503d air transport wing, 1607th air transport wing, , 1608th air transport wing, each sent 1 aircraft , 2 crews participate. first official carp rodeo consisted of 3 events: low-level, daylight, navigational mission, similar night mission, , second daylight mission following different route. during each mission team dropped 25 ounce shot bag attached miniature parachute simulating 225 pound load. during night missions small flashlight taken mae west life preserver aid in recovery. combat control teams 62d , 63d wings stationed @ drop zones recover , score drop accuracy.

on 1 april 1963 mats required units airdrop capability train formation flying, , aerial delivery of personnel , equipment using carp. directive coupled mats’ desire added realism led inclusion of formation flying, heavy cargo drops, , troop drops event in 1963 carp rodeo. because of unavailability of drop zone suitable heavy cargo , paratroops near scott air force base second competition held @ dover air force base, delaware , took place 22 – 28 september. same 7 wings participated again 2 crews , 1 c-124. however, both 1501st , 1608th entered c-130 hercules aircraft. each crew flew morning, afternoon, , night cargo drop. additionally, each crew required drop team 101st airborne division on fort campbell, kentucky. wings each sent ten-man maintenance team, performance, however, not part of competition.

the third carp rodeo, held 9 – 13 november 1964 @ hunter air force base, georgia, expanded include 9 wings, including c-130 teams naval air transport wing, atlantic , naval air transport wing, pacific. 1964 competition followed same format previous year s using drop zones on fort stewart, georgia. mats commander, general howell m. estes ii, named trophies awarded in 1964 after former mats commanders: lieutenant general laurence s. kuter trophy awarded c-124 team highest aggregate score, lieutenant general joseph smith trophy went c-130 team highest aggregate score, lieutenant general william h. tunner trophy went team, c-124 or c-130, best single drop, , general joe w. kelly trophy awarded best crew, either c-124 or c-130.

as involvement in vietnam war began escalate military resources shifted toward supporting fighting in southeast asia. consequently, no rodeo competitions held after 1964.

combat airlift competition

an aerial port team conducting engine running offload (ero) during rodeo 2007

mats airdrop capabilities enhanced addition of new c-141 starlifter in late 1964. 2 years later military air transport service redesignated military airlift command (mac). 1969 airlift requirements vietnam had declined level allowed renewing airdrop competition. declining theater requirements coincided clear need c-141 airdrop training. so, mac held combat airlift competition 12 – 20 july 1969 @ charleston air force base, south carolina c-141 wings. 60th, 62d, 63d, 436th, 437th, , 438th military airlift wings each sent 2 aircrews, 1 maintenance crew, , 1 c-141 participate. competition involved using carp procedures delivering both personnel , equipment during both day , night flying utilizing drop zones @ fort bragg, north carolina , strategic air command’s radar bomb scoring site @ richmond, kentucky. first time maintenance team received evaluation , each team participated in engine running offload (ero).

the second combat airlift competition held @ travis air force base 20 – 24 july 1970. competition first include reserve associate aircrews. number of participating wings grew eight, however, each wing sent 1 aircrew in addition single aircraft , maintenance team. additionally, 2 mac numbered air forces, 21st air force , 22nd air force, each dispatched combat control team , aerial delivery team compete. 1970 competition first include competitive events combat controllers including physical fitness test, marksmanship, , four-mile (6 km) orienteering course. also, airdrops conducted @ 4 different drop zones: mountain home air force base, idaho, wendover auxiliary field, utah, naval air station fallon, nevada, , camp roberts, california.

the combat airlift competition held @ charleston air force base in 1971 , @ travis air force base in 1972. throughout these competitions mac leadership noted increased emphasis on airdrop training had led greater accuracy. circular error average (cea) had been on 200 yards (180 m) during first carp rodeo in 1962. 1971 down 77 yards (70 m) , in 1972 cea combat airlift competition 24.33 yards (22.25 m).

as vietnam war ended u.s. military began restructure. in mac part of restructuring including cutting on airdrop training, , in 1973 airdrop training halted @ dover, mcchord, mcguire, , travis air force bases , reduced total air drop crew force 40 active duty , 8 associate reserve crews. additionally, due budgetary constraints mac discontinued combat airlift competitions.

over next 2 years tactical airlift units transferred tactical air command military airlift command. these units composed of c-7 caribou, c-123 provider, , c-130 aircraft. following transfer mac commander, general paul k. carlton established usaf airlift center @ pope air force base conduct testing of tactical airlift procedures , equipment.

volant rodeo

by late 1970s u.s. military focus shifting away southeast asia , toward supporting nato in europe. department of defense leadership mandated capability rapidly reinforce europe while dispatching forces deal simultaneous crises in other parts of world. direction mac decided renew emphasis on airdrop procedures means of rapid delivery. mac leadership again considered competition format excellent way gauge level of proficiency , refine airdrop techniques.

