casey

BILOXI -- For years, a strange problem with the U.S. Air Force's C-130 aircraft had pilots and crews reporting sickness, discomfort and, in some cases, excruciating pain after routine flight missions. The phenomenon remained a mystery until February, when a handful of reservists at Keesler Air Force Base took the initiative to solve the mystery. They made a tiny discovery that's affecting airplanes worldwide.The problem was with the pressurization system on the C-130 Hercules -- the longest-produced and perhaps most-popular aircraft in military history. The versatile airplane serves as an attack gunship, a troop transport, a surveillance plane and many other roles.Keesler's famed Hurricane Hunters fly the C-130J for weather reconnaissance.In February, maintenance technicians from the 403rd Wing began a hunt for a solution to the problem. At times, the C-130s' pressurization systems could not be controlled manually or automatically. Cabins would over-pressurize at certain altitudes, causing the physiological problems.The health effects typically surfaced after the flights. Crew members were on the ground yet still felt as if they were in the air, Tech. Sgt. Fernando Betancourt said.The effects were mostly minor but had the potential to be severe."It can be dangerous," Tech. Sgt. Vincent Hawkins said. "We've had people that had nasal-cavity problems, ear problems, excruciating pain."Some would vomit, and others experienced pressure buildup in their eye sockets, Hawkins said."Flight crews were constantly writing it up, which basically grounded (the affected) airplane every time,"Master Sgt. James Rials said. "It could cause excruciating pain to the point you can't function."The technicians noticed something strange. They were finding tiny metal shards in the pressurization system's air lines.'It would mask itself'As similar reports and findings mounted over the years, airmen tried every repair listed in the maintenance manuals. The problem would usually go away for one or two flights, then return.They even collected the metal particles and gave them to Lockheed Martin, the C-130's manufacturer, hoping the company's engineers could find their source. But no one had any answers."When the book failed us and didn't tell us what the problem was, we just went with experience," Hawkins said. "We had to think outside the box."Because they try not to keep planes grounded for more than a day or two, Rials, Hawkins and Betancourt decided to put together a team. They spent two days stripping the pressurization system off one of 403rd Wing's planes and inspecting each part."We changed parts from the tail to the nose," Rials said.It took 500 man hours and disassembly of about 65 percent of the system before they made the crucial discovery. The metal particles were coming from a corroded rivet, no larger than a pencil point, inside an air valve.The corrosion had remained hidden for years because every other part of that valve is stainless steel. But not the tiny rivet, which is composed of plain pot metal -- an inexpensive, low-quality alloy.Moisture in the air could cause the rivet to rust and fall apart. Whenever the pressurization system was used, the air in the lines would push the metal particles to another valve at the very front of the system. Maintenance personnel sometimes found them there but couldn't work out where they came from.Often, technicians would receive a maintenance order but when they inspected the system the particles had moved, causing the blockage to disappear. They would move again on a later flight, creating a new blockage elsewhere in the air line."It was one of those things you just could not find," Rials said. "It was so insidious, it would mask itself."'And no one knows'Problems with the C-130J's pressurization system cropped up after 2004, when Lockheed Martin implemented field installations of new check valves, Rials said.As no one seemed to know the valves contained rivets prone to corrosion, they weren't part of regular fault-isolation manuals used by maintenance crews for troubleshooting.Because of the work done by Keesler's 403rd, however, Lockheed Martin is expected to update the manuals. It's a victory for the often-overlooked role served by maintenance teams in the military."Once that information makes it to Lockheed, then it goes out worldwide," Hawkins said.The rust-prone rivets were not on just a few airplanes.Keesler's 403rd has already replaced the valves on 13 of its 20 planes.Every unit in the U.S. Air Force with a C-130J will now be performing regular inspections of the valves, and other nations that use the plane will more than likely follow suit, Hawkins said."When you do something like this, the changes go to so many different people throughout the world," he said. "And no one knows." View original article: http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/09/...rmen.html?rh=1 View full article

