U.S.A.F. AC-130 Gunship, landing on Highway 63 in Bono, Arkansas to train aircrews on runway-agnostic operations to effectively work in contested spaces where traditional airfields may be unavailable or under threat. thank you George!

After the C-146A Wolfhound and MC-130J Commando II from the 492nd Special Operations Wing arrived on the highway, the crew established a setup for rapid refueling and arming with portable tanks, known as a Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP). This enabled the Ghostrider to land, refuel, rearm, and take off again from the five-lane highway.

The preparation included securing the landing zone in advance by cooperating with local law enforcement, the spokesperson added.

“The team worked with Craighead County and Bono Sheriff’s Department to put up barriers, as the law enforcement closed off U.S. 63 and a portion of 230,” the spokesperson said. “They also work with the Arkansas Department of Transportation as well.”

Afterwards, the Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing stepped in to execute takeoffs and landings with a C-130H transport aircraft on the site. The training saw eight pilots maneuvering the cargo aircraft on an unconventional runway in preparation for humanitarian and disaster relief missions.

The Air Force conducted similar highway landings in Michigan in 2022 with various aircraft, including the A-10, U-28A, C-145, C-146, and MC-12W. This marked the first integrated combat turn of an A-10 on a U.S. highway, where Airmen swiftly refueled and rearmed the aircraft while the engines were still running, allowing the jet to take off again as quickly as possible.

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/afsoc-highway-historic-ac-130j-landing