jflimbach Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 We dropped three brand new Chevy Sonics a couple months ago down at Eloy, AZ. The aircraft was N121TG, ex-USAF 56-0511 operated by International Air Response. They've released some of the footage on YouTube and it should be showing up on the TV soon. Links to a couple of the better ones so far: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2eRHLs2Mwc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-XPZH3OoOI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ealq_Tamdho&feature=relmfu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-XPZH3OoOI These are similar to the one we did for Advance Auto Parts last year using Honda Civics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyE7vjM6eC4 You can also see N121TG in the movie "Fast Five" out now, and the next episode in the "Batman" movie series to be released soon. Also appearing for the U.S. Army at YPG once or twice a month. John Limbach CMSgt, USAF (Retired) Loadmaster "Older than the airplane, but not by much" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Railrunner130 Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 I know in the EPs, it mentions not jettisoning rolling stock, because of the possibility of it getting caught up in the ramp area. How did you guys do it? It looked like there may have been a drift strap involved? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jflimbach Posted November 11, 2011 Author Share Posted November 11, 2011 I know in the EPs, it mentions not jettisoning rolling stock, because of the possibility of it getting caught up in the ramp area. How did you guys do it? It looked like there may have been a drift strap involved? No drift strap. At "Green Light" I cut the 1-inch tubular nylon loop that was providing aft restraint. The strap you see wrapped around my arm was attached to the anchor cable and I used that to maintain my balance when I went down to cut it. Once the strap was cut the skydivers pushed it out. On all of the drops where we roll a vehicle out on its wheels, something on the frame or rear axle contacts the end of the ramp as it goes out. To prevent damage to the ramp we tie a piece of 3/4" plywood down on the aft end of the ramp. That takes any impact and the ramp is not damaged. At least so far......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizzard Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 does that "A" have four bladed props? looks like it in one of the videos. Giz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topboltsto400 Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 I've seen a commercial recently on the TV, A-model airdropping a Chevy. There was one out a while ago, Herky airdropping a Range Rover (I think). Verizon has a commercial out now, has these skydiver dudes jumping out, back of the plane looks alot like Herky. Herky goes to Hollywood....(again) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC10FE Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 There was one out a while ago, Herky airdropping a Range Rover (I think). Herky goes to Hollywood....(again) I'm pretty sure the Range Rover commercial involved a Safair Herc. Don R. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hlg6016 Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 And the most interesting man in the world (Dos Equis Beer) goes out the back of a herk in a kayak in one of his bits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jflimbach Posted November 11, 2011 Author Share Posted November 11, 2011 does that "A" have four bladed props? looks like it in one of the videos. Giz Yep. All the USAF birds were coverted back in the 1970's. Earl Cherry operates an "A" still with 3 bladed props but I think its heritage goes back to the Australian Air Force. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizzard Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 I always remembered all the "A"s I ever saw had three blades, but I thought I had seen somewhere that many had been ungraded to four. That's not fair, though. To me, the "A"s had a different sound than the "B"s and "E"s I was around. of course that was in the first years of the "70's, and that was so far back that it only took ten to make a dozen.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEFEGeorge Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 I always remembered all the "A"s I ever saw had three blades, but I thought I had seen somewhere that many had been ungraded to four. That's not fair, though. To me, the "A"s had a different sound than the "B"s and "E"s I was around. of course that was in the first years of the "70's, and that was so far back that it only took ten to make a dozen.. If I remember right, the A's were converted to 4 bladed props due the A's losing blades and causing crashes. Seems like I recall one in Michigan in the 70s but that was before I came to Hercs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jflimbach Posted November 11, 2011 Author Share Posted November 11, 2011 I always remembered all the "A"s I ever saw had three blades, but I thought I had seen somewhere that many had been ungraded to four. That's not fair, though. To me, the "A"s had a different sound than the "B"s and "E"s I was around. of course that was in the first years of the "70's, and that was so far back that it only took ten to make a dozen.. Every LM who ever rode in the back of a 3 blade "A" is seriously hearing impaired. Compared to the 3-blade, the cargo compartment of the later models and 4-blade "A"s is dead silent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davis Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 Good video John, thanks for posting, Crew A-Models at Sewart, in Tenn. and Tachikawa, Japan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizzard Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 yep, that is what I understand, too. Also i flew with a navigator from time to time that swore if he had been on an E-model instead of an A, when he was hit by the prop it woulda killed him. Betcha there are a couple of ya out there that remember Slow Talkin' Clyde!