DC10FE

Hey Dan. Before you go, here's a suggestion. You can always keep in touch by dropping by the local library & log on with one of their computers -- if you can find the time! Don R.

This is from the Tampa Tribune of about 10 days ago. The results of the trial here in Tampa of someone impersonating a highly decorated Marine. The last paragraph is especially interesting. Don R.

OK, now that you're down, how does the fire department find you if you have an emergency? Just head for the big orange glow? Don R.

Yeah, I remember that STC. It was on the Africa Aviation forum -- right? Say hi to "CL" for me. He was supposed to tip a few beers with me last week -- he was teaching a recurrent class at CAE, but he had to get right back to ANC as he was moving his family to someplace in Delaware. I guess Darwin's Theory is gonna take a hit in their beer sales! Don R.

Like Dan's story, this isn't Herc related. Back about 9 or 10 years ago, we were ferrying a DC-10-30 from Singapore to Swissair maintenance in Zurich, Switzerland with a damaged center gear. Swissair dispatch advised us on approach that there was a blizzard at the airport & when we landed we were to taxi to the maintenance area; the hanger doors would be open & we were to taxi directly into the hanger! The captain was a bit leery of that plan so he shut down the engines as the nose gear crossed the hanger door tracks. The Swissair mechanics said that was "normal procedure" when it was slippery on the ramp. Yeah, right! Don R.

Yep, that's it. Years ago, it used to be FEFE (Flight Examiner Flight Engineer), but I guess that sounded a little too -- um, you know. Are you with Lynden? Don R.

Archie, Congratulations on 32 years on the C-130. I'll bet you've seen a lot of changes over the years. There are not that many commercial Herc jobs out there any more. When I retired in 1985 after 23 years as mainly a C-130 crew chief & FEFE, I went to work in the Sudan as a Herc FE while still in terminal leave. Of course, at that time Southern Air Transport and Transamerica were always hiring. Going from a military outlook to a commercial one was a huge culture shock. Although it's the same basic airframe, the procedures & the mental frame of mind are sooo different. Now, after your monthly guarantee, it's basically no fly -- no pay. Now, just about the only US Herc operator is Lynden in ANC. Of course, there are also the "dark side" operators like Tepper Aviation or Prescott. Good luck on your new life. Don R.

I can think of 3 places off the top of my head. 1. L3 MAS at Mirabel Airport in Quebec, Canada. I think they just do military C-130's, though. 2. Commodore Aviation at Miami International. When I used to fly out of there, Commodore usually had an Israeli Herc or one from some South American country in there for heavy maintenance. 3. Pemco in Dothan, Alabama. They have facilities there & at Tampa International, FL. There are others in Asia & Europe, but you just asked about the USA & Canada. Don R.

I think you're referring to the DD Form 796. You're right, it was a real pain in the butt! Don R.

cfisher, Are you referring to late 1974 when MAC absorbed all the TAC C-130 assets? If so, I agree with you -- mostly. In TAC, we were pretty much proud of having to live in tents & eating C-rats. When we went to MAC, I learned a new phrase to say to the guy in the billeting office; "Statement of Non-availability." "Not up to MAC standards." MAC was much more micro-managed than TAC. Don R.

3rd wiper = crew chief, assistant crew chief & 3rd wiper. Don't get me started on "dining facility." How about "barracks" now being "dorms" like you're in college! Even the CBPO is called something else. And this may not be very PC, but are 702's still called titless WAFS? (That last one may be lost on a few of the younger guys.) Do they still have ORI's, MSET & ASET visits? Don R.

Hell, anyone who can spell "chastised" correctly ain't that bad a speller. Ya know, sometimes smells and sounds bring back memories of Vietnam. A few years ago, we had some sort of insect infestation here in Central Florida. The sounds of the Hueys and Gooney Birds spraying and their support vehicles, a couple of deuce and a half trucks brought back those memories. Thankfully, I was a C-130B 3rd wiper back then and not some poor 17-year old grunt slogging through a rice paddy holding an M-16 over his head. Don R.

Tiny, I know the pain of losing a family member -- it never goes away. My deepest sympathy to you and your family. Don Rogers

You could also check out the gallery, starting with 4159 for the E-models & 4780 for the H-models. Don R.

Bob is correct in saying it's the same "size" as an H-30, but that's where the similarity ends. Notice that 4134 has the smaller air conditioning packs, a GTC & an ATM. Trying to compare military & commercial Hercs is like the apples & oranges comparison. Ain't gonna happen. Another, of many, subtle & little known bit of differences between the C-130 & the L-100 is that on a commercial Herc, the fire extinguisher is the only system on the battery bus. None of that "FAJIVEE" crap we used to have to memorize -- at least we did 30 years ago. Don R.

The incident happened at Sharana, Afghanistan -- according to Google Earth, it's southwest of Kabul. I have some photos, but have been asked not to post them yet. I'm sure someone else will get their hands on them & post them. It appears as if #4 prop is gone and the left wing is just about torn off. My source says that they apparently landed short in high winds. He also said it will probably be stripped & bulldozed into a ditch next to the runway. Don R.

You're correct Larry, she does look pretty beat up, and that photo on Airliners,net was taken in Recife after a D-check on her way back to Africa! Don R.

Yeah Bob, I do that a lot. I blame it on fat fingers, but I really think it's dead brain cells. Don R.

I heard it was a landing incident at some remote site in Afghanistan -- no casualties. Attached is a link to a photo of it in its National Airlines livery. Because of copyright rerstrictions, I've just attached the hotlink, not the photo itself. Too bad it has that extremely annoying "Airliners" watermark plastered across the bottom of the photo. http://www.airliners.net/photo/National-Airlines/Lockheed-L-100-30-Hercules/1684993/L/ The last I heard, it had 99,700 hours on it. It would've been really neat to be on the crew that broke the 100,000 hour mark. I guess that'll never happen now. Don R.

Thanks, Trev. Don R.

Trev, Great job! It's always nice to see a Herc get back in the air. Just curious, but was the FCF crew comprised of locals or expats or both? Don R.

donwon, What you propably saw at Naha was Zantop's Armstrong-Whitworth AW-650. Zantop flew them when they bought Universal Airlines. I couldn't find one in Zantop's livery, but the link below shows a pretty good photo of one. Don R. http://www.airliners.net/photo/Elan-Overnight-Delivery/Armstrong-Whitworth-AW-650/0494746/L/

Dan, Here are a couple more. Don R.

Dan, Who'd ya buy it from, Norman Bates? Did the motel come with it? Seriously, though, how long has it been empty? Don R.

Paul, Those pink throttle knobs are a nice touch. Very femenine. Don R.