DC10FE

Oh, I forgot to mention FE Mark Buchner. He's was an FE, now FO with Atlas Air & occassionally flies this:

Kim/Jim, You guys are bringing up names from the past that I haven't thought of in decades! Remember an FE everyone called Slug? Hollywood Wells? In my 23 1/2 years in the USAF, my all-time favorite commander LtCol Wells? I'm still in contact with Steve Sullivan & Tim Harkness. Steve works in C-17 training at Scott AFB & owns a bar called Sully's. Go figure. Don R.

Cardinal, I take it you've made up your mind -- Germany. Excellent choice. I spent 2 tours at Rhein Main; 1967 -1970 & 1977 - 1983. The best assignments I ever had, although the Philippines runs a very close second. Don R.

Great idea, Casey. Some of Lars Olausson's earlier books have the dates and locations of the USAF C-130 units. I'll dig one of them out -- once it gets too chilly to float arouond my pool. Don R.

End of conversation. Don R.

Bob, I'm surprised you didn't turn around at the next exit and chase it down!!! Don R.

Jim, Wow! Tony Nazzario! I haven't thought of him in more than 30 years. I think I did a Bat 60 rote with him in Saudi. Don R.

When I was in the 37th at Rhein Main, the three 1800 series airplanes were parked in amongst our airplanes. One time, my AC (last name Schaefer), paced off the wingspan of one of them. He was immediately jacked up by the Security Police. Later, he said the wingspan was longer. Don R.

63, There was a thread on this forum a few years ago about a guy who had the manuals on CD's. Check this out: Click here: C-130 Manuals Don R.

A friend of mine was a loadmaster in the 7405th at Rhein Main. He told me one time in Athens (I think), someone came up to the crew and told them that their tail number belonged to an airplane that had crashed years ago. He was also a bartender at the American Legion in Waldorf. Yeah, you know who I'm talkin' about Hush. Don R.

George, Quite a coincidence -- I ordered that book & it arrived in the mail last Saturday (9/21). I haven't had a chance to get into it yet, but there are some interesting pics; even one of 56-0528. The black C-130E's you refer to are most likely the MC-130E's from the 7th SOS. Don R.

My last flight on a Herc was in December 1995 ferrying a C-130H from Luanda, Angola to La Paz. We were returning it there after a dry lease from the Bolivian Air Force. The Filipino captain was a heavy chain smoker and was physically sick for the 3 days we were there even though the city is about 2,000' below the airport elevation. Don R.

I watched this movie last night. Since there was a C-130 featured in the beginning, I drove my girlfriend nuts pausing & rewinding while trying to make out which one it was. She finally called a halt to my doings, called me an idiot and said it was a computer generated model. After that, we just sat back and enjoyed the movie. As usual, though, the film industry took some liberties & used a 727 cockpit for the interior shots. Pretty good movie overall, though. Don R.

I haven't a clue who sent me this picture. From the captioning, it seems to be a simulator model. I think loading it would be a problem unless they had water-borne K-loaders, too. Don R.

Here it is, John. Don R.

Check the gallery 4058d. Don R.

I agree, it was just a prototype model. If I remember correctly, it also had a single wheel MLG on each side and was going to be a 2-man cockpit. Don R.

Bob, In the gallery, there is a photo of 3116 on display at Santa Lucia AB (nose only). Also, I had heard that 4200 at Georgetown, DE had been scrapped. Don R. Don I heard that too but the Museum still shows it there. I'll try to check it out. Mexico has 2 A's on display at Santa Lucia. 3116 3607 Nose only and 3087 3606 complete. Near the gate. I saw it on GE. Bob

Could be. I just don't remember any revetments on Rebel Ramp back in 1965/1966. Don R.

I just read that Erikson Aero Air of Oregon will be operating 7 DC-9-87's (MD-87) as fire bombers. They will be replacing the P-2 Neptunes. Wonder what the DC-9's capacity is? Don R.

Thanks, Dave. After I posted the above, I thought about it a lot. I didn't really think they would use a C-17 for that mission, so a Bae 146 came to mind. Like I said, it was just a 2 or 3 second clip. Don R.

I've related this story before in another post, but back in the winter of 1963, I was an A/3C at Langley AFB, VA. I was up on the wing of a B-model sweeping snow off of the wings with a big shop broom. I slid off and landed in a snow drift twice. My crew chief told me to get back up there, but this time to carry a big screwdriver with me. That was all the safety equipment I had. Like Giz said, "my how the world turns." Of course, back then no one wore ear protection either. No wonder I can't hear crap. Don R.

Yeah, I'd buy some. That's neat! Don R.

On the network news last night, there was a news clip of the fires in California. A 2 or 3 second shot showed what looked like a C-17 dropping slurry on a fire. Are they being used along with the C-130's? Don R.

If I had not flown commercial Hercs, I'd have no idea what you guys are talking about. So, for all you old farts on this forum, here's an image of the newer engine instrument panel. This is from Frameair's Herc, PJ-TAC (msn 5225). The beta lights are by the torque indicators. If I remember correctly, they are green. Below them are the engine inlet anit-icing lights; blue, I think. There are also low oil pressure lights (red) and oil cooler augmentation valve lights (color?). Don R.