Powidz: jets out, cargo in

Located in the center of Poland and equipped with one of the longest runways in Europe, the "33 Baza Lotnicza Powidz" is an ideal transport base. After having served as a bomber and reconnaissance base for more than forty years, the last Su-22 Fitters left in 2008. Due to the growing need of transport aircraft, Powidz was transformed into a transport base and became the host of the newly established 14th Airlift Squadron (14 ELT).

Apart from the new transport role, Powidz is also used for the processing of Open Skies missions and houses a maintenance facility for the M-28.

14 ELT received its first aircraft on November 22nd 2007 in the shape of the M-28. The PZL M-28 Skytruck is a Polish Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) light cargo and passenger plane, produced by PZL Mielec, as a development of licence-built Antonov An-28.

In March 2009 the transport capacity of 14 ELT was boosted with the arrival of the first refurbished Lockheed C-130E Hercules. Four more 'Hercs' are on order and will be delivered in the near future. The new plane expands the Polish air force's ability to transport troops and equipment, while providing support for evacuation and humanitarian operations. Its presence in the Polish fleet will also increase their interoperability with other air forces because the C-130 is used by several nations around the world, to include NATO allies.