Cascade aerospace celebrated the 100th delivery of a CC-130 Hercules aircraft to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) following scheduled maintenance on 7 April.The delivery was made from the company's Abbotsford, British Columbia base. The CC-130 will return to service as a long-range, fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft. This marks a major milestone for Cascade's multi-year contract with the RCAF as the prime contractor for programme management, engineering, maintenance, materiel and technical support for the CC-130 fleet. Canada's fleet of CC-130 Hercules, also known as the C-130 Hercules, is used for multi-mission roles including troop transport, tactical airlift, search and rescue, air-to-air refuelling and aircrew training.Ben Boehm, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Cascade Aerospace, said: 'Cascade Aerospace has supported the RCAF's CC-130 fleet since 2005. Over these last ten years, Cascade has grown to become one of the world's leading C-130 Hercules experts, allowing Cascade and its 700 employees to provide exceptional service to Canada as well as to international militaries around the world.'Cascade has worked hard to achieve this milestone and we look forward to continuing our support for the RCAF's CC-130 fleet well in to the future.'View original article: http://www.shephardmedia.com/news/mi...rcules-canada/ View full article

Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT) on Tuesday marked the 60th anniversary of the roll out and first flight of the first C-130 (C-130A 53-3129 c/n 3001) Hercules built in Marietta, Ga.Gov. Nathan Deal reenacted the 1955 ceremony held at the Marietta plant by christening a C-130J Super Hercules (MC-130J 13-5770 c/n 5770) with a bottle of Chattahoochee River water, just as Gov. Marvin Griffin did 60 years ago. Check out the venerable aircraft and the event today in the slideshow on the right.The C‑130 production line in Marietta is the longest continuously operating military aircraft production line in history. View original article: http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/n...-of-c-130.html View full article

French Ministry of Defence, will place orders for American C-130J according to French internet page Air&Cosmos. Airbus is behind delivery schedule but this does not seem to be main problem. A400M aircraft lacks in-flight refuelling capability for helicopters. The director of Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), “General Directorate for Armament Laurent Collet-Billon stated that the turmoil of the propellers of the A400M, is too dangerous to refuel helicopters.A team from the DGA is currently in the United States to negotiate the acquisition of C-130J Lockheed Martin that may reach several hundred million USD.In 2014, when delivery of non-compliant A400Ms was refused by Turkey for several months the CEO of Airbus Tom Enders had said, “The aircraft is ready to go. It’s the same aircraft that we delivered to the French Air Force that has been instantly operational and fit for flight. I find the situation increasingly unacceptable,”View original article: http://www.c4defence.com/en/france-to-purchase-c-130/ View full article

69-5820 c/n [cn]4367[/cn] went to AMARG on 21 Jan 2015. --Casey

HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- Air Force Reserve Citizen Airmen, assigned to the 910th Airlift Wing's Aerial Spray Maintenance Flight, ready one of the wing's modified C-130H Hercules tactical cargo aircraft for an aerial spray sortie here, March 17, 2015. The sortie over target areas on the nearby Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR) was one of 24 sorties, or flights, applying approximately 32,075 gallons of herbicide to more than 1539 acres of ground to eradicate invasive weeds from the bombing ranges. As home of the Department of Defense's (DoD) only large-area fixed wing aerial spray capability and dedicated aerial spray maintenance flight, the 910th's Citizen Airmen are uniquely trained and equipped to complete the task of aiding Air Force pilots using the range and Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) personnel clearing the areas by eliminating the unwanted ground covering weeds which can obscure target sites and Unexploded Ordinance (UXO). View original article: http://www.youngstown.afrc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123443719 View full article

The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City invited a number of Vietnamese reporters to a session that introduced the features of the C-130 Hercules aircraft coded 1459 at Da Nang International Airport, according to Infonet, the news website of the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications.The turboprop military transport aircraft is 29.3 meters long and 11.9 meters tall, and has a wingspan of 39.7 meters, Tuoi Tre Online said.It has four Allison T56-A-15 propeller jet engines with a capacity of 4,591 HP and can fly at 366 kph in all weather conditions, the newswire added.This kind of plane is mainly used to transport people and cargo for the U.S. army.The crew members introduced to Vietnamese correspondents the features and operational ability of the plane that can be used in humanitarian and disaster relief activities.This plane can even act as a mini-clinic to provide medical aid, Infonet said.The chief pilot of the plane, Major Jon Locklear, said the aircraft can carry 92 passengers and 60 paratroopers, and have 72 stretchers for patients, according to Infonet.The plane is slated to leave Da Nang to return to the U.S. on Wednesday.The U.S. air force now has 428 planes of this kind in total, Infonet said. The C-130 Hercules plane took part in humanitarian assistance operations as part of the Operation Pacific Angel (PACANGEL) 15-3 jointly conducted by the United States and Vietnam in central Quang Ngai Province from March 23 to 30.PACANGEL is a total force, joint and combined humanitarian assistance operation led by the U.S.’s Pacific Air Forces, according to the U.S. Pacific Command (U.S. PACOM).PACANGEL 15-3 included general health, dental, optometry, pediatrics and engineering programs, as well as various subject-matter expert exchanges, the U.S. PACOM said.PACANGEL enhances participating nations’ humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities, according to the U.S. PACOM.View original article: http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/27171/...entral-vietnam View full article

