Metalbasher

A C-130 Hercules crew rapidly and correctly analyzed a developing situation, applied emergency procedures and recovered an aircraft, its passengers and crew without incident after encountering unforeseen wind shear May 20 in Southwest Asia. The 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron C-130 and its crew, hailing from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, was carrying 45 Soldiers when it was suddenly hit by violent winds while on approach to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq. "We were on our initial approach into Al Asad," said Capt. Andrew Gillis, a 737th EAS C-130 aircraft commander and native of San Jose, Calif. "We were the third aircraft to go in. No one else reported any issues. In the middle of our approach, it started getting real rocky, and our air speed indicator ended up bouncing up and down plus or minus 20 knots." Falling back on countless hours of training and simulations, Captain Gillis advanced the throttles to max power to break off the descent and go around again. There was only one problem. "We had absolutely max power from the airplane," Captain Gillis said. "There's a specific escape maneuver, and we were in the process of doing that maneuver, but the airplane was still sinking." Tech. Sgt. Joe Holloway, the aircraft's flight engineer and a son of Pensacola, Fla., said even the crew on the ground could tell the aircraft was in a difficult situation. "The controller even asked, 'Confirm you're going to climb,'" he said. "So even he knew." Finally, after sinking through the wind shear for almost seven miles, the C-130 began to climb again. "We didn't climb away until we reached the approach end of the runway," Captain Gillis said. "So we had to be in it for seven miles, about two minutes. It started at 1,800 feet above the ground, and we recovered at 1,000 feet." With the winds making a safe landing impossible, the crew headed for home, enduring another 30 minutes of intense turbulence. 1st Lt. Jeff Stanek, the aircraft's navigator, said the wind shear and turbulence were caused by a massive storm front hundreds of miles away. "There was a huge storm front the size of California that moved over Turkey," said the native of Marlboro, Md. "And it moved faster than anticipated. We were clear of the actual storm, but the gust front in front of the storm is what we hit." Lt. Col. Buff Burkel, the 737th EAS commander, said the C-130 crew performed just as they were trained to and by doing so safely recovered their aircraft, their passengers and themselves. "It's definitely what I expect from my Desert Foxes," she said. "Flying is a profession that is inherently dangerous. We spend a lot of training time teaching and practicing emergency procedures that may occur in the flight environment. Training, discipline, professionalism and teamwork are the standards. Captain Gillis and his crew met them that night."

me too please spward@cox.net Scott

From the Robins Museum of Aviation webpage...the last acft modified is still in the modified configuration on display behind the museum. Lockheed YMC-130H In 1981 it was one of three C-130H aircraft that were specially modified for use in a possible rescue attempt of the Americans held hostage in Iran in 1981. Code named "Credible Sport", the stock C-130H aircraft had highly modified flight control, flap system and airframe components allowed the installation of various rocket systems for short take off and landing (STOL) capabilities unique to the rescue operation. Although never actually used, one of the aircraft was destroyed during testing and second was demodified and returned to service and the third, this one on display, was retired to the Museum in 1987.

I don't know anything about 946, but do know that 539 was "Franken-Herk" as they say. Worked it at Pope and Yokota. It was rumored to have had major structural damage and was peice-milled back together with bits and pieces of 3-4 different acft that were donors for one reason or another. Ran across a few things weren't necessarily the way they should have been, especially in comparison to other acft, structurally anyway. Scott

News story said that the SEALS jumped into the ocean in order to meet up w/ the boat so one could assume it was via C-130.

