2014
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[ATTACH=CONFIG]4288[/ATTACH] During the early days of Vietnam Conflict, the US developed a special kind of attack aircraft to stop the flow of enemy troops and supplies: the gunship. The Gunship aircraft, born from the conversion of cargo aircraft into powerful aerial weapons armed with big guns, were based on the concept of the circling attack. In other words, the guns were mounted on the left side of the gunship so that the plane could fly a bank circle, achieving a good accuracy in strafing the target by using high velocity guns with a caliber of at least .30. The first two types of gunships developed by the US were the twin-engine piston powered Douglas C-47…
Last reply by mongo, -
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[ATTACH=CONFIG]4284[/ATTACH] The United States government will give two Lockheed C-130 “Hercules†planes to the Philippines to augment the Philippine Air Force fleet of C-130 planes, as confirmed by the newly appointed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang on Thursday, July 24, 2014. According to Lt. Gen. Catapang, the impending donation of the US Air Force will address the country’s humanitarian assistance disaster relief concerns. The announcement was made by the AFP chief during his visit to the 1st Air Division headquarters in Clark Field, Pampanga. The United States military’s donation is part of the huma…
Last reply by bobdaley, -
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[ATTACH=CONFIG]4485[/ATTACH] As of September, special operations reservists began training active-duty Airmen in AC-130U formal training courses. Majors Francis Poindexter and David McGourin, 5th Special Operations Squadron, fill instructor roles for the active duty formal training unit, the 19th Special Operations Squadron. “The AC-130U has a very dynamic mission and a proud tradition,†said McGourin. “Being part of the team that provides combat ready aircrew to the operational squadron is incredibly rewarding. The students are very motivated to become part of the mission, which makes instructing them exciting.†Poindexter instructs the fire control of…
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[ATTACH=CONFIG]4495[/ATTACH] LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Nov. 25, 2014) -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District and Little Rock Air Force Base here, are collaborating on a multiyear project to repair/replace one of the Air Force's busiest runways. Without major delays and runway shutdowns, the project is expected to be concrete in April 2017, with a price tag of $107.9 million. The runway project is funded through the Air Force's operation and maintenance budget, and managed by the Little Rock District. "It just makes sense that when the Army needs to fly somewhere, they rely on the Air Force, and when the Air Force needs major engineering support, they…
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[ATTACH=CONFIG]4497[/ATTACH] WASHINGTON – The State Department has approved an $800 million sustainment deal for Iraq's fleet of C-130E and C-130J cargo aircraft, the government announced Tuesday. The proposed five-year agreement would cover "operational, intermediate, and depot level maintenance, spare and repair parts, support equipment, repair and return, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support," according to a notice posted on the website of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). The co…
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[ATTACH=CONFIG]4480[/ATTACH] LONDON, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Rolls-Royce has announced receipt of a contract from the U.S. Air Force for the purchase of AE 2100 engines and parts. The contract for spare engines is worth more than $100 million but the number of engines covered and their delivery schedule were not disclosed. Rolls-Royce said the spare AE 2100 engines and parts are for the Air Force's fleet of C-130J Super Hercules transports from Lockheed Martin and to support Foreign Military Sales program customers. "Rolls-Royce AE 2100 engines provide the dependable, efficient power required by the U.S. Air Force and our allies to complete their transport missi…
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Lockheed Martin is anticipating its forthcoming LM-100J aircraft to garner demand for some unique missions, including oil spill clean-ups among other roles. The aerospace and defense manufacturer will also make a major announcement regarding its latest non-military aircraft program at next week's Farnborough International Airshow. In February, Lockheed announced it will be pursuing an amended type certification from the FAA for the LM-100J. The aircraft is a modern version of the L-382J—which was a commercial variant of the C-130J Super Hercules that went out of production in 1992. Lockheed Martin is anticipating its forthcoming LM-100J aircraft to garn…
Last reply by Metalbasher, -
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[ATTACH=CONFIG]4511[/ATTACH] ORLANDO, FLA. — The compromise National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) language, revealed Tuesday evening, limits the US Air Force’s ability to retire any aircraft in what is a clear message from Congress that the service has not earned its trust on major issues, such as the retirement of the A-10 or U-2. At the same time, negotiators also appear to have listened to concerns from the Air National Guard over a major C-130 upgrade program. The bill states that no money allocated for fiscal 2015 “may be obligated or expended to retire, prepare to retire, or place in storage any aircraft of the Air Force, except for …