March 27, 2015: U.S. SOCOM (Special Operations Command) has decided to install a 105mm cannon in its new AC-130J gunship. In the last decade SOCOM had been replacing the 40mm and 20mm autocannon and 105mm cannon with missiles but combat experienced showed that that cannon were still needed in many situations. Before that SOCOM decided to bring back autocannon and install 30mm cannon (to replace the rather elderly 40mm and 20mm models). Thus the latest C-130 gunship model, the AC-130J has a 105mm cannon fired out the back of the aircraft via a modified rear ramp. Meanwhile SOCOM has standardized on the Griffin missile and GPS guided SDB (small diameter bomb). The Mk44 30mm Bushmaster cannon weighs 157 kg (344 pounds) and fires at 200 or 400 rounds per minute (up to 7 per second). The cannon has 160 rounds available before needing a reload. That means the gunner has 25-50 seconds worth of ammo, depending on rate of fire used. Each 30mm round weighs about 714 g (25 ounces, depending on type). Explosive anti-personnel rounds are fired when used in gunships. The fire control system, and night vision sensors, enable the 30mm gunners to accurately hit targets with high explosive shells. The 105mm cannon used is a modified (to weigh about 1.4 tons) version of the M102 howitzer that was used by light infantry units from the 1960s to the 1990s. The M102 fires a 15 kg (33 pound) shell. The complete round (with casing and propellant) weighs about 19 kg (42 pounds). On the ground the 105mm fires at distant targets it cannot see, with the shell following a curved trajectory to hit something up to 11 kilometers away. On the gunship it fires directly at targets the gunship sensors can see and that shortens the range to about 1,100 meters. On the gunship the 105mm can fire up one round every ten seconds. Usually only one round per target is needed. In the older AC-130s 96 105mm rounds were carried. The larger AC-130J can carry twice as many, if not more. SOCOM is expanding its existing AC-130 gunship fleet to 37 new AC-130J models. These will replace 37 older models (eight AC-130Hs, 12 AC-130Ws and 17 AC-130Us). When using the SDB and missiles the AC-130J can fly high enough to stay out of range of ground fire and this enables it to operate in daylight. But with the cannon the gunship must fly much lower, where the sensors, and all weapons, are more effective if only because the missiles and bombs arrive on target more quickly and the 30mm and 105mm cannon can add their firepower. When using the cannon the AC-130J only operates at night. View original article: https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsf/20150327.aspx

