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fltsload

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core_pfieldgroups_2

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    Mike
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    Toppin

core_pfieldgroups_3

  • core_pfield_11
    AFMC Stan/Eval C-130 Flight Test Loadmaster. Retired 1997
    Qualified on C-130A, DC-130A, C-130B, JC-130B, KC-130F, NC-130B, C-130E, EC-130E, MC-130E, C-130H, AC-130H, HC-130H, JC-130H, MC-130H, NC-130H, AC-130U, EC-130V, KC-130T
    3 MAPS, Pope AFB. 6514 TS, 514 FLTS, Hill AFB. 418 FLTS, Edwards AFB.

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  1. From Air Force News, http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/1104487/afs-1st-hc-130-takes-its-final-flight-to-retirement.aspx PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- After more than 50 years of faithful service and rescue missions spanning the globe, King 52, the first HC-130P/N configured for Air Force rescue in 1964, retired March 6, 2017. Accompanied by its 920th Rescue Wing dedicated crew chiefs and a nostalgic aircrew, the aircraft, tail number 4852, heads to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, from Patrick AFB, Florida, where it has been stationed since mid-2015. “It was about to retire when we acquired it from Moody Air Force Base,(Georgia),” said Tech. Sgt. Norberto Nieves, a 720th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron expeditor and former crew chief to King 52. “It was a work horse; that’s for sure.” “It’s sad to see it go,” the San Juan, Puerto Rico, native continued. “As crew chiefs, we dedicate a lot of time, sweat, and sometimes blood to these aircraft. They become a part of us.” Tech. Sgt. Matthew White, a 720th AMXS King 52’s dedicated crew chief, said while the aircraft was out of commission with a major maintenance issue for a good portion of the time he had it, he’s still upset to see it retire. “Like Nieves said, these aircraft become a part of you and it’s tough to see something you’ve worked so hard on go into retirement,” said White, a Spokane, Washington, native. “The most rewarding part of being a dedicated crew chief is seeing the aircraft you spent so many hours on takeoff and come back home safe and sound.” During its time at Patrick AFB, King 52 flew local training missions as well as missions to Key West, Florida, and across the country to Davis-Monthan AFB. Maj. Nick Philpitt, the 920th Rescue Wing Inspector General Inspections chief and an HC-130 navigator, said he flew King 52 a handful of times and is honored to be part of the aircraft’s final flight. “I haven't flown a lot of missions with #52; however, it is somewhat sentimental to be flying her to retirement denoting it's the end of an era,” said Philpitt, an Orlando, Florida, native. “Like a classic car that you've owned and driven, an airplane become(s) an extension of you. Putting it to bed for the last time is moving." King 52's career ends with the Air Force Materiel Command’s 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, where it will be stored in the “boneyard” with other retired military and government aircraft. As for the 920th RQW’s HC-130P/N maintenance crews, they continue to work hard at home and abroad ensuring the fleet is rescue-ready. The HC-130P/N is the only dedicated fixed-wing combat search and rescue platform in the Air Force inventory. The mission of the HC-130P/N "King" is to rapidly deploy to austere airfields and denied territory in order to execute, all weather personnel recovery operations anytime, anywhere. King crews routinely perform high and low altitude personnel and equipment airdrops, infiltration/exfiltration of personnel, helicopter air-to-air refueling, and forward area refueling point missions. When tasked, the aircraft also conducts humanitarian assistance operations, disaster response, security cooperation/aviation advisory, emergency aeromedical evacuation, casualty evacuation, and noncombatant evacuation operations.
  2. If I remember correctly, it's 5,000 lbs..