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[ATTACH=CONFIG]4513[/ATTACH] Senate and House Armed Services Committee leaders have come to an agreement to halt the inactivation of the 440th Airlift Wing at Pope Field, said U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan. The agreement announced Wednesday would stop all C-130H and C-130J aircraft transfers until 60 days after the Air Force issues a report outlining a justification of the decision. It would also mandate an independent review …
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[ATTACH=CONFIG]4515[/ATTACH] The House and Senate Armed Services Committees Fiscal 2015 defense authorization agreement requires the Air Force to submit a five-year basing plan for C-130H and J-variant aircraft to Congress. It also prohibits USAF from transferring any C-130s until the Air Force Secretary and the Comptroller General have conducted a full cost-benefit analysis of any desired transfers. In addition, the report must certify that units with modular airborne firefighting system-equipped C-130s “would not be negatively affected by the proposed transfers,†states the agreement summary. “We do not intend that the prohibition on transfer of C-130 aircraft a…
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[ATTACH=CONFIG]4536[/ATTACH] Since it’s inception in 1985, Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VR) 62 has logged more than 81,000 mishap free flight hours. VR-62 was established at NAF Detroit in 1985 as a C-9 transport squadron. In 1994, the squadron transitioned to the C-130T Hercules airframe, and changed its home base to become VR-62 “Mass Transit†at NAS South Weymouth, Mass. When NAS South Weymouth closed in 1996, VR-62 moved again and became the “Nor’easters†based out of NAS Brunswick, Maine. When Brunswick closed in 2008, VR-62 changed its name to “Nomads†and its home base to NAS Jacksonville. In addition to celebrating 29 accident-free…
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[ATTACH=CONFIG]4529[/ATTACH] A $560 billion defense bill that is critical to jobs in South Mississippi is now awaiting President Barack Obama's signature. U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker reports the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act on Friday. Wicker reports one of the provisions of the measure focuses on C-130Js at Keesler Air Force Base. It prohibits the transfer of the planes stationed at Keesler unless the Air Force can substantiate its claim that the transfer would save taxpayer dollars. Ten of the Flying Jennies were scheduled to be relocated to another Air Force base and the 815th and 345th squads were set to be deactivated, but that decision was …
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SINGAPORE:Two C-130 aircraft from Singapore were sent to the Java Sea, 740 kilometres southeast of Singapore, on Monday (Dec 29) to search for objects linked to missing AirAsia flight QZ8501. The two aircraft were able to cover about 30 per cent of the search area assigned to Singapore by Indonesia. The assigned area measures 60 nautical miles by 190 nautical miles, or about 55 times the size of Singapore. The weather conditions were good during the five-hour search-and-locate operation. The first C-130 aircraft departed Paya Lebar Air Base at about 6.30am Singapore time. There were 12 personnel on board. Two commanders held marine location markers as they scanned th…
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In this photo by Associated Press photographer Dita Alangkara, who flew in a C-130 with Indonesia's air force Monday, crew members scan the horizon during a search operation for the missing AirAsia jet over the Karimata Strait. The plane, with its exterior painted in camouflage, took off from an air base in Jakarta, Indonesia's capital, at 6:20 a.m. and was scheduled to fly for six hours. The pilots, however, got an order to expand the search area, and the flight ended up lasting 10 hours. Nothing related to the missing plane was spotted. The two pilots scanned left and right during the flight, while the navigator took notes on coordinates. There were two men behind the…
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KADENA AIR BASE, Japan - Kadena's newest aircraft touched down here, Dec. 21, 2014, after a flight across the Pacific to its new home with the 353rd Special Operations Group. The MC-130J Commando II is replacing the retiring MC-130P Combat Shadow assigned to the 353rd SOG's 17th Special Operations Squadron. "The Commando II represents a giant leap forward for specialized air mobility," said Maj. Michael Perry, 17th SOS assistant operations officer. "The MC-130J can carry more, further and faster than any of its predecessors." Special operations began using the Combat Shadow in the mid-1980s, conducting air refueling missions during Operation Just Cause in Pana…
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[ATTACH=CONFIG]4380[/ATTACH] NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. - Airmen from the New York Air National Guard's 107th Airlift Wing make their final flight in a C-130 Hercules on Thursday as the wing continues to transition to flying the MQ-9 remotely piloted vehicle. Members of the press are invited to see the plane land at the conclusion of the flight and the traditional "wet down" ceremony that follows a final flight and interview the wing commander, Col. John J. Higgins. WHO: Members of the 107th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard including Col. John J. Higgins, the commander of the 107th Airlift Wing who will serve as naviga…
