Loadmasters at the 103rd Airlift Wing helped develop the first Virtual Loadmaster Training System, which recently became fully operational at Bradley Air National Guard Base, Connecticut, the Air Force said in a recent news release. The VLTS is the first loadmaster training system of its kind, and was developed over three years in collaboration between the 103rd and defense contractor Capewell Aerial Systems. Wearing virtual-reality goggles, trainees are able to get a 360-degree perspective on the C-130 Hercules aircraft, enabling realistic training. It also enables loadmaster trainees to experience in-flight emergencies too dangerous to train on otherwise, such as an airdrop of heavy cargo using two 28-foot extraction parachutes, known as a double-28 extraction. Officials said they will continue to develop the VLTS program. Read more at AF.mil.