The C-130J, originally foisted by Congress on an Air Force that didn’t really want it, has since become a staple of the U.S. and many foreign air forces. The House Appropriations Committee approved $1.1 billion for 11 Js in its version of the 2012 spending bill compared to $988.2 billion approved by their Senate colleagues. One of the fun parts of attending the big air shows is the rare chance to hop on a plane and get a close-up view of its capabilities. Enjoy the ride and get a glimpse of what this plane can do. What you can’t really see is the high and tight takeoff or feel how stable the aircraft is in flight.