2016
205 topics in this forum
-
- 0 replies
- 833 views
The Defence Ministry today approved the buying of one C-130 J Super Hercules aircraft, worth about Rs 900 crore, to replace the one that had crashed in 2014 killing five crew members, including four officers. The decision to purchase a new one was taken by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. The aircraft, worth over Rs 900 crore, had crashed while practising a tactical operation along with another C-130J Super Hercules aircraft after taking off from Agra on March 28, 2014. The IAF had inducted six C-130J Super Hercules aircraft which were bought from the US at a cost of around Rs 6,000 crore (USD 1 billion) in 2010. In…
Last reply by casey, -
-
- 0 replies
- 963 views
There were many happy reunions on Monday at the Delaware Air National Guard Base when about 60 airmen returned home from their recent deployments serving overseas. Families and friends dotted the tarmac to greet the members of the 166th Airlift Wing as they returned home from taking part in Operation Freedom Sentinel. The group was comprised of pilots, crew, and maintenance teams operating the C-130s that transport personnel and cargo. Staff Sgt. Matthew Secamiglio embraced his children and wife after he got off the plane. He said the family had tried to stay in touch using technology and social media, but that didn't compare to reuniting in person. "Everythin…
Last reply by casey, -
- 4 replies
- 1.6k views
Lockheed Martin recently delivered two C-130J Super Hercules to the U.S. Air Force. On June 10, an Air Force crew ferried an MC-130J Commando II multimission combat transport/special operations tanker, assigned to the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico An Air Force crew from Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, visited Lockheed Martin’s site here to ferry an HC-130J Combat King II, on June 9. The HC-130J is the Air Force’s only dedicated fixed-wing personnel recovery platform and is flown by Air Combat Command ferry (ACC). Source:http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/press-releases/2016/june/double-delivery…
Last reply by Metalbasher, -
- 0 replies
- 893 views
The Vice-president of the American Lockheed Martin’s Dennys Plessas said the Egypt will receive two C-130Js Super Hercules military transport aircraft. Aircraft to be delivered to Egypt in 2019. Egypt It will be the seventeenth international customer for the C-130J military transport aircraft. The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. The C-130J is a comprehensive update of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, with new engines, flight deck, and other systems. The Hercules family has the longest continuous production run of any military aircraft in history. Source: http://defence-blog.com/news/egypt…
Last reply by casey, -
- 1 reply
- 1.3k views
After 33 years of providing aerial firefighting support with the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS), maintainers from the North Carolina Air National Guard’s, 145th Airlift Wing, loaded the last portable fire retardant delivery system in to the back of a C-130 belonging to the 152nd Airlift Wing to be transported to its new home with the Nevada Air National Guard, on Sept. 7, 2016. “It was a challenging, and at times demanding mission of which was highly satisfying”, said Col. Marshall Collins, commander, 145th Airlift Wing. In 2015 alone, the 145th flew 30 MAFFS sorties and over 34.9 flight hours resulting in 38 drops for a total of over 754,000 pounds o…
Last reply by smokeybehr, -
- 0 replies
- 1.8k views
Marshall Aerospace and Defense Group is celebrating 50 years of supporting the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force’s fleet of Lockheed Martin Hercules C-130s. The fleet of 24 C-130Js is currently maintained under the innovative Hercules Integrated Operational Support (HIOS) program, which debuted in 2006 and focusses on meeting the RAF’s immediate and long-term operational capabilities, through maintenance and upgrades to improve front line availability. “…50 years of world class partnership between the RAF, Lockheed Martin and Marshall Aerospace and Defense Group.” Over 90 RAF C-130 aircraft supported 2016 also marks the 10th anniversary of C-130 support …
Last reply by casey, -
- 0 replies
- 1.5k views
In the night-time skies of rural NSW, trainee Hercules pilots and loadmasters have been flying their aircraft with the aid of Night-Vision Goggles, manuevering at low-level and landing on dirt airstrips. From 8-17 June, No. 285 Squadron conducted an Airborne Operations Training Course from RAAF Base Richmond with pilots and loadmasters for the C-130J Hercules transport aircraft. For these members, the course forms the culmination of six-months training to operate the Hercules, and tests their skills in operating the aircraft at low-level, formation flying, the use of night-vision equipment, and airdrop of cargo. Once these members graduate from this course,…
Last reply by casey, -
- 0 replies
- 1.2k views
The LM-100J Super Hercules (c/n 5818 ) commercial freighter is moving through pivotal production milestones, most recently completing body mate and wing installation at the Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) facility here. The LM-100J is the commercial version of Lockheed Martin’s proven C-130J Super Hercules aircraft — the unmatched tactical military airlifter of choice for 17 nations. The LM-100J will perform as a commercial, multi-purpose air freighter capable of rapid and efficient cargo transport. The LM-100J Super Hercules (c/n 5818 ) commercial freighter is moving through pivotal production milestones, most recently completing body mate and wing installation…
Last reply by casey, -
- 1 reply
- 1.6k views
