DC10FE

Sam, I also remember all the C-130's flying out of Pope to San Isidro -- and it was not just MATS and TAC. The Marines, Navy and even the Coast Guard had Hercs flying into the Dominican Republic. It was a long time ago, but I still remember the derelict P-51's at the airport there. Don R.

Already made friends with the neighbors, I see! Don R.

Since we're on the subject of Air Medals, is it true that the guys flying the UAV's over Afghanistan air getting Air Medals even though they are sitting in trailers in Nevada. I surely hope that someone was blowing smoke up my butt. That would really cheapen all of our hard-earned medals. Say it isn't so. Don R.

5X-TUC was being operated for National Airlines based at Willow Run Airport, MI. National also operates DC-8's, 757 Combi's & 747-400's. Yep, Transafrik doesn't have a very good track record, but just consider the hostile environments they work out of. Plus, their airplanes are pieces of crap! At least they were when I was there. Bob, you forgot one of their losses. S9-BAS at Loki -- the one that broke the tail off on landing. Although it hasn't been "officially" written off yet, I have serious doubts it'll ever fly again. Check out the photo on airliners.net. I'd post it here except for the copyright problems that cropped up here a few years ago. Besides your list of losses, Transafrik has seriously damaged other Hercs of theirs but were "repaired" and flown again. One that comes to mind is CP-1376 (4759), a C-130H that was leased from the Bolivian Air Force. It went off the runway at Mongu, Zambia and caught fire. Lots more, too. I can post this photo, though, because it's mine. Sorry, sorta got off the subject of the crash in Afghanistan. Don R.

On the way, Sam. Don R.

The latest is that is was a -20, 5X-TUC (4362); ex-S9-BOR and for you ex-Southern guys; N522SJ. I have the names of the cockpit crew, but I'm not gonna post them here. If you're curious, send me a PM & I'll reply. I'm sure someone else will get their hands on the names & post them, but not me. Thankfully, they were after my time there & I didn't know any of them. RIP. Don R.

Sam, I flew with Bill a lot in the 37th @ Rhein Main. Great guy -- great party guy. Perhaps you'd like to forward this photo taken from the Rhein Main's base paper 5/30/80. The FE, the black guy on the left got his ass chewed out by the wing commander for his haircut -- or lack of. Don R.

Heard it was another Transafrik Herc wet leased to National Air Cargo. Fatalities, I heard. Click here: Cargo plane crashes near Afghan capital - CNN.com Don R.

When I was at Rhein Main the first time (1967/1970), there was a CWO that was a pilot on the Navy C-131 stationed at Mildenhall. Don R.

Jansen, Do you want a list of all the short J's or just the ones being converted? I can help with all the J's, but not the ones being converted. Don R.

Ditto Don R.

Sluggo, finally, a definitive yes or no answer to my question. "Old" & "Ask." Thanks! Yeah, I remember the "Hertie" to "Herky" switch. I was the 6th FE to arrive at the 37th in 11/77. Even though we used the same checklist Air Force wide, in the beginning there was a lot of "Well, that's not the way we did it at ------- (take your pick; Dyess, Pope, Little Rock, McChord, etc) Were you there from the beginning? Never mind -- just checked your profile; I remember you. Don R.

GVS, I was at Evereaux in 1964, I think. I was a A/2C with the 463 OMS on a B-model out of Langley. It was pretty much a 90-day blur. Maggi? Jake, it's not my retention of brain cells -- more like CRS; I remember crap from 40 years ago, but can't recall what I had for dinner last night! jbob, as I remember, didn't the "Dip Clearance" missions have a "Reach" call sign -- just like Big MAC? Don R.

A friend and I were talking the other day about the Mildenhall and Rhein Main rotes and a question came up -- I know the call signs were "Old" and "Ask" but which one was for which rote? Which brings up another question -- were those call signs ever used after that for any other operations or exercises? I did a lot of rotes to both places both as a crew chief and an FE. Even did one to Evereaux back in the mid-1960's. Anyone remember that call sign? Thanks, Don R.

Plaprad, that's what happens when you leave your ride overnight on the streets of Atlanta. Don R.

Yeah, Bob, I did. Quite a ride!! Don R.

Too bad there was no sound on that video -- I would've loved to hear the sound of those 4360's & the squealing brakes. Don R.

Pretty interesting article, althoughit happened a few years ago. Wonder why they didn't bring in the simulated out engine? If nothing else, you gotta read the comment at the end of the article. Have procedures changed that much since I was on the Herc? Don R. Click here: Spinning the Lockheed P-3C Orion - Unusual Attitude

Lookie here what my girlfriend got me!!! Don R.

All H-models? (Never mind, I just noticed the title of this thread.) Don R.

Here are some photos of a USAF E-model some guy from Hawaii sent me about 4 years ago. Lots of detail. Don R.

Jansen, You can add Qatar to your list as 61J Don R.

Jansen, C.4 (-30) = 05J C.5 = 06J Don R.

Jansen, Here they are: RAF = 49F AMI = 31J RDAF = 36J RNoAF = 46J RAAF = 03J Don R.

I just hate it when you guys start these reminiscing threads. Like dwg39 said, every time a C-130 goes over, I also have to wander outside to check it out. Sometimes the NOAA P-3 based at MacDill will mess with my head, though. I was at Dyess when we got the FY74 H-models. They were state of the art C-130's back then; APU, big AC packs, etc. Picked up a couple at the factory and, I swear, they did smell like a new car!!! I have a FE check airman friend with Lynden Air Cargo. They use the CAE simulator here at Tampa & I sometimes drive out there for a visit when he's teaching a recurrent or new hire class. I can sit in that FE seat & I can remember everything -- but I can't remember what I had for dinner last night! I can also remember how much I hated sim rides. Don R.