polcat Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 While here at IP school, we visited the FTD (where they train mx how to fix planes without taking them to the flightline). Anyway, at the flight control section, one of my classmates pointed these latches/loops on the vertical stab. We asked around, but no one knows. Any idea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEFEGeorge Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 I believe that those are the mounting points for a now defunct maintenance ladder. Maybe not, but that's what came to mind for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RClark Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 Yes, there are for a ladder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArcticFox Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 Not 5 hours ago I asked someone the same question while out doing a dash-1 - I remember hearing stories about the ladder, but never actually seen one in use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skip Davenport Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 that's what they are for and I have actually climbed one :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C130CC Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 Obviously they are not anchor points as you can see where those are towards the front of the vertical stabilizer. Ladder is the correct answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hlg6016 Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Not a climb for the faint of heart! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve1300 Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 It was tricky trying to replace the anti-collision light bulb on that ladder, but it was even worse using that ladder during a rudder removal. Should have recieved hazardous duty pay for that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mt.crewchief Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 A couple of us guys at Naha hooked up a ladder one time but none of us would go all the way to the top so we took it down! We called a cherry picker instead!!! Now, where in hell did I used to store my ladder on A's and E's! I just can't place the location anymore!!! Anybody have a pic of one in it's proper place? Memory's going to hell on me!!! Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casey Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 I don't believe the ladder mounts are on J's. Anyone know which airframes had them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjvr99 Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 (edited) that's what they are for and I have actually climbed one Ladder. Been there, done that. F@#$ing scary!!!! Used to be a rotating beacon on top of the fin, had to change the bulb in the absence of an electrician ........ Casey Question I don't beleive the ladder mounts are on J's. Anyone know which aiframes had them? B,E,H and some L382G Edited January 15, 2010 by pjvr99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
APG85 Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 There's a drawing of it in the last book of the IPB. One of those useless pieces of equipment that is factory delivered to make an aircraft "independent" of AGE equipment in the field... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davis Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Seen them Installed a few times but never had to go up one,All ways come up with a cherry picker, was not real crazy about going up in a cherry picker eather. I can`t remember where that ladder was stowed on the acft. :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donwon Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 I chnged a few on the A,s with a cherry picker. The driver brought it out and said he didn't go up in it. He showed me how to use it and I went up and changed the light. We had a latter on the A,s but didn't use it on top of the plane. I don't remember where it was stowed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hlg6016 Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 The ladder was too long to stow on board, we had to sign it out with the GSE shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry myers Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Don't know what this is, (nav. aid?) but pretty sure it's not the ladder attach point. If memory serves, ladder attach points (there were two sets) were flush on both sides of the vertical fin. The bottom attach points were about waist high. The top points were about 1/4 from the top of the ladder. With the ladder installed it was just forward of the rudder. Don't think anyone would argue this was a crappy piece of support equipment. Someone said they changed an anti collision lite using this ladder. I tried that once, but failed, no balls. If it takes two hours to get a cherry picker, I'll wait. Some years later, however, was forced into using it repeatadly at CCK to cw with an urgent action TCTO on rudder attach point bearings. As I recall it was stowed in the 780 shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry myers Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Ooops! Engaged keyboard before brain. Looked closely at photo again. Missed polcat's highlight. What he's highlited is in fact the top latches for the infamous vertical fin ladder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEFEGeorge Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Ooops! Engaged keyboard before brain. Looked closely at photo again. Missed polcat's highlight. What he's highlited is in fact the top latches for the infamous vertical fin ladder. A little premature articulation huh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry myers Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Don't know what this is, (nav. aid?) but pretty sure it's not the ladder attach point. If memory serves, ladder attach points (there were two sets) were flush on both sides of the vertical fin. The bottom attach points were about waist high. The top points were about 1/4 from the top of the ladder. With the ladder installed it was just forward of the rudder. Don't think anyone would argue this was a crappy piece of support equipment. Someone said they changed an anti collision lite using this ladder. I tried that once, but failed, no balls. If it takes two hours to get a cherry picker, I'll wait. Some years later, however, was forced into using it repeatadly at CCK to cw with an urgent action TCTO on rudder attach point bearings. As I recall it was stowed in the 780 shop. A little premature articulation huh? That's the gentleman's way of puting it. I would probably call it a "FU". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ldschmidt29 Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 I've seen the ladder in Tool Room, never seen anyone use it though. On one of my check rides the Instructor asked me what the connection points on the Vertical Stab were, luckily I had seen the ladders once before and was one step ahead of him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAXTORQ Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Ladder scary yes but not as scary as have to use an over the wing sling to hang a motor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polcat Posted January 16, 2010 Author Share Posted January 16, 2010 Wow, it sure didn't take long to get a reply, especially 3 pages worth! I'm very impressed. The guys in my class will be interested to hear the answer. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry myers Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Wow, it sure didn't take long to get a reply, especially 3 pages worth! I'm very impressed. The guys in my class will be interested to hear the answer. Thanks! polcat, Anyone with a C-130 question, this is the place. There is info that can be found here and nowhere else. Don't care what it is someone on the site has been there done that. I'll wager no one in the sqd. knows more about those little gizmo's on the vertical fin than you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muff Millen Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 You were one step ahead of him on the ladder question but I'll bet he caught you on ten other items, they alway do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ldschmidt29 Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Oh ya, there is always something they know that you don't!!! And they always make you feel really dumb for not knowing, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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