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[ATTACH=CONFIG]4269[/ATTACH] The U.S. government watchdog charged with overseeing aid to Afghanistan has recommended delaying the delivery of additional cargo aircraft to the nascent Afghan Air Force (AAF). John Sopko, special inspector-general for Afghanistan reconstruction (SIGAR), said the AAF may not need all the C-130 airplanes to be provided by the U.S. military in a deal worth over $100 million. The U.S. military has already delivered two C-130 cargo aircraft, with plans to deliver two more. In a July 10 letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and other top U.S. military officials, Sopko questioned whether the AAF was making full use of the aircraft. …
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[ATTACH=CONFIG]4272[/ATTACH] BRUNEI has confirmed that it will be buying a number of C-130J Super Hercules military transport aircraft from aerospace firm Lockheed Martin. Pehin Datu Perkerma Jaya Major General Dato Pahlawan Mohd Tawih Abdullah, Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), told The Brunei Times that the military is set to order the American-made aircraft sometime in the future. “We will be buying the aircraft, but it won’t be a lot,†he said, adding that the planned quantity and date of order will be revealed in due time. Latest figures estimate the average cost of the C-130J Super Hercules at US$100 to 120 million per unit for inte…
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[ATTACH=CONFIG]4275[/ATTACH] Two Wyoming Air National Guard C-130s equipped with the U.S. Forest Service’s Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems will be ready to fight forest fires tomorrow. The Forest Service activated Wyoming’s two MAFFS-equipped C-130s Friday afternoon instructing them to arrive in Boise, Idaho, to begin flying on regional forest fires no later than Sunday. This is the first MAFFS activation of the 2014 fire season. Military C-130s equipped with MAFFS provide surge capability to the Forest Service. Lt. Col. Todd Davis, commander of the 153rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron said “we’ve been activated to ensure the Forest Service has e…
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[ATTACH=CONFIG]4282[/ATTACH] Arriving from their now-former home of Okinawa, Japan, the first KC-130J Super Hercules of Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, the “Sumos,†touched down aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, today. The KC-130J Super Hercules transfer is a step forward in consolidating and realigning forces, while also maintaining readiness to effectively respond to any situation in the Pacific region. This represents an important milestone in alleviating some of the U.S. military burden from Okinawa. The transfer also translates to a more response-ready Marine Aircraft Group of Iwakuni. “(VMGR-152) helps us integrate more …
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Lockheed-Martin is looking for stories/pictures.... http://lockheedmartin.com/us/products/c130/herc60.html
Last reply by P3_Super_Bee, -
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Spare 617 is now on display at the USAF Museum. Col. Cauldwell who brought her back to Ton Sun Nhut officiated at the ceremony. Happy to see that she finally got a place of honor. http://www.historynet.com/storied-c-130e-goes-to-usaf-museum.htm Col. Cauldwell in his younger days when he was Capt. Bill, best pilot I ever had the pleasure of flying with! (not to take anything away from any of the other fine pilots that flew for the 776 TAS) Congratulations to Col. Caulwell and Spare 617! http://www.troopcarrier.org/spare617.html Spare 617 was the call sign. Tail # on that bird is 62-1787.
Last reply by Graywolf88, -
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[ATTACH=CONFIG]4358[/ATTACH] Over the past few decades, average global temperatures have been on the rise, and this warming is happening two to three times faster in the Arctic. As the region's summer comes to a close, NASA is hard at work studying how rising temperatures are affecting the Arctic. NASA researchers this summer and fall are carrying out three Alaska-based airborne research campaigns aimed at measuring greenhouse gas concentrations near Earth's surface, monitoring Alaskan glaciers, and collecting data on Arctic sea ice and clouds. Observations from these NASA campaigns will give researchers a better understanding of how the Arctic is responding to risi…
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[ATTACH=CONFIG]4360[/ATTACH] A second Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical transport will be delivered to the Israeli air force soon, following a lead example that was received by the service on 9 April. The Israeli service has four C-130Js on order and calls the new-generation Hercules the "Samson". Sources in Israel say that a follow-on contract for another two of the aircraft is also in final stages of processing. Israel's C-130Js have a three-seat cockpit configuration, similar to that used by the US special forces community. Its first aircraft has already been equipped with dedicated mission systems, and crews from its "Elephants" squadron are now busy developing…
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[ATTACH=CONFIG]4362[/ATTACH] The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) may retain in service a number of its Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules transport aircraft for special forces use, a senior service official disclosed on 16 September. Speaking at the IQPC Military Airlift 2014 conference in London, Group Captain Simon Edwards, Officer Commanding RAF Brize Norton, said that there may be a continued need for the C-130J beyond its current planned out of service date (OSD) of 2022. "We will start drawing down the C-130 fleet in the next couple of years, and will retire them in 2022. However, if we keep [a number of] them, and we may, it will probably be for special forces use,"…