Anyone happen to know where Tony Holmes is now...he was the FE on 945 that crashed at Bragg...one of the two that survived. Last I saw him, he was the club master at arms at Yokota in 94-95

U.S. Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs 3/27/2009 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- American and Polish airmen delivered the first of five refurbished C-130E Hercules military transport planes and spare parts March 24 to the Polish air force at Powidz Air Base, Poland. "It's a great day for them to celebrate the arrival of the Hercules. It's vital to them being able to -- own their own -- organically pick up and go," said Air Force Maj. Gen. William A. Chambers, the U.S. Air Forces in Europe director of air and space operations. "They're one of our allies who are very willing to go," he said. "Whether it is Afghanistan or Iraq, they've been alongside the Americans in both fights. The 'Herc' is a great symbol of the American-Polish partnership, and we're grateful to be alongside them." It was a sentiment echoed by Polish Brig. Gen. Tadeusz Mikutel, the 33rd Air Base commander. "This is a milestone for our air defense. The plane is able to carry 17 tons of equipment or 90 equipped soldiers. That is why the plane will leave (our) CASA planes behind," General Mikutel said. Also on hand for the celebration were Stanislaw Komorowski, Poland's vice minister of defense; Polish Lt. Gen. Andrzej Blasik, commander of the Polish air force; Pamela Quanrud, the deputy chief of mission for the American Embassy in Warsaw; and several Polish military and local government authorities. The new plane expands the Polish air force's ability to transport troops and equipment, while providing support for evacuation and humanitarian operations. Its presence in the Polish fleet will also increase their interoperability with other air forces because the C-130 is used by several nations around the world, to include NATO allies. The C-130 received an escort to Powidz AB by F-16s from the Polish air force when it neared its final destination, and performed two flyovers of the gathered crowd to showcase the newest addition to the Polish inventory. Upon landing, both the American and Polish crews were recognized for the achievement. "I think we can accomplish a lot of missions to deliver cargo to our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq," said Polish Sgt. Andrzej Kozera, a C-130 flight engineer. The Reserve aircrew from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and an active-duty loadmaster from Edwards AFB, Calif., picked the plane up in Waco, Texas, with their Polish counterparts after its refurbishment and flew it across the Atlantic, stopping at Ramstein AB. It made its final leg to Powidz AB, where it will become part of the 14th Lift Squadron. The entire project, including total refurbishment of five aircraft, support equipment, supplies, training and contracted logistics support, is valued at $120 million. The donation is a result of an American pledge to provide Poland with such a capability, and is fully funded through bilateral military assistance grant money. The delivery of the five modernized and upgraded aircraft is scheduled to be complete in the summer of 2010.

what do you mean "dumb bird" with a big bird paint scheme?

What is the part # for those small access panels at the end outboard of the belly band?

wonder how much their asking for it?

Sonny Do you know the actual work control document #s you referenced. "That is part of the PDM work spec. The actual work cards have references and 202 instructions." I checked the work spec 1B7B and it doesn't really provide any guidance for these drain holes. I think I'm going to have to look up the panels in the IPB and then pull a print for them from JETMIX and go from there. But a TCTO or a specific work control document/work spec card or a 202 or 202 reference from previous aircraft would greatly help out. I can backtrack a previous 202 from the office. Thanks Scott

I'm trying to locate a TCTO # for installing drain holes in the two small rectangular access panels outboard of the belly band. The panels are maybe 5" x 7" and cover a 1" elbow for urinal drain line. I've checked a few acft here at WR and have discovered some acft have the drain holes and some do not. I'm told the holes resulted from a TCTO, but no one seems to recall the #. Not even sure of the time frame for the TCTO...if I had time frame, engineers could search the data base a little easier. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks Scott

Nate I actually live in Bonaire, very close to Winn Dixie. We bought there in Udon by the airport in 2002. Didn't really go there to buy but it came up as a way to avoid paying for a hotel for 30 days at a whack. Wife's family all lived out in the "jungle" about 75 klicks out of town. We actually ended up buying the house during a promotional offer in that subdivision with the plan that her younger sister would live there and take care of the house, thus avoiding house squatters from moving in when we weren't home. Worked out for the better as sister's boyfriend's brother was general construction contractor that did all kinds of upgrades/modifications for me at cost. I;m not retired yet but we intended on using it as a summer home/winter home deal, however that was just a dream that was jsut busted...going through divorce now and will most likely never see that house again. What can you do, right? Scott

Fed Std color # should be 17925 for the white and 16473 for the grey. Not sure abou the prop tips as we always painted 4" black strips on our AF props.

