DC10FE

A lot of the newer C-130's are numbered by the unit they were assigned to. I just pulled a random number out of Lars' book -- 92-3288 was originally assigned to the Reserve 328 AS at Niagara Falls. 92-3288 is now with the 96 AS in Minneapolis. Another one would be 91-1651 to the 165 AS of the Kentucky ANG, then to Idaho's 189 AS and now with 180 AS with the Missouri ANG. That idea was all pretty neat until they started moving the airplanes around because of BRAC. Don R.

I'm pretty sure the Range Rover commercial involved a Safair Herc. Don R.

Jim, Maybe I can go even one better. I have 8 volumes of the Lockheed Training Manuals for the C-130H, dated May 1978. I also have "Whiz Wheels" for the C-130E & H. Another thing I've kept all these years are my CDC's for the 5 & 7 level FE tests. Oh, I also have the L-100 Lockheed simulator training syllabus from when I was with Frameair and the D501-D13 engine and Aero Products prop training manuals for the Electra from when I was with Galaxy Airlines. Lots of other crap from other airlines, too. Maybe I should be featured on the TV show "Hoarders?" Don R.

OK, Muff. Today, it worked -- and a new puter is waaay over due. Wrote to Santa, but no reply yet. Nice pics. Don R.

Couldn't open it, Muff. Don R.

Marvin, In your avatar photo, it looks like you're wearing khakis; or 505's. There were also 1505's and 505 shorts with knee socks! I don't remember when they phased them out, but it was sometime early in my USAF career. Don R.

Damn, I knew that was gonna happen! Sorry for the double post. Don R.

Muff, This guy wasn't flying any kind of racetrack or holding pattern. It was more like a large circle almost over Tampa International, with the A-10 in tow. Never saw anyone jump out, although after 3 hours of that crap, I'd be tempted to jump. As for my neighbor, she's actually a nice lady; just very opinionated. But yeah, Larry, she did vote for nObama but regrets it now. She can't be all bad, I guess. Giz, I used to have a t-shirt that read "Jet noise -- the sound of freedom." Don R.

Here's a question for all you guys/gals still flying the C-130. Late last Saturday afternoon, there was a C-130 flying north of MacDill AFB at around 5,000' (kinda hard to judge the altitude from 20 miles away). He was up there for about 3 hours, but the interesting thing was that there was an A-10 about 1/2 mile in trail the entire time. Any ideas? C-130's are pretty rare at MacDill, so I was really enjoying the noise. My next door neighbor, on the other hand, told me she thought the noise annoying. I held my tongue. Bitch!!! Thanks, Don R.

I bought Sam's 1988 book in a Brussels book store when it first came out. I paid around $15.00 for it. A new one goes for almost $80.00 today on Amazon. Lots of interviews with some old, old friends and acquaintences. Looking forward to the revision. Don R.

What kind of drag index did that thing have? Don R.

I wonder if the administration at the museum are aware of what the Herc world thinks of this insane Credible Sport decision. Maybe someone living in the area could show them all these comments. I doubt if it would help, though. Just my 2¢ Don R.

Here's an owl coming in for the kill... right at the camera... only a minute long. The last two or three seconds are amazing, watching the feathers ruffle and the wings swell. See the trailing flaps go down, the rudder correct for displacement from center line, the leading edge devices deploy, the landing gear extend. Interesting to watch the corrections in the flight path as the bird comes in. Seems to be a cross-wind from his right. This is taken at 1000 frames per second. http://www.dogwork.com/owfo8 Don R.

Bill's is the most logical explanation so far. Don R.

Well, an incapicated AC crossed my mind, but I highly doubt that if that occurred, the co-pilot would taxi the airplane to the ramp. More realistically, other crewmembers would probably drag the body from the left seat. Now, the J-model might be a different scenario, of course. Don R.

As I remember, the co-pilot was trained to steer the airplane from the right seat using throttles and brakes -- which raises a question after all these years. Why? Don R.

Don't know about Trev, but thankfully, his girlfriend and baby are in the Philipines -- at least as of a few months ago, that was the case. Don't remember where this came from, but I remember hearing he was looking for work in Africa. Don R.

One of my crew chiefs, TSgt Stanley Craft lived at Buckaroo Beach. A bunch of us 2-stripers used to hang out there on weekends drinking beer. Man, if an NCO fed beer to a bunch of 18-year old in today's military, there would be hell to pay. I remember he chose to get out rather than move with the wing to the PI in 1965. Had some good times at Langley; just waaaay too much saluting around the BX area. Don R.

I was at Langley from 1963 to 1965. I had a 1961 Corvette and we used to hang out at the Shoney's drive-in. I think it was on Mercury Blvd. Lots of local hotties there. Don R.

Hallejula, it's a miracle!!! The horse is not dead after all!!! Don R.

Chris, I know what you mean. When I left Clark in 1967, I sorta had to sneak out of the house while my girlfriend was at work. Left 18 months worth of photos in 3 or 4 shoe boxes of everywhere I had been in SEA. Bummer. Don R.

Yep, unpressurized. Don R.

A lot of his drawings have made it into Lars Olausson's books over the years. Wasn't Dave Davenport a loadmaster? Don R.

I have a copy of a MAC manual from 11/17/65 that covers MAC airplanes from the WB-47 to the T-39 to the C-124. It's MM 66-4, "Aircraft Markings and Insignia." That manual number might help get you started in your search. Don R.

From the exhaust stacks, it's a C-54/DC-4. Don R.