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3-bladed at Kirtland


C130AMTFE
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N130SA has not had 3 bladed props in a long time. The first pic is from 1996 the other more recent. As far as I can tell 3212 N131EC is the only three bladed A flying.

Speaking of flying A's. From what I have been able to gather only 5 recent fliers

3212 N131EC Cherry 57-0505 ex RAAF

3042 FAH558 Honduras AF 55-0015

3035 N130SA Snow 55-0008

3173 N466TM TBM 57-0466

3228 TAM69 Bolivian AF/TAM 57-0521

others:

3052 55-0025 delivered to Central African Rep as TL-KNK not flown since delivered

3119 N121TG 56-0511; 3138 N125TG 56-0530; 3018 54-1631 N117TG; 3227 57-0520 N119TG; 3138 56-0530 N118TG All in flyable condition +/- plus a few others not flyable. None reported flying recently.

Mexican AF all reported perm withdrawn from use.

TBM 3081 N473TM 56-0473; 3186 N479TM 57-0479; 3139 N531BA 56-0531 all parked at Visalia CA

Fritz or anyone, any updates to that. Thanks Bob

Edited by bobdaley
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Not sure which tail it was, (I can look back and find out) but one of the IAR birds was flying some test for U-Model mods a few months back. I however do not know what you mean my resent.

Thanks for the info on the 3 blade bird, that is the one.

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I have a buddy who just left Kirtland and he showed me a photo of an all gray (looks very USMC type paint job) A-model operational with three bladed props (which are also painted like Navy/USMC props) , anyone know anything about this bird?

I think he is talking about this one.

th_thisone.jpg

currently - I do not know if it is operational. I do not think it is derelict. I think it may have been acquired by the labs as part of their testing to assess hidden damage and wear in aging aircraft. But that is the rumor for just about any aircraft that sits on the field, that stems from the labs acquiring a 747.

Little note about the road that you take to get that terminal in the image > It is called Hercules Way. :)

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  • 1 month later...

Bob,

Close.. It's an AAR "Buddy pod" in other words it's a system designed for fighters to refuel each other.

This particular pod only has a very short hose length, so I'd be surprised if it actually see's any service, I'm guessing that this is a trial installation rather than a role fit. These things don't usually go on the A model due to the wing strength.. or lack of, however this aircraft has had the wing spar mods done in support of the Wing Tip Fuel tanks.

Snow Aviation's website has a lot of info on it.

Al

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Good to see that 3212 is still struting it stuff some 50 years after delivery.

Last I heard is that she was to have a mainplane change, anyone confirm that.

Wouuld be nice to have a dollar for every hour I spent flying in her.

At the time that she would have been in service, the RAAF was using standard USN blade tip colours.

Regards

Col

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