The 352nd Special Operations Group was redesignated as the 352nd Special Operations Wing during a ceremony held in Hangar 814 March 23. Immediately following this, the 752nd Special Operations Group and the 352nd Special Operations Maintenance Group were activated.Consisting of six squadrons and two groups, the 352nd SOW includes more than 1,200 Air Commandos and provides support to the European theater as well as other combatant commands when necessary.“We not only support Special Operations Command – Europe, but we will also support Special Operations Command – Africa, to combat the challenges we see and the struggles we have against violent extremism. And that is not going away anytime soon,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Brad Heithold, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command.The request for the redesignation was made to reflect the increased responsibilities and capabilities of the units, people and assets – a tradition carried on by today’s Air Commandos.“To the men and women of the 352nd Special Operations Wing – congratulations,” said U.S. Air Force Col. William Holt, 352nd SOW and Joint Special Operations Air Component – Europe commander. “Seventy-one years ago, the 2nd Air Commando Group was formed with a singular task: be one-fourth the size of comparable units, yet bring twice the capability. That is your lineage and that is how we will move into the future.”The 752nd SOG, commanded by U.S. Air Force Col. Nathan C. Green, is responsible for planning and executing specialized and contingency operations using advanced aircraft, tactics and air refueling techniques to infiltrate, exfiltrate and resupply special operations forces.“The (752nd SOG is) a busy place and it is only getting busier. We currently have planes, crews, maintenance, support personnel and battlefield personnel all over Europe, Africa and the Central Command theaters,” Green said. “We have people forward right now, this very minute, in harm’s way and several others on alert for whatever needs to be done, whatever call comes next. We are ready; you are ready.”The 352nd SOMXG, commanded by U.S. Air Force Col. Eric V. Faison, provides all organizational maintenance on MC-130J Commando II and CV-22B Osprey aircraft assigned to the group's two special operations flying squadrons. The 352nd SOMXG also provides management for the group's engine and equipment inventories.“I’m excited, yet humbled, to be given the opportunity to lead this remarkable team of maintenance professionals; men and women who maintain two of this nation’s newest and highly-demanded weapon systems in the defense of our nation,” Faison said. “Never forget that, when all is said and done, the power of the Air Force is in our people, not our platforms. It is the total force team here at RAF Mildenhall that fulfills the purpose and the promise of our Air Force.”The 352nd SOW’s mission will continue with its current purpose: to provide combat ready forces, first and foremost.“In the past year, you’ve increased your aircraft by 40 percent and personnel by 200,” Holt said. “We will continue to build our new CV-22 and MC-130J capabilities and training. We will work closely to develop and strengthen new and enduring relationships with our partners across Europe. And we will maintain a sharp and constant focus on safety and mission accomplishment. Europe’s Air Commandos will prove the motto of ‘Mission First, People Always.’”The 352nd SOW is comprised of the 67th Special Operations Squadron flying the MC-130J Commando II; the 7th Special Operations Squadron flying the CV-22B Osprey; the 321st Special Tactics Squadron composed of combat controllers, pararescumen and combat weathermen; and the 352nd Special Operations Support Squadron which provides in-garrison and deployed command and control support as well as the two maintenance squadrons, the 352nd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron and the 352nd Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.View original article: http://www.afsoc.af.mil/News/Article...ildenhall.aspx View full article

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, March 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Lynden Air Cargo's L-100 Hercules aircraft is being put to use flying relief supplies to Vanuatu after Tropical Cyclone Pam devastated the South Pacific Islands March 13. Communications company Digicel Fiji chartered a Lynden Air Cargo plane from Nadi, Fiji, to the capital city of Port Vila within days of the cyclone. It was loaded with food rations and technical equipment to repair towers and networks to restore communications throughout the islands. Now working with the World Food Program (WFP), Lynden continues to pick up more supplies from Brisbane, Australia, for air delivery to Port Vila in support of humanitarian efforts."We are coordinating flights as quickly as possible in cooperation with government authorities," says Rick Zerkel, Lynden Air Cargo President. "With 65,000 people left homeless from Cyclone Pam, there is an urgent need for relief supplies. We are committed to helping in any way we can for as long as our services are needed."Lynden operates a fleet of six Hercules around the world specializing in remote site services and requiring minimal equipment for loading and offloading. The unique features of the aircraft make it ideal for flying aid into isolated disaster areas. Lynden Air Cargo has provided assistance at some of the world's worst disasters, including the Haiti earthquake in 2011 and the Indonesian earthquake and Samoan tsunami in 2009. Working with the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), the Red Cross and the U.S. Military, Lynden has delivered emergency vehicles, portable hospitals, food, water and relief workers to ravaged areas across the globe.Lynden Air Cargo is one of the Lynden family of companies, whose combined capabilities include shipping to Alaska, truckload and less-than-truckload transportation, barge service to Hawaii and Alaska, charter barges, worldwide air and ocean forwarding, third-party logistics, trade show shipping, intermodal bulk chemical hauls, scheduled and chartered Hercules L-382 cargo aircraft and multi-modal logistics. Lynden companies are repeat winners in the annual Quest for Quality awards presented by Logistics Management magazine. View original article: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/lynden...160300137.html View full article

Mumbai: One of India's biggest defence cargo planes landed on the tiny runway at the Juhu Airport in Mumbai this morning.The Hercules C130J was flown to Juhu as an exercise to see if the airport in the western suburbs of Mumbai could be used in case the city's main airport is attacked.The massive transport plane, used to carry troops and supplies, stood at Juhu for 10 minutes before flying out.Most aircraft of this size require a runway with conventional dimensions of a fully functional airport, but the Hercules can land on much shorter lengths of unpaved or paved runways. The runway at the Juhu aerodrome is 3750 feet long, very short compared to the 12008 feet long runway at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA).The Hercules C130J has earlier, in August 2013, landed at the runway at Daulat Baig Oldie in Ladakh, one of the highest and most inhospitable runways the world over.Upper image credit: http://www.iamin.in/en/mumbai-north-...raft-land-juhuLower image credit : http://idrw.org/archives/60868 View full article