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizzard Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Was the cargo 'chute barometrically opened?? I couldn't tell from the video. Much better lookin' 'chute than the old green things I remember. looked like an outstanding job by all. I don't think many people, outside our shared sphere of experience and interest, could appreciate it or look at it the way we all do.................. Damn, i'd like to fly one of those,just once, please, please, please??? LMAO! Giz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mt.crewchief Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Every LM who ever rode in the back of a 3 blade "A" is seriously hearing impaired. Compared to the 3-blade, the cargo compartment of the later models and 4-blade "A"s is dead silent. After working on A-models and flying Blind Bat A-models at Naha for 18 months, I received orders to CCK. A week or so later, almost before I was done in-processing, I was sent on an input to CRB as a crew chief on an E-model. The first thing I noticed was how thick the padding/insulation was and how quiet it was with the 4-bladed props. And to top that off ---Low Speed Ground Idle!!!! I thought I had died and gone to heaven!!! Of course by the time I left Naha and the A's, my hearing was shot!!! By the way Jim thanks for keeping us in touch with the A-Model world!!!! Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mt.crewchief Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 (edited) Every LM who ever rode in the back of a 3 blade "A" is seriously hearing impaired. Compared to the 3-blade, the cargo compartment of the later models and 4-blade "A"s is dead silent. After working on A-models and flying Blind Bat A-models at Naha for 18 months, I received orders to CCK. A week or so later, almost before I was done in-processing, I was sent on an input to CRB as a crew chief on an E-model. The first thing I noticed was how thick the padding/insulation was and how quiet it was with the 4-bladed props. And to top that off ---Low Speed Ground Idle!!!! I thought I had died and gone to heaven!!! Of course by the time I left Naha and the A's, my hearing was shot!!! By the way Jim thanks for keeping us in touch with the A-Model world!!!! Ken Casey, could you delete my double post----I would but don't know how!!! I could try but would probably delete the whole damn forum!!! Edited November 12, 2011 by Mt.crewchief Double post---sorry!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry myers Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 The big improvement in maintainability that I remember most going from As to Es was the difference in how the engine fuel control mounted on the accesory gearbox. On the A there were about eight studs with the couple on the back side almost impossible to access. However, on the E the control was mounted via a Marmon clamp. Of course this was only one of many improvements, but for some reason it's the one that sticks in my mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donwon Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Thanks for the Vids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jflimbach Posted November 12, 2011 Author Share Posted November 12, 2011 Was the cargo 'chute barometrically opened?? I couldn't tell from the video. Much better lookin' 'chute than the old green things I remember. looked like an outstanding job by all. I don't think many people, outside our shared sphere of experience and interest, could appreciate it or look at it the way we all do.................. Damn, i'd like to fly one of those,just once, please, please, please??? LMAO! Giz I'm not sure where they got the chute. It was packed in a G-12 bag, but obviously something else. I know they told me, but I have trouble remembering what I had for breakfast and the combination to the airplane most days. They used a standard skydiving automatic opening device which obviously worked OK. Kind of a sloppy looking deployment, I thought but they weren't taking off any points for style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry myers Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 I was at the local Chevy dealer yesterday. No one had seen the video. I pulled it up and before I knew the entire sales dept. was watching. For the next several minutes there were no cars sold as everyone was clustered around the PC. And when I left someone was calling to let everyone else know about the video. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fräulein Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 I recall a while back that someone joined here and posted asking where they could get a herc for a commercial. I wonder if this is from that. http://herkybirds.com/showthread.php?1540-TV-Series-Needs-C-130-for-Car-Drop&p=11516#post11516 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jflimbach Posted December 22, 2011 Author Share Posted December 22, 2011 Could be. We (International Air Response, Mesa, AZ) have made two recently. Last year for Advance Auto Parts and this September for GM with the Chevy Sonic. If anyone is interested in getting a C-130 for a film shoot, they should contact Travis Grantham at IAR. www.internationalairresponse.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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