USAF Special Operations - Non-standard Aviation
United States Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) intra-theater airlift fleet currently operate a number of light and medium Non-Standard Aircraft (NSAv) .
These aircraft are mostly used for insertion, extraction and resupply operations in situations where the much larger MC-130 Combat Talon or Commando II aircraft are unsuitable. They typically are painted in civilian schemes in order to provide a more clandestine profile.
U-28A / Pilatus PC-12
The U-28A is a light, single-engined aircraft used for airborne surveillance and the clandestine movement of troops and supplies.
more info: U-28A Light Aircraft
M-28 Skytruck
In 2009 AFOSC ordered 10 M-28 Skytrucks for the non-standard aviation role. The aircraft, designated as the C-145A, can carry up to 19 passengers or up to 19,000lbs of cargo. The Skytruck is operated by the 318th Special Operations Squadron.
update: AFSOC's C-145As transferred from the 318th SOS to the 6th SOS in April 2013. The aircraft will be flown in support of the 6th SOS's aviation foreign internal defense (AVFID) mission. The C-145a will also be flown by the 711th Special Operations Squadron, 919th Special Operations Wing, the reserve counterpart of the active duty 6th SOS.
Q-200
The Q-200 is a variant of the Bombardier Dash 8 medium-range turboprop civilian aircraft. AFSOC has reportedly leased 4 Q-200s in 2008 and 2009 as a stop-gap measure while a permanent medium aircraft is decided on for the non-standard aviation role. The Q-200 can carry up to 39 passengers and features an Active Noise and Vibration Suppression (ANVS). The Q-200 is operated by the 524th Special Operations Squadron (524th SOS) out of Cannon AFB.
update: the 524th SOS new operate the C-146A Wolfhound instead of the Q-200 (see below).
C-146A Wolfhound
The Dornier 328 is a turboprop aircraft typically used by civilian airlines as a commuter airliner. AFSOC flies the DO-328, designated by the air force as the C-146A Wolfhound, in support of special operations forces. The C-146A is operated by the 524th SOS. The 6th SOS also operates the Wolfhound, flying it on the Foreign Internal Defense (FID) mission.
More Non-standard Aviation Aircraft
The secretive 427th Special Operations Squadron is beleived to operate a number of covert transport aircraft, including C212 variants, CN235 and PC-6 airframes.
for more info on these aircraft see : 427th Special Operations Squadron
