Kanto 21 on the ramp at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The C-130H carries 6,700 US gallons (25,362 litres) of fuel in six integral wing tanks; the external tanks under the wing each have a capacity of 1,300 US gallons (4,921 litres).

Kanto 22 flying over mainland Japan. Restrictions on low flying mean the squadron regularly deploys to Thailand and Singapore for training.

The area of responsibility for the 36th AS is huge, covering 50% of the world's surface, and stretching from Afghanistan to Guam in the Pacific Ocean.

Five of the C-130Hs assigned to the 36th AS, with the 374th AW high-visibility aircraft (74-1655) heading the line.

C-130H 74-1669 assigned to the 36th AS undergoing its extensive two-week inspection by the 374th Maintenance Squadron isochronal inspection team at Yokota, in the ISO dock.

The ISO dock inspection on an older C-130H requires 9.7 maintenance hours per flying hour, a figure which will drastically reduce as C-130Js are put into service.

The first of 14 C-130Js will arrive at Yokota in October 2016 as the process to begin replacing the Hs begins.

Lt Col John Kerr (pilot/aircraft commander), Capt Max Mallory (co-pilot), Lt Mike Dzyndra (navigator) and SSgt John Denman (flight engineer) in the cockpit of Kanto 21 as it manoeuvres near the Izu Peninsula on the Pacific coast of Honshu, Japan.

Loadmasters SSgt Joel Brenner (left) and SrA Nathanial Bennett (right) securing an airdrop bundle on Kanto 21. The C-130H has a maximum load of either six pallets, 74 litters, 16 container delivery system bundles, 92 combat troops or 64 paratroopers - or a combination of any of these.