DC10FE

Never saw so much snow in my life. I still have an article from the base paper saying how much snow they had that winter -- 438 inches! Sure made working on the BUFF at midnight in January a challenge. There were still small snow berms on the ramp during the July open house.

Don R.

Although the Herc is my first love, I find the B-52 a fascinating airplane. I was a crew chief on one for about 6 months at KI Sawyer AFB, Michigan. It was not a maintenance-friendly airplane.

In this month's American Legion magazine, there is an article about the airplane. In it, the author says that "the B-52 is expected to remain in service until at least 2045. That's 93 years after its first flight." He also says "Executives at Boeing ..... have said that the crews that will fly the B-52 into the boneyard haven't been born yet."

That's freekin' amazing!!!

Don R.

Just as an FYI, on commercial Hercs, the galley is turned 90°. This photo is from St. Lucia Airways J6-SLO (4129). Our mechanics rigged up a microwave oven in place of the liquid containers. Very convenient.

Don R.

jakesnk,

Perhaps I worded that statement incorrectly. I should have said that while the FE was doing his taxi checks #3 ice detector would not test. It's not something to return to the ramp to have repaired, but he should have kept that in mind. It's been a very long time, but I think the engine ice detection system is only operable with the condition lever in run. If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone here will correct me.

Don R.

Although this wasn't a 4-engine rollback, I was a crew chief on a Dyess E-model that lost all 4 engines. It's a good story about how inexperience can get a person in a world of trouble.

We were on 63-7805 flying from Hamilton AFB to Hickam AB on an overwater nav trainer. During taxi out, the FE discovered that #3 ice detector was not working (first mistake). They decided to go anyway. Sometime after the ETP, # 2 gearbox oil pressure went to zero. The FE asked me to check the fuse (second mistake). I told him that if the gauge had failed, the needle would not go to zero -- it would hold its last position. He said to check it anyway. Guess what? The fuse was fine. As he was telling me to replace it, we all heard a loud boom and #2 started vibrating. It was shut down and ARRS was notified. A short time later, we encountered some pretty severe icing. Now remember, #2 is feathered and #3 ice detector was inop -- no ice detection, but the crew wasn't aware of that (lack of system knowledge). Then #3 bogged down, so that was feathered, too. A few minutes later, the front windshield looked as if we had flown into a bucket of slush. No's 1 and 4 started to bog down. The AC immediately pushed #3 condition lever to air start, but nothing happened. The AC and co-pilot both reached for the T-handle at the same time and pushed it in. As # 3 started to rotate, #2 was still feathered and #1 & #3 were around 70%. To this day, I'll never know where the power came from to drive #3 out of feather. Maybe a generator failed to drop off the line? I heard they tried to replicate it in the sim and crashed every time.

Shortly after that, I crosstrained to FE. That way, I at least had a bit more control of my own fate. A lot more fun than turning wrenches, too. While the crew was drinking mai tai's at Waikiki, I was out helping to pull an engine or two. The FE and I later became very good friends. That trip was one his first after the Rock -- he had come from ATC where he was a T-37 crew chief.

OK, enough of this old fart's ramblings. -- back to the original thread.

Don R.

Below is the article from the Dyess paper. It's kind of disjointed because of the way it was laid out.

f1drivr,

tail number 74-4704 is not a C-130 number, nor is it a tail number for any USAF airplane. A typo?

Don R.

Jim,

Back in the early 1980's when I was stationed with the 37th at Rhein Main, we were tasked to fly a C-130 to Cairo with a planeload of mechanics from Nellis. This was the timeframe when Egypt had aligned itself with the West. Every morning, we'd make a 40 minute flight from Cairo, VFR down the Nile to Beni Suef AFB. There, the mechanics would disassemble some Egyptian Mig's, -21's, I think. In the afternoon, we'd fly back to Cairo and drink beer. We did this for about 10 days, then a C-5 came in, loaded up all the planes and mechanics and flew back to Nellis. We were told the Mig's were to be used in the Agressor Squadron there.

Don R.

(Sorry for the thread hijack, Bob.)

Yep, that's what I have been trying to own since I saw my first one!! I had kind of forgotten what they looked like!!

Don, do you need my mailing address?????

Ken

Ken & Frank,

If I were to sell it, you two guys would have first dibs on it. I actually don't know why I keep all this crap. I still have the whizz-wheels (TOLD computers) for the E & H-models. When I was digging through the box looking for the C-130 horn button, I also came across a nav computer that I used to use in flight. It's a miniature version of what the nav used in his back room to make his magic. Since I got a new scanner, here's a photo of it. I haven't a freeking clue how to use it now.

Don R.