  3. The last 440th Airlift Wing C-130H will leave Fort Bragg on Wednesday morning, officials said Monday. The scheduled 9 a.m. flight, from Pope Field to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, will mark the end of an era for aviation on the nation's largest military installation. The 440th Airlift Wing, part of the Air Force Reserve, had flown the last planes permanently based on Fort Bragg. But an Air Force decision to shutter that unit grounded the planes earlier this year, leaving Fort Bragg paratrooper units to depend on outside air crews for airborne training. The final flight also will mark the end of efforts to ready the 440th's planes to be shipped to other installations. Those efforts began in May, days after the Air Force notified Congress that it would move forward on its two-year-old plans to shutter the unit. The 440th's last plane is destined for the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, officials said. That unit's facilities near Tucson, are often called "The Boneyard," as it is where the Air Force stores its unused aircraft. Other 440th planes have been taken to Little Rock, Arkansas, where they were reassigned to the 189th Airlift Wing, an Air National Guard unit based there. For the last several weeks, crews had prepared the planes for their final flights with the unit. That process included an inventory of the planes and their equipment, inspections and maintenance. Last month, crews involved in that work said it was an emotional effort. The unit, which has been based at Fort Bragg or the former Pope Air Force Base since 2007, was originally slated for inactivation in 2014. But the loss of the only conventional airlift assets permanently based at the home of the bulk of the Army's airborne and quick reaction forces led to a political fight that ended earlier this year. Today, only a few hundred of the 440th's airmen and civilians - who once numbered upwards of 1,200 - remain with the unit. An official inactivation will take place in late September, officials said. Source: http://www.fayobserver.com/military/last-th-plane-set-to-depart-fort-bragg-this-week/article_0fb05a60-dd20-557f-982b-b7f8675b5711.html View full article
  4. Or try this one. http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/2016/04/21/army-launches-investigation-into-airborne-humvee-mishap-video/83333714/
  5. The rain had been pouring and there was a big rain puddle in front of the pub just outside the Air Force Base. A very old and long retired Aviator was standing near the edge with a fishing rod, his line in the puddle. A curious young Air Force pilot came over to him and asked what he was doing. 'Fishing,' the old man simply said. 'Poor old fool,' the young officer thought. He then invited the old timer into the pub for a drink. As he felt he should start some conversation while they were sipping their whiskey, the Air Force pilot asked, "And how many have you caught?' 'You're the eighth,' the old guy answered.
  6. The Fulton system was never used to recover satillites.
  7. Bob, 65-0979 is at Wallops. http://code830.wff.nasa.gov/Index.cfm?PageID=67
  8. Found this for you: Crew: Five Engines: Four Allison T56-A-7 turboprops; 4,050 hp each Wingspan: 132 ft 7 in Length: 97 ft 9 in Height: 38 ft 3 in Weight: empty: 72,892 lbs; gross: 135,000 lbs; max: 175,000 lbs Speed: cruise: 328 mph; max: 384 mph Range: 2,090 miles Service Ceiling: 41,300 ft Armament: None Cost: $22,900,000 (approximate)
  9. When closing the ramp and door from the back, the door must close first, then the ramp. If you don't do it that way, the air stream will cause the door to float that last 4 inches and the door will not close. Watch the ramp and door when closing, using the ADS switch, you'll notice that the door always closes first.
  10. After landing my new job as the greeter of a department store, a good find for many retirees, I lasted less than a day. Here’s what happened... About two hours into my first day on the job a very loud, decidedly unattractive, woman walked into the store along with her two kids, yelling obscenities at them all the way through the entrance. As I had been instructed, I said, pleasantly, "Good morning and welcome to Walmart." I then said, "Nice children you have there. Are they twins?" The ugly woman stopped yelling long enough to say, "Don't be a damn idiot. Of course they aren't twins. The oldest one's 9, and the other one' s 7. Why the hell would you think they're twins? Are you blind, or just stupid?" I replied, "I'm neither blind nor stupid, Madam. I just couldn't believe someone had sex with you twice. Have a good day and thank you for shopping at Walmart." My Supervisor said I probably wasn't cut out for this line of work.
  11. If I remember correctly, the outer hard point was rated for 5,000 lbs.
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