US AFSOC awaits first Skytruck delivery from Poland

The US Air Force (USAF) Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has confirmed that it will receive the first of 10 Polskie Zaklady Lotnicze (PZL) Mielec M28 Skytruck short take-off and landing (STOL) light twin passenger and cargo aircraft in June.

They will be tasked as medium special operations forces (SOF) mobility aircraft and assigned to 318th Special Operations Squadron, 27th Special Operations Wing, at Cannon Air Force Base (AFB) in New Mexico. The squadron was reactivated in May 2008.

The Skytruck order was confirmed in February by Colonel JD Clem, deputy director of plans, programmes, requirements and assessments at the AFSOC. Explaining the order, Col Clem said: "If I want six guys to land on an unimproved strip the [Pilatus] PC-12 is not the plane to use."

Skytruck may also be used for the airdropping of equipment or small infiltration teams. The M28 has a maximum take-off weight of 7,000 kg, a 1,365 km range with a 1,000 kg payload and can carry a crew of three plus 12 paratroopers (or 18 passengers). 173 of 560 words