Hercules NZ7001 c/n 4052 turns 50 today, and is spending her birthday doing what she has so often done before – delivering aid in the Pacific.Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130 NZ7001 was the first of five C-130s which arrived at RNZAF Base Auckland in Whenuapai in 1965. Since then, the C-130 has been at the forefront of many New Zealand Defence Force operations, missions and exercises.The hard-working C-130 flew out of Whenuapai on Sunday morning with aid for Tuvalu and picked up more in Suva. After delivering that cargo to Tuvalu, she returned to Suva for the night.Yesterday, she took three pallets of medical supplies and 40 Fijian soldiers to Port Vila in Vanuatu and returned to Suva for a second night.Today she flies to Port Vila again with more Fijian support and relief supplies before returning to Whenuapai, where she is expected to land around 8pm tonight.There is no official birthday party for NZ7001 but 40 Squadron personnel will welcome her home in style.40 Squadron Commanding Officer (CO) Squadron Leader Steve Thornley said that it was a great privilege to be CO on such an occasion. “In the 50 years these amazing aircraft have served New Zealand, they have spanned the globe supporting everything you could expect of an air transport aircraft, both in peace time and on active operations,” he said.“This month alone we have seen C-130s delivering aid, supporting NZDF personnel in the Middle East and moving an elephant for Auckland Zoo. It is this sort of utility that keeps these aircraft in such high demand all over the world and is a testament to both the quality of design and the commitment of those that work on them that the first of our fleet of five has reached this milestone. “As for the birthday celebrations, they will be short-lived as our maintenance team turn her around for another mission to Vanuatu tomorrow,” he said.To celebrate the 50 year milestone, specially designed tail art has been installed on NZ7001 which she will wear for the coming twelve months. BACKGROUND ON THE C-130 FLEET The C-130 provides the NZDF with tactical airlift capability and primarily performs the intra-theatre portion of an airlift mission due to the aircraft’s ability to land on dirt strips, paddocks and even beaches. The C-130 is suitable for a range of military missions including search and rescue, transporting troops and cargo, and humanitarian aid and disaster relief.Chief of Air Force Air Vice-Marshal (AVM) Yardley says the utility of the aircraft is regularly demonstrated with the tasks undertaken by 40 Squadron almost every week.“The C-130 is one of our busiest fleets because of the variety of taskings it can complete. For example, this summer season we have flown four missions to Antarctica to support Antarctica New Zealand and we recently delivered two large electricity generators to Mauke in the Cook Islands,” he said.To ensure the C-130 remains fit for purpose, all five aircraft have been upgraded in a Life Extension Upgrade project led by the Ministry of Defence out of RNZAF Base Woodbourne in Blenheim. This project has replaced mechanical, structural and avionics components, installed new flight deck communications and improved navigation systems. The last aircraft (NZ7002) is due to be completed in December 2015.New Zealand is one of 60 nations who use the C-130 for tactical airlifting. The C-130 has had the longest continuous production run of any military aircraft in history, from 1955 onwards.View original article: http://foreignaffairs.co.nz/2015/03/...cific-islands/ Keep a look out for NZ7001 now featuring a 50th anniversary logo on the tail - you can't miss it! Image and caption from a related article: http://airsoc.com/articles/view/id/5...-c130-hercules View full article

MARIETTA, Ga., March 24, 2015 – Three variants of the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft were recently delivered to U.S. military operators from the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] Aeronautics facility located here. On March 19, a U.S. Air Force crew took delivery of and ferried an MC-130J Commando II Special Operations tanker aircraft that is assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command’s 353rd Special Operations Group at Kadena Air Base, Japan. (12-5763 c/n 5763)Photo by Andrew McMurtrie. On March 24, a U.S. Air Force crew ferried an HC-130J Combat King II personnel recovery aircraft assigned to Air Combat Command’s (ACC) 347th Rescue Group at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. That aircraft was officially delivered to the U.S. Government on March 20.(11-5765 c/n 5765)Photo by Todd R. McQueen. Also on March 19, an HC-130J long-range search and rescue aircraft for the U.S. Coast Guard was delivered and ferried to Lockheed Martin’s Greenville, South Carolina, site for post-production modifications, including paint and finishes. This aircraft will be re-delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard in 2016. (2008 c/n 5766)Photo by Andrew McMurtrie. View Original article: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/new...delivered.html View full article

The Coast Guard last week accepted delivery of its eighth C-130J Super Hercules aircraft from Lockheed Martin [LMT] for use in long-range surveillance missions.The aircraft will next be outfitted with radars and sensors and other specialized equipment by Lockheed... http://www.defensedaily.com/coast-guard-takes-delivery-of-eighth-c-130j-surveillance-aircraft/ Anyone know the c/n or tail number?