I did an MRT to Kota Kinabalu Malaysia (Located on the Northern Tip of the Island of Borneo) to replaced an elevator and do a hard landing inspection. Ended up being there 3 1/2 weeks in Dec over xmas. The last week was spent doing nothing as we were waiting on FCF crew and a lox cart to come in. Basking in the white sand beaches, 90 degree ocean water, 95 degree air temps, snorkeling on an uninhabitated island and then RTB'd about 5 PM on New Year's eve...enough time to shower and head out to bring in the New Year.

Originally Posted by cobra935o I have been to all the stops mentioned, just not at the same time as you. My wife just happens to be from Thailand, a little city most Vietnam vets refer to as Udorn, which I have only called Udon, they must have changed the name of that place too over the years! Nathan My wife is from there as well, I actually have a house there now, right at the air port. It is called Udornthani, but everyone including the locals refer to it as Udon, not to be confused with Ubon which is further east. Scott

Its my understanding two aircraft rec'd this mod...one was destroyed and the second is still modified and on display at the Robins Museum.

This acft was at Yokota at least while I was there...90-94. I know why there it was the WG/CC's acft. I remember painting the base newspaper logo "Fuji Flyer" on the side of the acft. Also at the same time, we (USAF) were converting the tail markings from the traditional 5 digit tail #'s to a two-letter wing designator, in this case, YJ was placed on the tail. This acft also did a christmas run to Palua dropping gifts etc. I know I sent Casey some pix of nose art in the past...one of them was the side of the acft with the "Fuji Flyer" on the side. Scott

Do you have the link for "true stories"? Those 5 gray aircraft wouldn't happen to be the "Super Es" that were known to have been at some of those same locations would they? Had removable stars/bars placards as well as tail # placards.

No I\'m not thinking of the comfort pallets that we all know of. I was able to get some more information but it doesn\'t really help. I did run across some folks that know exactly what I\'m talking about and as it turns out...it was something that was most likely fabricated at MAC/AMC\'s Queen Bee Plastic Shop (@ McGuire AFB). This was something that was small and portable, yet could be secured to the ramp or floor...made from fiberglass. The comfort pallet took up too much room for personnel drop, so this little item came up...would provide a means of relief for pax/troops without creating a line and would still accomadate a full compliment of jumpers. As I mentioned...most likely homemade with drawings...tracking them down is a different story...will check with SPOs office. Scott

I just received a phone call this morning regarding the job announcement below at Robins AFB, Warner Robins GA…complete details are on the webpage below. This job announcement open today and closes on 12 Dec 08. They have 24 vacancies to fill. Resumes must be created and submitted via USA Jobs (see link below). These positions start out as WG-07s and transition to a WG-09 within 90 days. They will be primarily assigned to C-130, C5 and C-17 airframes. Vacancy Ann.#: WR215948 Who May Apply: Public Pay Plan: WG-4102-07 Appointment Term: Permanent Job Status: Full-Time Opening Date: 12/11/2008 Salary: 18.30 USD per hour See www.usajobs.com

Its not a Robins thing only...AF-wide. It is an initiative/fall out of the whole nuke mishandling mishaps in the recent past. Either way, it puts a little more integrity into the system as folks are not spending weekends and long shifts to prepare for something. The point is to see what folks are doing on a regular basis...good bad or other...then after the inspection people will know of their shortcomings and fix them accordingly.

Help, I\'m trying to locate some information regarding the portable urinal stations that are self-contained that would be uploaded to the acft when doing personnel drops or large number of pax for long flights. These were used so that all the pax would not have to wait to use the on acft aft urinals. If I remember correctly, they really weren\'t more than a urinal with a large splash shield and line going into a holding tank. The assembly could be strapped to the floor and then off loaded upon arrival to be dumped. It was more or less a go between when you had more pax than could use the on acft urinals but not really enough to warrant a comfort pallet. I believe it was made of plastic too. Looking for NSN, part number or manufacturer. Not sure if it is referenced in a TO or not, I do have access to the TOs, just not sure where to start looking. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks Scott

