Sunrise and sunset

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Anthony Eads, 723d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron dedicated crew chief, takes part in a pre-flight inspection of HC-130P Combat King, tail number 64-4863, before its final flight on the morning of Aug. 6, 2014, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Members of the 71st Rescue Squadron flew the retiring aircraft to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., where it’s planned to spend the rest of its days. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)

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King’s history

HC-130P Combat King, tail number 64-4863, rests on the C-130 ramp at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., before its final flight Aug. 6, 2014. The aircraft arrived to the 71st Rescue Squadron in 1992 after the unit gained it from the 301st Air Rescue Squadron out of Homestead Air Force Base, Fla. Upon its retirement, the aircraft is now planned to spend the rest of its days at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)

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Dedication

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Anthony Eads, 723d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron dedicated crew chief, inspects HC-130P Combat King, tail number 64-4863, Aug. 6, 2014, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Eads became the aircraft’s assistant dedicated crew chief in 2010 and later its dedicated crew chief in 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)

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Winding down

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Rogelio Martinez, 71st Rescue Squadron flight engineer, performs a pre-flight inspection on HC-130P Combat King, tail number 64-4863, Aug. 6, 2014, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Martinez arrived to Moody in 2008 and became a C-130 flight engineer in 2010. The airframe is the last he will conduct work on before his retirement in early 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)

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Ready for takeoff

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. David Casson, HC-130 pilot, prepares HC-130P Combat King, tail number 64-4863, for flight to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Aug. 6, 2014, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. In addition to staying current on his pilot-training requirements, Casson serves as the 23d Wing chief of safety. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)

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Blades, check

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Todd Truran, 71st Rescue Squadron loadmaster, signals to a crew member as he checks rotor blades for HC-130P Combat King, tail number 64-4863, Aug. 6, 2014, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Truran and five other Airmen flew the retiring aircraft to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., to see it to its final resting place. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)

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Final moments

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Anthony Eads, 723d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron dedicated crew chief, stands in front of HC-130P Combat King, tail number 64-4863, as an air crew prepares it for flight Aug. 6, 2014, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The aircraft later began its journey to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., where it will spend the rest of its days in retirement. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)

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Cleared to go

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Chad Mitchell, 723d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron assistant dedicated crew chief, marshals HC-130P Combat King, tail number 64-4863, from the C-130 ramp at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Aug. 6, 2014. Mitchell has been the aircraft’s assistant dedicated crew chief since 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)

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On its way

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Chad Mitchell, 723d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron assistant dedicated crew chief, stands by as HC-130P Combat King, tail number 64-4863, taxis to the flightline at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Aug. 6, 2014. A 71st Rescue Squadron air crew flew the retiring C-130 to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., where it’s planned to spend the rest of its days. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)

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Combat King begins journey to new home

Published Aug. 6, 2014

Sunrise and sunset

King’s history

Dedication

Winding down

Ready for takeoff

Blades, check

Final moments

Cleared to go

On its way