EXTON, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Innovative Solutions & Support, Inc. (IS&S) (NASDAQ: ISSC) completed the flight testing and customer delivery of its NextGen Flight Management System (FMS) on the C-130 aircraft. As part of a fleet-wide flight deck installation program, the first plane has been completed and accepted by our customer. The second aircraft has commenced modification. This extensive flight deck upgrade transforms the cockpits on both C-130 and L-100-30 aircraft, integrating legacy and newly installed equipment into a common advanced cockpit. The transformation makes the aircraft Communication, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) and Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS) ready. The IS&S flight deck upgrade integrates the IS&S FMS with seven large Flat Panel Displays, a Standby Navigation Unit, a Warning System and computers to enhance tactical and situational awareness while improving the reliability, maintainability and mission readiness of the aircraft. The IS&S NextGen Flight Management System integrated with Beta 3 GPS receivers provides RNP/RF WAAS/GPS and LPV capabilities. These capabilities, unprecedented in this aircraft, further demonstrate the robustness and cross-platform versatility of the IS&S FMS. The included Standby Navigation Unit senses, processes and displays altitude, attitude, airspeed, slip/skid and navigation information in an intuitive single instrument display. Further, the system includes Primary, Navigation and Engine Instrument Displays with associated Control Panels and Data Concentrators. The Caution, Warning and Advisory Panel (CWAP) enables centralized cautionary and warning indications in the flight deck and provides an interface with the remote attention getters to enable flight crew alert of annunciated cautions or warnings. CWAP also provides outputs to activate warnings in the aircraft audio tone and voice alerting system. This successful flight test and customer delivery is another example of the growing use of IS&S products for military applications. The IS&S NextGen Flight Deck provides exceptional system integration, performance, low cost, lighter weight and lower power consumption. About Innovative Solutions & Support, Inc. Headquartered in Exton, Pa., Innovative Solutions & Support, Inc. (www.innovative-ss.com) is a systems integrator that designs and manufactures flight guidance and cockpit display systems for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM’s) and retrofit applications. The company supplies integrated Flight Management Systems (FMS) and advanced GPS receivers for precision low carbon footprint navigation. IS&S supplies Flight Management solutions to the commercial air transport market, the military aviation market for C-130, L-100 and the business aviation market for the Eclipse E500 and E550 aircraft. Certain matters contained herein that are not descriptions of historical facts are “forward-looking” (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Because such statements include risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those discussed in filings made by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Many of the factors that will determine the Company’s future results are beyond the ability of management to control or predict. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflects management’s views only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View original article: http://www.businesswire.com/news/hom...t#.VRCHrct0wnU View full article

Twenty-one years ago today, a fireball passed over hundreds of 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers at Green Ramp, killing 24 and injuring more than 100 others. It was an otherwise lovely day. A clear blue "Carolina" sky -- the perfect day for a Hollywood jump.But when an F-16 and C-130 collided in the skies over what was then Pope Air Force Base, it sent the jet into the runway, crashing into a C-141 and, ultimately, the paratroopers waiting to jump at Green Ramp.To my knowledge, there's no official ceremony this year. In years past, those have been few and far between.But its a safe bet those involved are turning their thoughts to those lost and what could have been today. A few of them already told me as much.Today, try to take the time to do the same.The following are the names of those lost 21 years ago: Capt. Christopher D. Dunaway, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment Capt. Kenneth J. Golla, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment Staff Sgt. Charles W. Elliott, Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment Staff Sgt. Daniel Camargo, Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment Staff Sgt. Daniel E. Price, Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment Staff Sgt. Harry L. Momoa Jr., Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment Staff Sgt. Mark G. Gibson, Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment Staff Sgt. Waddington Sanchez, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment Staff Sgt. Alan D. Miller, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment Staff Sgt. James C. Howard, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment Sgt. Alexander P. Bolz, Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment Sgt. James M. Walters Jr., Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment Sgt. Gregory D. Nunes, Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment Sgt. Vincent S. Strayhorn, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment Sgt. Gustavo Gallardo, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment Spc. Martin R. Lumbert, Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment Spc. Matthew J. Zegan, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment Spc. Sean M. Dixon, Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment Spc. Bee Jay Cearley, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment Pfc. Andrew J. Jones, Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment Pfc. Paul B. Finnegan, Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment Pfc. Tommy Caldwell, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment Pvt. Mark E. Fritsch, Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment Pvt. Phillip J. Harvey, Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment View original article: http://www.fayobserver.com/blogs/new...09da5a604.html View full article

