Spectre623 Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 (edited) Anybody out there remember the PLADS system (Parachute Low Altitude Delivery System) for C-130's? Anybody fly any missions using it or was involved in testing it? Oh yea and the scuttlebutt about using it to get troops out the back end in a capsule and they used live bears for the tests. Bill Edited December 12, 2012 by Spectre623 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimratliff Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 Is that the system that used a sight for the co-pilot to use and call the drop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xzoomie32065 Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 I was on some plads drops in RVN in 1966. These were at special forces camps. We never dropped more than two containers on one mission. The extraction chute was reefed and deployed about 1 minute out, if I remember correctly. The retaining strap was cut by a squib. Also we carried a large knife and cut on the drop command in case the electrical squib did not work properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llecrupwt Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 The current flavor is called Low Cost Low Altitude (LCLA) Aerial Resupply nsrdec.natick.army.mil/media/fact/airdrop/LCLA.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Railrunner130 Posted December 13, 2012 Share Posted December 13, 2012 I enjoy LCLA. It's so simple. None of that squib business. Drift the bundle back, cut and push. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparks Posted December 13, 2012 Share Posted December 13, 2012 Course I'm an early 1970's maintainer, but I only remember the LAPES system. Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimH Posted December 13, 2012 Share Posted December 13, 2012 We dropped lots of PLADS for training when I was at Dyess 66-67 - easier than HE ...(If I remember correctly) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK MARTZ Posted December 13, 2012 Share Posted December 13, 2012 WE ALSO DROPPED A LOT OF PLADS AT POPE IN THE MID 60'S..YOU DEFINATELY HAD TO KEEP YOUR BIG KNIFE HANDY.. EVERYTHING WAS ELECTRICAL, SQUIBS NEVER SEEMED TO FIRE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jconner2 Posted December 22, 2012 Share Posted December 22, 2012 Did lots of PLADS at Dyess and some in SEA. Anybody else drop Live Cows in RVN using CDS? Basically a reverse "L" made of plywood with a cow strapped to the upright board. Had a chute on the front side of the board which acted as a steering chute to get the cow into a clearing. Used to supply Special Forces units with fresh meat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinwhistle Posted December 22, 2012 Share Posted December 22, 2012 O.K., wait a minute Is this something like sending the 1 striper down to parts for a bucket of prop wash????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spectre623 Posted December 22, 2012 Author Share Posted December 22, 2012 Ha Ha , no Tinwhistle this is the real deal, These were some of the early systems (1960's) used on the young Herks. Some worked and some didn't and some were improved and are in use today. Bill :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jconner2 Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 O.K., wait a minute Is this something like sending the 1 striper down to parts for a bucket of prop wash????? If you mean the cattle drops. Nope, Operation Mule Train was quite real and supported by C-130's and C-123's. Livestock drops were in support of LRRPS, Special Forces and remote villiages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f4enut Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 Course I'm an early 1970's maintainer, but I only remember the LAPES system. Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System.AS a Maintenance Officer in 67,68 at Naha I remember the LAPES drops used to watch them make practice drops in the grass next to the runway at Naha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jflimbach Posted December 11, 2013 Share Posted December 11, 2013 Did lots of PLADS at Dyess and some in SEA. Anybody else drop Live Cows in RVN using CDS? Basically a reverse "L" made of plywood with a cow strapped to the upright board. Had a chute on the front side of the board which acted as a steering chute to get the cow into a clearing. Used to supply Special Forces units with fresh meat. Dropped live cows from C-123s to Special Forces A-Teams WITHOUT parachutes from about 50 feet. No refrigeration, so no storage needed. Really tenderized them. After a journalist reported this in the states, the PC police stepped in and made us use crates and parachutes. Which got them safely to the ground whereupon they were promptly dispatched with a handy .45. Was easier on us loadmasters because they were a real bitch to tip off the end of the ramp, blindfold not withstanding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jflimbach Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I dropped a cow or two out the C-123 sans parachute Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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