Jump to content

Robins Air Museum


EClark
 Share

Recommended Posts

Resting Place for a Red Dragon Herk: A 47-year-old C-130E, one of the Air Force's oldest Hercules aircraft and the veteran of a harrowing rescue decades ago, landed for the last time at Robins AFB, Ga., for display at the adjacent Museum of Aviation. Aircraft # 63-7868 arrived at Robins on Tuesday, reported the Macon Telegraph. On Nov. 23, 1964, this aircraft was among the C-130s that participated in Operation Dragon Rouge to rescue 2,000 western hostages held by rebels in Stanleyville in the former Republic of the Congo. Damaged by rebel fire departing Stanleyville, aircraft # 63-7868 continued 800 miles on three engines, delivering its passengers to safety and earning its crew the MacKay Trophy for the most meritorious flight of that year. Previously assigned to the 314th Airlift Wing at Little Rock AFB, Ark., this C-130E is the museum's second Hercules variant, joining an AC-130 gunship already on display. (See also Museum of Aviation release)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I crewed 63-7868 while I was in E-Flight from late 1973 to late 1974. It was a Good aircraft for the special missions that we had all over South East Asia and points North. Another E-Flight crew chief for 63-7868 was Fred Peffer who was with E-Flight from the Naha days.

Please see the link from the Museum of Aviation at Robins AFB. below

Sincerely

EFLTatCCK

Vince Acquaviva Jr

former Crew chief 63-7868 (E-Flight)

http://www.airforce-magazine.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/Reports/2011/September%202011/Day08/AviationMuseum_C-130E_090211.pdf

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

That would probably news to 74-1686 YMC-130H (Remaining Credible Sport aircraft)
They're getting rid of the Credible Sport airplane because it has no historical value. Robins is releasing it back to the USAFM to dispose of it as they see fit. If there's a place for it, it should be at Hurlburt.

We're having the 2012 Troop Carrier/Tactical Airlift Association convention at Warner Robins October 17-21, 2012. We'll be going up to Marietta to Lockheed on Friday. Keep an eye on www.troopcarrier.org for details.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They're getting rid of the Credible Sport airplane because it has no historical value.

In another thread, US Herk wrote this about Credible Sport's historical value. I agree with him,

Don R.

"The Credible Sport aircraft is historically significant regardless of whether or not that aircraft ever actually flew, or if any of them ever actually accomplished their intended goal. Why do they keep all sorts of one-off aircraft like the XB-70 Valkyrie or some of those goofy helicopter experiments? Because they furthered the USAF mission one way or another. Credible Sport was a daring answer to an incredible challenge, one we didn't have the political backbone for. The crash was tragic, but from the ashes of Eagle Claw/Desert One, and everything that went into it, to include the Credible Sport program, rose the phoenix of SOCOM and AFSOC. Had that not happened, where would we be today in The War Against Terror? How could we quickly respond? Where would we have been in Haiti when STS controllers worked more aircraft into Port Au Prince than Miami International all on a card table and walkie talkie? Where would we have been in any of our recent conflicts? Who would have led the Apaches in on night one of Desert Storm? Who would've taken out Bin Laden?

No, Credible Sport is more historically significant for what it did not accomplish than a "dime a dozen" aircraft any day..."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

In another thread, US Herk wrote this about Credible Sport's historical value. I agree with him,

Don R.

"The Credible Sport aircraft is historically significant regardless of whether or not that aircraft ever actually flew, or if any of them ever actually accomplished their intended goal. Why do they keep all sorts of one-off aircraft like the XB-70 Valkyrie or some of those goofy helicopter experiments? Because they furthered the USAF mission one way or another. Credible Sport was a daring answer to an incredible challenge, one we didn't have the political backbone for. The crash was tragic, but from the ashes of Eagle Claw/Desert One, and everything that went into it, to include the Credible Sport program, rose the phoenix of SOCOM and AFSOC. Had that not happened, where would we be today in The War Against Terror? How could we quickly respond? Where would we have been in Haiti when STS controllers worked more aircraft into Port Au Prince than Miami International all on a card table and walkie talkie? Where would we have been in any of our recent conflicts? Who would have led the Apaches in on night one of Desert Storm? Who would've taken out Bin Laden?

No, Credible Sport is more historically significant for what it did not accomplish than a "dime a dozen" aircraft any day..."

Not really. For something to be historical, it has to have made history. Credible Sport was a failed design and has no historical significance. As far as his "where would we be," where were we already long before the SOCOM and AFSOC were created? The Air Force has had a rapid response capability for a long time. That's why the C-130 was developed in the first place. Does this guy think air traffic control was pioneered in Haiti? I remember a time when Tan Son Nhut was the busiest airport in the world, with more takeoffs and landings than Chicago O'Hare. The XB-70 led to the B-1. The Credible Sport airplane didn't lead to anything. It's a curiosity and that is all. If someone wants to display it, truck it down to Hurlburt.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...