Caption says that it is a B-47.

It must be 93-1458 c/n [cn]5363[/cn] 2012-07-01 MAFFS 7, MAFFS-equipped Air Force C-130H, assigned to the 145th Airlift Wing, North Carolina Air National Guard, Morris Field, Charlotte, crashed in southwest South Dakota while fighting the White Draw Fire, killing four crew and seriously injuring two. http://www.c-130hercules.net/content.php/387-C-130-MAFFS-air-tanker-goes-down-in-South-Dakota

A week after telling Congress it had a different “interpretation” of the 2015 defense authorization legislation directing the service to implement the C-130 Avionics Modernization Program, the Air Force seems to be complying. In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee’s air land subcommittee on Thursday, Lt. Gen. James Holmes, deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and requirements, said there have been “meetings with [congressional] staffers” in recent weeks in which USAF agreed to do the AMP. USAF killed the program two years ago, but Congress insisted it be carried out, even threatening a 15 percent hit on USAF readiness accounts if it refused. “Our intent … is to spend the AMP money on AMP,” Holmes said. The work in Fiscal 2016 will involve mostly research, development, test, and evaluation, since technology has moved on since USAF last had an up-to-date AMP implementation plan, he said. The Air Force planned to do only a limited amount of avionics work on the C-130 fleet to make it compatible with air traffic control requirements. However, the planned reduction in the C-130 fleet from 328 to 300 means the cost of doing AMP and just the air traffic work is converging and seems more affordable now, but “something else won’t get done,” Holmes said. USAF will “work with Congress on how we’re going to move out” on the AMP, he said. (Holmes prepared testimony)View original article: http://www.airforcemag.com/DRArchive...P-is-Back.aspx View full article

The Army and Air Force planes, which were carrying 13 people on separate training exercises, declared emergencies and landed safely, the report said.The Army Special Operations Command C-27J and the Air Force C-130H collided about eight miles south of Camp Mackall around 8:22 p.m. on Dec. 1.The C-27 was traveling from the Laurinburg-Maxton airport to two drop zones for simulated airdrops. The C-130 was performing an escape maneuver to egress the Luzon Drop Zone after completing a visual Container Delivery System airdrop, according to the report, which the newspaper obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.The right wingtip of the C-27 grazed the right underside of the C-130 at the nose gear door, which damaged the gear door and tore the flare dispenser hood from the fuselage.The C-27's vertical stabilizer, or tail, crossed in front of the nose of the C-130 and between the prop arcs of the C-130's No. 3 and No. 4 engines. The vertical stabilizer came into contact with the front of the C-130's right external fuel tank and continued its impact down the inboard side of the No. 4 engine and leading edge of the right wing near the engine mount, according to the report.There were no injuries to the eight Air Force crew members of the C-130 or five Army crew members of the C-27, according to the report.The C-130 sustained damage to the leading edge of the right wing and No. 4 engine. Officials estimate the damage and cleanup for the C-130 at $1.8 million.The C-27 sustained significant damage to the top third of the vertical stabilizer and rudder. Damage estimates are still being calculated.The Accident Investigation Board, which investigated the collision, found "clear and convincing evidence that the cause of the mishap was a breakdown in visual scan resulting in insufficient clearing of the aircraft flight path by both aircrews," according to the report.Both aircrews were over-reliant on Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems to alert them to potential traffic conflicts. Also, both crews became complacent due to the routine nature of the mission profiles, according to the report.View original article: http://www.fayobserver.com/military/...f1a60b720.html View full article