in 1979 mac commander, general william moore, directed each mac wing participate in first volant rodeo, held @ pope air force base 3 – 9 june year. invited air force reserve command , air national guard participate. in 31 teams competed flying c-7, c-123, c-130, , c-141 aircraft. events included airdrops of both equipment , personnel, ero, assault takeoffs , landings, maintenance inspections, aerial delivery inspections, combat control , security police marksmanship , tactical exercise guarding c-130 against group of simulated terrorists. xviii airborne corps @ fort bragg supported rodeo providing paratroops, equipment, , drop zones air drop events.

the following year rodeo again held @ pope air force base 13 – 19 july. total of 37 team participated in 1980 event including 4 international teams australia, canada, federal republic of germany, , united kingdom. german team competed in c-130 category flying transall c-160 aircraft. event won 40th tas commanded major richard mandas capt robert arnett, copilot, capt randall hill, navigator, sgt h. clark, engineer , sgt ray quinones, loadmasters. team flew c-130e 70-1259 (aerospace chicken), sgt. jack koeneman, dedicated crew chief.

a 94th airlift wing c-7a during volant rodeo 81 .

allied interaction expanded during 1981 rodeo, held 7 – 13 june @ pope air force base. allied aircrews given opportunities fly in mac aircraft , in @ least 1 case mac adopted british procedures, using copilots assists navigators during low level missions.

by time c-7 , c-123 airframes being phased out of inventory, did not compete in 1982 rodeo @ pope air force base 13 – 18 june. 1982 rodeo first saw allied nation win overall competition italy’s 46th air brigade won best wing award.

the rodeo format remained relatively unchanged on subsequent 4 years. 94th tactical airlift wing became first reserve unit win best wing award in 1985 , 136th tactical airlift wing first air national guard unit win best wing in 1986.

airlift rodeo

an aerial port team getting ready rodeo event

the rodeo competition renamed airlift rodeo beginning in 1987 mac commander general duane cassidy in effort more accurately reflect purpose of event. roles of maintenance, security police, , combat control teams expanded in 1987. latter 2 participated in overland infiltration event using multiple integrated laser engagement system (miles) gear create realism, , combat control teams conducted high altitude-low opening (halo) jumps , established drop zones. additionally, comedian bob hope performed @ rodeo, filming two-hour program 84th birthday. president ronald reagan , secretary of air force edward aldridge jr. on hand bob hope’s performance.

no rodeo held in 1988 because of budget constraints. however, rodeo returned in 1989. rodeo first showcase airdrop capability of c-5 galaxy. c-5 set world record dropping 4 m551 sheridan light tanks , 73 paratroopers 82nd airborne division totaling 190,346 pounds.

air mobility rodeo

2007 air mobility rodeo logo mcchord afb.

no competition held 2001–2004 because of increased operations tempo result of global war on terror.

the 2005, 2007, 2009, , 2011 rodeos held @ mcchord air force base, washington. @ 2007 rodeo more 40 teams , 2,500 personnel around world participated. @ 2011 rodeo, 97th air mobility wing altus air force base took top honors best air mobility wing. in march 2013, decided years air mobility rodeo cancelled due budgetary reasons.

list of winners

carp rodeo

1962–1502d air transport wing
major joe lodrige , crew 1502nd air transport wing hickam afb, hawaii, won first active-duty rodeo competition in 1962.
1963 – 62d air transport wing
1964–1608th air transport wing


combat airlift competition

1969 – 63d military airlift wing
1970 – 436th military airlift wing
1971 – 63d military airlift wing
1972 – 436th military airlift wing


volant rodeo


pope air force base @ state of air mobility rodeo 92





1979 – 443d military airlift wing
1980 – 317th tactical airlift wing
1981 – 314th tactical airlift wing
1982 – 50°gruppo -46^ brigata aerea - italy
1983 – 314th tactical airlift wing
1984 – 50°gruppo -46^ brigata aerea - italy
1985 – 94th tactical airlift wing
1986 – 145th tactical airlift group north carolina air national guard


airlift rodeo

1987 – ltg 62 west germany
1989 – australia
1990 – 63d military airlift wing


air mobility rodeo


the 60 amw team celebrating win general duncan mcnabb





1992 – 446th airlift wing
1993 - 440th airlift wing
1994 – 19th air refueling wing
1996 – 19th air refueling wing
1998 – 3d wing
2000 – 6th air mobility wing
2005 – 6th air mobility wing
2007 – 60th air mobility wing
2009 – 62d airlift wing
2011 - 314th airlift wing

best foreign team

1983 - 501 squadron - bisontes, portuguese air force (poaf)
1987 - ltg 62, german air force (gaf)
1992 - 501 squadron - bisontes, portuguese air force (poaf)






^ 2007 air mobility rodeo fact sheet
^ jeffery s. underwood (1990). airlift rodeo: brief history of airlift competitions, 1961–1989. office of mac history, scott air force base, illinois.
^ john f. kennedy: annual message congress on state of union
^ code 1 magazine online: second quarter 2005 - air mobility rodeo 2005
^ rodeo competition canceled . air mobility command public affairs. 18 march 2013. retrieved 24 july 2013. 
^ archived copy . archived original on 2014-03-14. retrieved 2014-03-14. 
^ roling, colin. https://web.archive.org/web/20130224183627/http://www.littlerock.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123270103. archived original on 2013-02-24.  missing or empty |title= (help)