The first Lockheed Martin LM-100J (c/n 5818) commercial freighter aircraft has reached major production assembly milestones at Aeronautics sites located here; Meridian, Mississippi; and Clarksburg, West Virginia. Wing production has begun in Marietta, which is home to the C-130J Super Hercules final assembly line. Other structural parts are in production at the Meridian and Clarksburg facilities. The LM-100J is the civil-certified version of Lockheed Martin's proven C-130J Super Hercules and an updated version of the L-100 (or L-382) cargo aircraft. "Watching the LM-100J move from concept to reality is monumental for everyone involved, including our team m…
Last reply by BRlang, -
- 0 replies
- 1.4k views
Only a quarter of France's Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules transport fleet is available for service at any point in time, official figures show. According to the numbers, the availability of France's 14 C-130s reached a nadir in 2015 with a weak 26.2% availability rate, equivalent to only 3 or 4 aircraft flyable at any time. An aircraft is said to be available when it can fulfil its mission within six hours of schedule. France's C-130 fleet, now 30 years old on average, had a 72% availability rate in 2011 but this has since been steadily going down. However an upgrade program was decided on in the middle of the year, with the delivery of modernized aircraft expec…
Last reply by casey, -
- 0 replies
- 907 views
France is buying missiles, sensors and fire control equipment so they can quickly convert their C-130J transports to gunships. This is done using a version of the Harvest Hawk kits developed by the U.S. Marine Corps. First use was in 2010 over Afghanistan and were a success. This "instant gunship" system works by packaging weapons and sensors so they can be quickly rolled into a C-130 transport and hooked up. This takes a few hours and turns the C-130 into a gunship (similar in capabilities existing AC-130 gunships). The Harvest Hawk sensor package consists of day/night vidcams with magnification capability. The weapons currently consist of ten Griffin missile la…
Last reply by casey, -
- 0 replies
- 1k views
Germany and France announced plans on Tuesday (Oct 4) to share an air base and transport planes as part of a military shake-up in the wake of Britain's vote to quit the European Union. The two countries signed an agreement with a view to sharing C-130J Super Hercules military transport planes, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in Paris. His German counterpart Ursula von der Leyen, in Paris to sign the deal, told reporters both countries wanted to have the new arrangement in place by 2021. France ordered four C-130Js from US company Lockheed in January. Germany was looking to acquire between four and six of the same aircraft and to base th…
Last reply by casey, -
- 0 replies
- 2k views
Reuters reports that Germany could be buying the C-130 from Lockheed Martin as the A400M is considered too big and wide to operate out of certain runways. Two sources said the decision is unrelated to the current issues with the A400M and the Luftwaffe has a requirement for up to 10 aircraft. Source: http://air.dfns.net/2016/03/17/germany-could-become-newest-operator-of-c-130/ View full article
Last reply by casey, -
- 1 reply
- 1.7k views
The German Federal Ministry of Defense is in talks with partner nations to jointly operate a limited fleet of C-130 Hercules aircraft, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the discussions are underway with the Netherlands, the US, Britain and France, all of whom have C-130s in their inventory. The US operates more than a dozen C-130s of the 86th Airlift Wing from German soil. The German air force is pushing for a transport aircraft smaller than the Airbus A400M for operations on small and poorly fortified airfields. The deployment of Bundeswehr troops in the North African country of Mali …
Last reply by casey, -
- 0 replies
- 1.1k views
Germany is set to buy and operate four to six Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft in a joint effort with France, German reports say on Tuesday 4 October. Berlin with such a move clearly shows it doesn’t have much faith in the Airbus A400M, which is now being delivered to the German Luftwaffe at a painfully slow rate while also showing shortcomings for which Berlin seeks compensation. The Hercules aircraft are to be delivered in 2021 and based in France, according to sources. They would be fitted especially for special operations and be able to operate from unpaved runways. Signal If anything, the purchase is a clear signal to Airbus that t…
Last reply by casey, -
- 0 replies
- 1.1k views
BodyText Developmental testing of the next generation AC-130J Ghostrider gunship has been suspended until the first 105 mm gun-armed aircraft is delivered, Air Force Materiel Command boss Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski said. After reviewing the original C-130J flight test data after the mishap that totaled the first AC-130J prototype, testers found that the gunship was similar enough to the base-model aircraft that repeating certain tests would be redundant, Air Force Special Operations Command boss Lt. Gen. Bradley Heithold added. Furthermore, there is very little point to continuing developmental testing “prior to the addition of that gun,” which will equip the producti…
Last reply by casey, -
- 0 replies
- 888 views
Little Rock AFB, Ark. -- The 913th Airlift Group flew its final C-130H mission Jan. 28, as the wing prepared to transition to the J-model of the venerable Hercules transporter. This flight means the mission for the 913th has officially changed from the “H” to the “J” model,” said Lt. Col. Keith Jasmin, chief of current operations for the 913th Operations Support Squadron. “We’ve been balancing both, but now, we transition to the J.”From its modest beginnings in October 2010, as 22nd Air Force Detachment One, the 913 AG has grown from two Airmen to more than 800. The group’s personnel flew, maintained and supported the Air Force mission in 14 C-130H Hercules. But …