You mean this old thing? I can't remember where I got it, but it has a date on the back of 6-66. At least, I assume it's a date. It also has the numbers 356924-1 and USRC 3501.

Don R.

It would be a shame to cut up this airframe. It may have never flown a rescue mission, but it represents what happened in the desert in Iran many years ago. I lost a couple of friends on that mission.

I know of only one member of this forum who feels that this airplane holds no signifigant historical value and has stated his feelings here on this forum. Every other member that I know of shares my feelings -- don't cut her up.

Don R.

Wow. £25.00, he's pretty proud of that patch!

Don R.

I don't know if was a one-off pin from Lockheed or not, but a Filipino friend from my Transafrik days received a 30,000 hour pin and plaque from Lockheed a few years ago. He's now a retired Herc captain living in Manila. He actually had more than 34,000 hours on the Herc when he retired; military and commercial. You ex-Transafrik guys will know who I'm referring to -- JB.

Don R.

Thanks, Fraulein.

I now have something besides Google Earth to waste my time with every day!!!

Don R.

Aah, the Federal Hotel -- my first layover in BKK in 1966. The loadmaster reported "evidence of rats onboard." Also my first experience with Singah beer. Kicked my ass!!!

Don R.

Yep, cash only. Unless you want to deposit the $21.00 to his Swedish bank account -- of course, that's an additional $9.00 for bank charges.

It's the best $21.00 you'll ever spend; if he has any left. You better check first before you send him the money.

Don R.

One of the things I used to stress on check rides was situational awareness. I'd take the airways chart from the pilot and hand it to the FE and ask him to point to where we were. A few had no idea; which brings me to the point of this post. Last Friday afternoon, a McGuire C-17 landed at Peter O. Knight airport which has a 3,580' runway. It was supposed to land at MacDill AFB's 11.421' runway. The airplane stopped with the nosewheel a few feet short of the end of the runway and, since the 100' wide runway was too narrow to turn around, they backed down the entire runway. It had 23 passengers and 19 crewmembers. Was no one looking outside? The runways have basically the same orientation, but Peter O. Knight is on an island in Tampa Bay! A sure career-ender for a few pilots, at least.

Oh, by the way, the aircraft departed for the short hop to MacDill later Friday evening.

Don R.

Or how about the antenna "machine guns" on the wings of the ABCCC birds?

Here's a better photo of the pod.

Don R.

Back in the 1975 time period, I was TDY to Hickham AFB supporting a FB-111 squadron returning from Thailand. While there, a whole s**tload of A-models came through. One of them was 56-0518 and I knew the FE on it. I went over to talk to him and noticed that the crew entrance door was new and still in the zinc chromate color. I asked him about it and he told me that there were so many people on the airplane that the door popped open on takeoff roll. Some people fell out -- including the pilot's wife. Urban legend? Don't know, but an iteresting tale.

Don R.

Brought back some fond memories of the PI. Thanks.

Don R.

Chris,

99.9% of the time, I agree with your views with no reservations. On this subject, though, I respectfully beg to differ. I also spent the majority of my 18 months at Clark AB TDY to SEA. Reflecting back over these 40 some years, I have my questions about our intentions in Vietnam. I think it was mostly politically motivated.

With the easing of economic and political sanctions against Vietnam, I have a feeling the the A-model and the CH-53(?) on display at Khe Sahn might be more of a tribute to the airplanes and crews who risked (and lost ) their lives to resupply the base -- rather than some sort of "slap in the face" of these crews. Otherwise, why would the Vietnamese choose Khe Sahn as the location to display these airplanes in US markings?

Believe me, I'm not trying to start a pissing contest -- just adding my 2¢

Don R.

Great video, although when I showed it to my girlfriend, she said, "What's the point?"

I looked at her in amazement and thought, "What a bitch!"

Don R.

It's too bad there isn't a font for sarcasm -- I'm sure that Spectre623 would've used it in his comment about the FE being left at home.

Don R.

Before all the opsec/comsec guys jump on me; I'm just delivering the message.

George,

There's a company in Colorado that offers AOM's on anything from the SR-71 to the C-7. Check them out at www.aerotecdata.com. I haven't been to their website in quite a while, so I don't know if they're still around or not.

Don R.

I was always under the impression that the person who took advantage of the facilities was the one who emptied it -- of course, that didn't happen very often. I do remember one time, on a trip to Bangkok back in 1966/1967, the loadmaster, SSgt Frank Margiotta, handing the honey bucket liner to a passenger as he was boarding the pax bus.

Don R.

Check out Amazon.com -- Click here: http://www.amazon.com/Anything-Anywhere-Anytime-Tactical-Airlift/dp/1468505637/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1337169313&s

I wonder why the new books are so much cheaper than a used edition?

Don R.