KC-130R Escorted to Final Flight November 21, 2008 Marine Corps News|by LCpl. Tyler J. Hlavac MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA, OKINAWA, Japan — Aircraft lot number 160622 had a good run during its 30-year Marine Corps lifespan, but nothing, not even the KC-130R, lasts forever. Nick Dicandia experienced the beginning and the end of the craft while serving as an aircrew member aboard the final flight of the same KC-130R he served on during its maiden flight 30 years ago. Dicandia, a contract field team supervisor working for the Lockheed Martin aeronautics company, is currently assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. His job is to help pilots transition from the KC-130R aircraft to the newer KC-130J, which replaced the KC-130Rs in VMGR 152’s aircraft inventory. But for Dicandia, aircraft 160622 is special. Dicandia first ‘met’ the aircraft when he was a gunnery sergeant, working as a flight engineer for the MCAS Cherry Point-based VGMR-252. At the time, VMGR-252 was looking to update their squadron of 17-year old KC-130F aircraft with the new KC-130R. The squadron sent a flight crew to Marietta, Ga., to take a course on how to operate the KC-130Rs. Dicandia, along with a fellow group of “senior, heavy hitter Marines,†was chosen from the squadron based on his level of expertise and skill. The crew was trained as instructors and flew the aircraft from Lockheed Martin’s production factory in Marietta to Cherry Point, N.C. in 1978. The KC-130R aircraft was ‘mind blowing’ at the time, Dicandia said. “To us it was like a starship. The KC-130F had not been modified since 1960, so comparing it with the KC-130R was like comparing night and day,†he said. “Some of the features were just amazing; including the external wing tanks; its improved propulsion system and its ability to haul far more weight. It gave us so much pride seeing the Marine Corps finally get their hands on the latest technology instead of always being out of the loop.†Dicandia was later reassigned and parted ways with the KC-130R he had grown to love. After retiring in 1996, Dicandia was immediately hired by Lockheed Martin. He initially worked at the company’s factory in Marietta. Dicandia worked there until July 2001 and then was assigned to MCAS Cherry Point, N.C., for the company’s KC-130J transition program. It was there he reunited with the KC-130R. Dicandia trained Marine flight crews on how to operate the Corps’ new KC-130J aircraft, just as he had been trained 23 years earlier on how to operate the KC-130R. While there, Dicandia waved farewell to aircraft 160622 when it was deployed to Okinawa to join the VGMR 152 inventory. After training numerous flight crews at Cherry Point from 2003 to 2005, and later in MCAS Miramar from 2005 to 2007, Dicandia reunited with the aircraft again in 2007 when he was reassigned by Lockheed to VGMR 152 MCAS Futenma. Seeing the aircraft again after four years was nostalgic, Dicandia said. “It brought back a lot of memories for me,†he said. “I spent hundreds of thousands of flight hours inside that aircraft and after a while, it starts to become part of you.†But it was nearing the end, and it was time to let go. VGMR 152 is replacing its aging fleet of KC-130R aircraft with the new KC-130J, and aircraft 160622 went on its final flight Nov. 15 to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, where it will be stored at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group. The end was bittersweet for Dicandia, who unhesitatingly accepted the offer from pilots of VGMR-152 to serve as an aircrew member on the final flight. Dicandia said the aircraft is capable of serving the Corps a few more years and he is sad to see it go. “I’m really glad I get to be a part of the aircraft’s final flight,†said Dicandia. “The aircraft still has some life left in it and I hope a private company spends the money to buy the aircraft from Davis-Monthan’s storage; that someone can find some use in it.†Dicandia said that in many ways the life cycle of people and aircraft are the same. “After awhile all the old warhorses get put out to pasture,†Dicandia said, pausing to reflect on his memories of the aircraft. “Just like I eventually reached my end of service for the Corps, so did this aircraft. But then again people, like aircraft, eventually move on.â€

I know we had all three \"Super Es\" at Yokota in the early 90s...think they made the move when the mountain blew up at Clark.