Last reply by casey, -
- 0 replies
- 946 views
The C-130 Hercules, a behemoth of an aircraft, shook as it raised, causing a deafening roar. Everyone wore earplugs, and everyone was well aware of where the barf bags were. Local media were invited aboard the Hercules as part of a search and rescue demo on Thursday, but it felt pretty real -- especially when some members of the media lost their lunch and some members of the Canadian Air Force 424 Squadron, based out of Trenton, parachuted out of Hercules at roughly 2,000 feet. The scenario involved a local pilot of a C-185 Amphib Float Plane C-GCYS on a Visual Flight Rules plan that was en route from Killarney direct to Sudbury. Shortly after taking off, he rep…
Last reply by casey, -
- 0 replies
- 834 views
The aircraft served as an integral part of the 139th Airlift Wing, Missouri Air National Guard. It will be displayed alongside many vehicles of historical significance. These include an F-15 Eagle, an all-weather air superiority fighter; an F-4 Phantom II, one of the most versatile fighters ever built; a WWII Sherman tank, named after Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman; a Vietnam Sheridan tank, an amphibious light tank; a Bell AH-1 Cobra, an attack helicopter that entered combat in September 1967; and an armored Hammerhead, a tank destroyer. "This aircraft was one of the first made in April 1957 at Lockheed's Marietta, Ga. plant. It has seen service all over the world,…
Last reply by casey, -
- 0 replies
- 1.1k views
A piece of history flew home Friday to Rosecrans Memorial Airport. Pony One (86-1391 c/n 5093 ), also known as the Flying Submarine, made what maybe its last flight which would bring to an end 13,948.7 hours of flying that began in 1986, said Col. Ed Black, vice commander of the 139th Airlift Wing and the pilot on the last flight. It got its nickname during the massive flood of 1993. Pony One was in a hanger for an overhaul when the flood struck and water cascaded into the plane climbing up to engine intakes. “The plane had 10 inches of water on the flight deck,” said Master Sgt. Kent Bohart, a C-130 transport plane load master. Loc…
Last reply by casey, -
- 0 replies
- 997 views
Robins Air Force Base could soon earn the title of Center of Excellence for C-130 maintenance. Congressman Austin Scott of the 8th District says the House Armed Services Committee included language in the National Defense Acquisition Act that would protect the work done by Air Force depots, particularly on the C-130. Scott says the original version of the bill included language that "attacked the depots" and questioned their limited capacity to handle the workload and suggested moving the work out of the depots. He says he fought to remove that language. Instead, the approved version of the bill asks the Air Force to provide a report on the capacity at a…
Last reply by casey, -
- 0 replies
- 955 views
Robins Air Force Base could soon earn the title of Center of Excellence for C-130 maintenance. Congressman Austin Scott of the 8th District says the House Armed Services Committee included language in the National Defense Acquisition Act that would protect the work done by Air Force depots, particularly on the C-130. Scott says the original version of the bill included language that "attacked the depots" and questioned their limited capacity to handle the workload and suggested moving the work out of the depots. He says he fought to remove that language. Instead, the approved version of the bill asks the Air Force to provide a report on the capacity at a…
Last reply by casey, -
- 0 replies
- 1.1k views
While post tropical storm Hermine has been downgraded from its previous status as a hurricane, it is still producing strong winds and dangerous riptides as it now sits in the Atlantic Ocean off the East Coast. That's why special weather observation planes are now based at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station to help monitor the storm. 2 On Your Side spoke with their crew members earlier Monday. C-130 cargo planes are a common sight at the Niagara Falls airbase but these particular C-130 J weather planes are known as Hurricane Hunters. They are actually from an Air Force Reserve unit in Mississippi and they've been brought to the Falls to track the storm system kn…
Last reply by casey, -
- 0 replies
- 1.2k views
OVER THE ATLANTIC OCEAN -- A seven-member crew from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Unit -- the Hurricane Hunters -- took off from Keesler Air Force Base at exactly midnight Saturday. During the 10.6 hours they were in the air, the winter storm pounding the East Coast dropped 19 inches of snow on Washington, caused widespread flooding in New Jersey and left 150,000 homes and businesses in North Carolina without power. That data was relayed to 1st Lt. Leesa Froelich, the mission's on-board meteorologist, otherwise the crew would have no way of knowing any of it. Their mission was to fly into, or rather above, what is being widely considered one o…
Last reply by casey, -
- 0 replies
- 1k views
The Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flew a fix mission Sept. 1 out of Keesler Air Force Base into Tropical Storm Hermine, which was upgraded to a hurricane mid-flight. In the afternoon, Hermine had max wind speeds of 70 mph at the surface, with a center about 110 miles due south of Panama City Beach, Florida, and was heading north, northeast at 16 mph. Hermine is the first named storm to hit the Gulf in the 2016 hurricane season and the first to hit the Florida coast since 2005. This mission was flown at 5,000 feet above the surface of the ocean at an average of 350 mph to collect data for the National Hurricane Center. The top of a typical …
Last reply by casey,