DC10FE

Wow, Chris. That was awesome! Like bbsoto remarked, you hit the nail on the head. I'm just thankful that today's returning vets are treated like the heros they are. Whether one is for or against our war in Afghanistan, the military is respected. Don R.

Is that the FE Tebowing by the nose wheel? Don R.

If I'm not mistaken, the first C-130H-30 from the factory was for the Indonesian AF, A-1317 (4864). There were other after-market modifications, but 4864 was the first one from Marietta. I know the Brits stretched a bunch of their K-models in the mid to late 1980's. Don R.

"You never flew combat, did you" (Pilfered from another post.) Don R.

I don't think the J-model was flying in combat when that video was taken. Your point? Don R.

In another thread, US Herk wrote this about Credible Sport's historical value. I agree with him, Don R. "The Credible Sport aircraft is historically significant regardless of whether or not that aircraft ever actually flew, or if any of them ever actually accomplished their intended goal. Why do they keep all sorts of one-off aircraft like the XB-70 Valkyrie or some of those goofy helicopter experiments? Because they furthered the USAF mission one way or another. Credible Sport was a daring answer to an incredible challenge, one we didn't have the political backbone for. The crash was tragic, but from the ashes of Eagle Claw/Desert One, and everything that went into it, to include the Credible Sport program, rose the phoenix of SOCOM and AFSOC. Had that not happened, where would we be today in The War Against Terror? How could we quickly respond? Where would we have been in Haiti when STS controllers worked more aircraft into Port Au Prince than Miami International all on a card table and walkie talkie? Where would we have been in any of our recent conflicts? Who would have led the Apaches in on night one of Desert Storm? Who would've taken out Bin Laden? No, Credible Sport is more historically significant for what it did not accomplish than a "dime a dozen" aircraft any day..."

Sam, Just picking a nit here and I may be mistaken, but I think the airplane in the movie was a C-82 Packet with the jet pack removed. I haven't seen the movie in a very long time, but the major difference between the C-119 and the C-82 is that the C-119's cockpit was moved forward so it doesn't have the big nose like the C-82. Don R.

Bob, His 2001 book was titled "Lockheed C-130 Hercules The World's Favourite Military Transport." Don R.

According to the book's dust jacket, Peter Smith lives in Bedforshire "He has published books and articles on a wide range of aviation and naval history that have been praised for their dedicated research." Seriously? Don R.

Check this out -- a USAF F-86 mechanic took a 1 hour solo ride out of Williams AFB back in the 1950's. I guess as long as there are airplanes and airplane mechanics ----- well, Click here: Mind If I Borrow It? | Military Aviation | Air & Space Magazine Don R.

Bob, If you go to Google Earth, there are what looks like 4 operational C-130's on the east side of RWY 01 along with a 2-engine C-130 there, too. On the west side if the runway are 2 C-130's that look like they're stored along with a couple of 707's. I would assume they are the ex-USN F-models. The photo was taken almost a year ago on 12/10, so I really haven't answered your question, have I? Don R.

When I was an FE on the DC-10, some of our mechanics were taxi qualified. Imagine driving that beast around the ramp! Don R.

Thanks a lot, Bob. I've now been wandering the world for the past 90 minutes. Google Earth is very addictive! I gotta get a life. Don R.

Getting the train back on the tracks, I remember picking up 2 of the 74 H-models at the factory. One was 74-2063 -- don't remember the other one. Until we got rid of all the E-models, the FE had to carry 2 sets of the -1 and the 1-1. What a hassle! Oh, and no, before anyone beats me to it I didn't stand fire guard with a bucket of sand and a burlap bag. OK, you gun-runners can go back to the "98 Krag." Don R.

Me too! Don R.

I'm with Mark on this. I have a copy of Smith's book published in 2001 and it, too, is full of inaccuracies. Somewhere, I have a 2-page list of pure BS from the book. It's an insult to anyone with even a limited knowledge of the Herc. When he gets into the lists of foreign militaries and commercial operators, he imagination really takes off! If someone wants a definitive book on the Herc, go out and buy Joe Dabney's book, "Herk: Hero of the Skies." I have both the 1979 edition and the one published in 1986. Don R.

Dan, when I was in the 37th (1977/1983), there was a tower operator at Graf with a thick German accent who talked like Porky Pig. Was he still there? Don R.

OK, here goes. When I was flying for St. Lucia Airways, we were departing Miami International for somewhere south. We were at least number 20 for takeoff on runway 9, so the captain decided to shut down the inboards. As we slowly got closer to the runway, we began to start up the inboards. We got rotation on #2 but no light-off. No problem -- we were empty, so we'd just do a 3-engine take off. When we tried to start #3, same problem; rotation, but no ignition. The FO called the tower and told them we had a problem and had to go back to the cargo ramp. As we were taxiing back on the runway, I looked down and got one of those mini-anxiety attacks. I then suggested we try again, only this time with the condition levers in run, not ground stop. Fortunately, an Arrow Air DC-8 told the tower we could get back in line in front of him. I got a lot more, including the unintentional no-flap takeoff, but this is the most embarrassing. Don R.

Keith, Thanks for filling in your bio. Hope more people do it, too. So, where's this thread headed now? Don R.

Good airplane! Flew it for 18 months in Angola when it was PJ-TAC with Frameair. Delivered to Luanda in August 1991 with only 60 hours on the airframe. Sold to Lynden with only 6,600 hours. It sat for a very long time at Sogerma. Don R.

Isn't is amazing how these threads get hijacked? This thread started out about C-124 airdrops, to C-133 airdrops, to nurses and now about personal bios. It's almost like a real conversation! Don R.

Sparks, You ought to put that in your bio. A lot of us here are pretty interested in who we meet in this forum and it's pretty disappointing when we click on a name and the bio is empty. All of us have interesting backgrounds, especially you. Don R.

Hi Dennis, Welcome to HerkyBirds -- lots of good information here. Bob Daley has compiled a list of all C-130's, broken down by models. Go to http://ww.herkybirds.com/content.php?212-C-130-Production-list Don R.

My guess is that the "TG" suffix is from when T&G Aviation owned and operated the airplane. Just like 56-0507 registered as N132HP with Hawkins & Powers. Like Giz said, vanity plates. Don R.

Giz,don't know about the weinie-wagon, but ya ever see an airdrop from a Boeing 727? Here's a Southern Air Transport (CIA) 727 dropping cargo and personel. Click here: CIA B727 Air Drop/Jump Test 1970-71 - YouTube Don R.