CCFH Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 I have come across some pictures of the AC-130H/U upside down. Appears to be a twisted engineers idea of a good time. Any ideas why this is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Typically when airplanes are mounted this way, they are testing for: 1. Visual Observability 2. Radar Signature 3. Infrared Signature Don't have a clue where this was taking place, so I could be all wrong on this..... John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMPTestFE Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 (edited) Pretty sure they do this exclusively at Kirtland. Although, those trees don't look like your typical New Mexican variety, but who knows. Edited March 17, 2009 by AMPTestFE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC10FE Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 I think it was in Rome, NY, but I don't remember the reason. Don R. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muff Millen Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Just for kicks I would have liked to see how they did that. How many crains, what was the removal of inside equipment etc. Muff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEFEGeorge Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Easy way to do the top of aircraft inspection and check dry bays! :p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davis Posted March 17, 2009 Share Posted March 17, 2009 Would like to know more. This is the wildest thing I've seen in awhile. You guys sure about this. need more Input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LC130LOAD1 Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 (edited) Amazing that you AF guys don't know where and what that is. And it takes a Navy guy to tell you that. The C-130 is mounted on a pedestal at the USAF's Stockbridge Antenna Measurement and Research Facility. The smaller planes are mounted on pedestals at the USAF's Newport Antenna Research and Measurement Facility. They are part of the Rome Air Development Center which was at one time part of Griffiss AFB but is now under the direction of Wright-Patterson AFB. WP's website on the Newport site - http://www.wpafb.af.mil/afrl/ri/ - Look under facilities. [ATTACH]145[/ATTACH] A view of an F-4E Phantom II aircraft mounted upside-down on a test tower at the Rome Air Development Center Newport site. Attached to the undercarriage of the F-4E is a special electronics pod holding a Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS). Location: GRIFFISS AIR FORCE BASE Date Shot: 9/17/1979 [ATTACH]146[/ATTACH] A view of an F-4 Phantom II aircraft mounted upside-down on a test tower at the Rome Air Development Center Antenna Patterns Test Facility at the Newport site. The effectiveness of an AN/ALQ-119 electronic countermeasure pod, attached to the undercarriage of the F-4, is being determined without having to fly the aircraft. Location: GRIFFISS AIR FORCE BASE Date Shot: 12/17/1979 [ATTACH]147[/ATTACH] An F-4 Phantom II aircraft is removed from a 30-foot-high test pedestal prior to being turned over and remounted. From this test pedestal, at the Rome Air Development Center, aircraft antennas can be tested and evaluated in various flight positions. Location: GRIFFISS AIR FORCE BASE Date Shot: 3/11/1980 [ATTACH]148[/ATTACH] An F-15C Eagle aircraft is mounted on a pedestal at the Newport Test Site of the Rome Air Development Center. Location: GRIFFISS AIR FORCE BASE Date Shot: 8/14/1986 Edited March 18, 2009 by LC130LOAD1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LC130LOAD1 Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 (edited) [ATTACH]142[/ATTACH] An A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft with an assortment of weapons stores is secured atop a 30-foot pedestal at the Rome Air Development Center's Newport Test Site. A new configuration of weapons will alter the effectiveness of the aircraft's antennas. The tests being conducted will assess antenna effectiveness. Location: GRIFFISS AIR FORCE BASE Date Shot: 12/28/1977 [ATTACH]143[/ATTACH] A technician explains to an airman how avionics packages and radars are placed aboard a B-52 Stratofortress aircraft at the Rome Air Development Center. Photographer's Name: TSGT John L. Marine Location: GRIFFISS AIR FORCE, ROME Date Shot: 8/1/1982 [ATTACH]144[/ATTACH] A C-130 Hercules aircraft is inverted on a pedestal at the Rome Air Development Center's Irish Hill test site. Location: GRIFFISS AIR FORCE, STOCKBRIDGE Date Shot: 7/17/1986 You can find these and plenty more at http://dodimagery.afis.osd.mil/index.html You can't hotlink pictures from there. Edited March 18, 2009 by LC130LOAD1 Casy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 I loaded the images to the site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTII Raven Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Typically when airplanes are mounted this way, they are testing for: 1. Visual Observability 2. Radar Signature 3. Infrared Signature Don't have a clue where this was taking place, so I could be all wrong on this..... JohnRF antenna pattern measurements Spent way too much time there me for CTII, AC-130H and DIRCM testing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTII Raven Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Just for kicks I would have liked to see how they did that. How many crains, what was the removal of inside equipment etc. Muff If memory serves, 3 cranes a crane each fwd and aft with slings and the 3rd to flip it. Somewhere deep in a moving box I have pictures of a flip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davis Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Thank navy. I never new anything about this. it all new to me. But you know the old saying [you never to old to learn something new.] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fräulein Posted March 18, 2009 Share Posted March 18, 2009 Pretty sure they do this exclusively at Kirtland. Although, those trees don't look like your typical New Mexican variety, but who knows. even though it has been answered - Kirtland's testing area has like zero trees, but lots of concrete. There is an "elephant cage", but I do not think they have done testing out there in a loooong time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCFH Posted March 19, 2009 Author Share Posted March 19, 2009 Thank you one and all for the explanation. i wonder how much fun it is to flip a plane? Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KC130FE Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Pax River has these as well, but just for "little" planes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wysongj Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 McDonnell Douglas/ Boeing use to have one at Smartt Field in St. Charles County, right outside St. Louis. They had a half scale F-15, an F-18 and the nose section of the X-32. I don't if they are still out there, but makes me wonder. Hmmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCFH Posted March 20, 2009 Author Share Posted March 20, 2009 I am thinking this would be fun to do to one of the "plane on a stick" that are floating around the AF bases! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herkeng130 Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 James, If I remember correctly, the aircraft in the picture is the same C-130A that was made up to look like an AC-130H back in the early 1990s. I saw another picture with one that had an ASD-5 where the AC-130Hs had them and another one above the left main wheel well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Wilson Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 The Test facilities at Kirtland AFB are for EMP testing. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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