The U.S. Forest Service has issued the solicitation for a flight crew to operate the C-130H air tanker that they expect to have available at McClellan at Sacramento, Calilfornia beginning in mid-May. They intend to fill the following jobs initially for a nine month period with options to extend the term of the contract for an additional two years. 1 C-130H Qualified Contractor Aircrew Project Manager 2 MAFFS II Qualified Instructor Pilots, 1 US Coast Guard Qualified Flight Engineer Instructor, or US Air Force Qualified FE Instructor 2 MAFFS II Qualified Load Master Instructors The requirements for the two pilots: Must be current and qualified as a MAFFS Instructor within the last two years from the closing date of the solicitation. C-130J pilots must have been previously qualified as instructors in the C- 130H, and must be a MAFFS IPs (AC/IP) with the following minimum experience: (A) 1,500 hours flight time in a C-130H aircraft, (B) 30 drops on fire, (C) 4 seasons conducting MAFFS II Missions, (D) 6 Deployments (Fire Deployments) (E) Instructor status in respective crew position. (F) 100 instructor hours. The closing date for the solicitation is April 10 — about a month before the C-130H arrives at McClellan.A few weeks ago the USFS changed their plans about how many of the seven C-130H aircraft that are in the process of being retrofitted and transferred from the Coast Guard, will be operational this year as air tankers. On February 4 their intent was to have two of the C-130Hs this summer, both outfitted temporarily with the MAFFS pressurized internal retardant tanks, rather than a conventional gravity-based retardant tank. One would be used on fires within 500 nautical miles (575 statute miles) of McClellan, California, and the other aircraft would have been used as a training platform until it departed for programmed depot-level maintenance in the Fall of CY 2015.Their revised plan is to have only one C-130H operational this summer and it would still be used only on fires within 500 nautical miles of McClellan. Aircraft 1721 is scheduled for delivery to Warner Robins Air Force Base for “MAFFS panel installation” around March 13, and should arrive at McClellan by mid-May. There appear to be no other changes to the schedule. The last of the seven C-130Hs are expected to be delivered, with internal gravity-based retardant tanks, in FY 2019. More details are in our February 9 and March 11 articles.View Original article:http://fireaviation.com/2015/03/15/u...0-flight-crew/ View full article

I have added a print of HC-130P 64-14865 c/n [cn]4098[/cn] to the Print Shop. As always, feedback is appreciated. [ATTACH=CONFIG]4715[/ATTACH] View detailed image of this print in the Print Viewer Purchase this print Visit the C-130 Print Shop The Illustrations C-130 Hercules.net profiles are digitally created illustrations. They are not retouched photos nor do they contain elements or parts of photographs. Everything you see on the profile has been created from scratch, even graphics, emblems and logos. Separate logos and patches that appear around the profile may be supplied from third party sources. Each illustration starts with collection of references and many hours of research. From there, line work is created in Adobe Photoshop. Once the line work is as accurate as reasonably possible, color, shading, etc. are added. Each aircraft takes a minimum of 20 hours to complete, with the more complex models/variants taking upward of 100 hours. The Prints Our profile prints are printed on archive grade acid free paper using pigment based inks. The manufacturers claim a 100 year life for their products when properly cared for. We use MOAB Lasal Photo Matte paper which is made in the U.S.A. by Legion paper and is 235 gsm in weight (around three-times heavier than good quality copy paper or about the same as a business card). It has a beautiful matte finish that lends itself well to the subject matter. The prints are printed on a Canon professional 9000 Mark II printer using an 8 color dye based ink system. This combination of paper, printer and ink produces a very high quality archive and gallery grade acid-free print with brilliant, deep colors and an exceptionally long life span. Commissions, Tribute Prints and Personalization If there is a particular model, variant, tail number, etc. that you are looking for which is not currently offered, drop us a line with some details and we will get back to you regarding your exclusive print. --Casey

As you all know, this site is about more than the C-130. Discussions regarding Veteran benefits are quite popular and through these discussions, several visitors have receive valuable, even life changing, assistance. Therefore, I found it worthwhile to create a new forum for these discussions. The new forum US Armed Forces Veterans Discussion is divided into two sections: VA Benefits and Other Benefits. I looked through the forums and move several threads into the VA Benefits forum. If there are other threads that should be moved to this area, let me know and I will move them as well. Additionally, if you see a need for additional forums, let me know and I will look into creating them. I hope you all find the new forums beneficial. --Casey

I have added a new page Latest C-130 Fleet Updates to the C-130 Database. It displays the latest update for each aircraft sorted by date (the date for update, not the entered date). You can view the entire profile for an aircraft by clicking the blue aircraft c/n. I hope you find it useful. --Casey

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