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The guests were two members of Congress but it was 6-year-old Nathan Arrington who stole the show Thursday afternoon at Dyess Air Force Base.

His father, U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, invited fellow Republican and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Mac Thornberry, to Abilene for an August recess visit. While the two congressmen talked to airmen and learned more about their jobs and their planes, Nathan got to sit in the pilot's seat of both a C-130J Super Hercules and B-1B Lancer.

Capt. Jesse Moulton, a C-130 pilot who hopes to become an aircraft commander this month, sat in the co-pilot's seat and answered Nathan's many questions — questions most adults would have, too.

Life is good for an airman when he or she gets to talk up their aircraft.

Later, Maj. Amanda Foxworthy, in the less roomy B-1 cockpit, provided details about the bomber. This time, dad and Thornberry were listening in, too.

The congressmen's visit served several purposes. It was Thornberry's first visit to Dyess as chairman and gave him a chance to see the base that could become home to the B-21 bomber in the 2020s. It also gave both congressmen a chance to see how the men and women at Dyess were faring.

Both emphasized that military spending will increase after dropping 18 percent since 2010. And while planes and what they can do are impressive, it's the people in uniform who come first, each said. Noted was the need to add 1,500 pilots and 3,000 maintenance personnel in the Air Force to take the strain off those now in those jobs.

"We are growing the size of the Air Force," Thornberry promised.

He said the task of those in Congress is to make sure "the men and women who volunteer their lives to protect (our) freedoms have the best equipment, best training and best support. That's our job in Congress. This reinforces our determination to do our jobs."

And while Dyess and Abilene hope to land the next generation bomber, the B-1 and C-130 wings at the base will remain critical to the nation's defense.

"The B-1 will be very important for years to come," said Thornberry, noting recent B-1 presence near North Korea "sent a message to Kim Jong-un that the United States would not tolerate that country's leader's threats."

"These two aircraft," he said, "will be central to our security for years."

The congressmen had time to shake hands and express their appreciation to C-130 and B-1 crews. They were joined by outgoing air base commander Col. David M. Benson.

"Thank you for what you do," Arrington said upon arrival in the massive hangar, where Friday's change of command ceremony also will be held. A C-130J was parked at the north end, with a B-1 at the south end. "We're honored you serve this base and this community. We are glad to be here. This is a big deal."

The congressmen also asked questions about maintenance and capabilities. They were shown, for example, the bombing module, which can hold 10 matched or mixed weapons that can be dropped on multiple targets in a single bombing run.

They met airmen such as Capt. Brandon Maty, who called himself a "J baby," meaning he only has flown the J model of the hauler. Those replaced the H model in recent years. There are 28 C-130Js at Dyess.

Maty said the J model is "significantly better" than the H because it's faster but slows quickly yet "can carry more stuff."

Airmen were asked about deployment. Staff Sgt. Chad Hurt, a loadmaster, said he spends less than half the year at home. Thornberry expressed his appreciation that "you're willing to do that" and promised to "get relief."

While the adults talked business, Nathan Arrington, wearing a flag pin on his blue-sky polo shirt, collected patches of the base's two C-130 squadrons — the Trailblazers (39th) and Screaming Eagles (40th) — and a miniature B-1B model.

Why do you have propellers, he asked Moulton.

"Propellers are better," Moulton said.

Where is your microphone?

"We usually wear headsets," Moulton said.

Why don't you have a wheel (to steer the C-130 on the ground)?

"That's the pilot's job," Moulton said.

Are you the pilot?

"Soon," Moulton said.

Foxworthy, who has been in the Air Force since 2001 and a B-1B commander for five years, said she enjoyed showing the youngster what it's like in the cramped cockpit of the bomber.

"I love kids," she said.

Asked later which plane he liked best, Nathan Arrington pointed to the B-1B.

"That one," he said, scoring more points with Foxworthy.

Before going to Dyess, the congressmen were guests at a luncheon at McMurry University, where they met members of the Military Affairs Committee of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce.

Arrington will be back at the base Friday morning for the ceremony that brings Col. Brandon D. Parker to Dyess.

https://www.reporternews.com/story/news/local/big-country/2017/08/03/congressmen-and-pilot-to-be-inspect-dyess-planes/538369001/