APG85

Thanks, but I need larger, more detailed pictures.

I'm looking for a few color pic's of the Talon I's in the old "Black Velvet, 3M paint scheme. Please post if you've got them. Thanks!

Link to some nice pictures of the Dyess AFB Airpark C-130A...

http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=39427

Does anyone know the current price of the Lockheed Hercules Production List by Lars Olausson? I've seen $20.00 but my old copy says $23.00. I'd hate to send the wrong amount. Thanks!

Sometimes the book is no substitute for experience. Personally, if I didn't have to disturb an airplane with Leading Edges removed, I wouldn't until they were re-installed.

Sadly, nothing good happens to a majority of aircraft the end up in AMARG. Despite their historical significance to the Herc/SOF world, they will slowly be picked apart and harvested for anything of useful value. Eventually, they will become stripped out, gutted shells like the A-Model Gunships. I had hoped 7785 would have gone to a museum, but it didn't happen. Once a plane rolls through the AMARG gates, it's fate is pretty much sealed...at least for Herc's. Sadly, there are many small air museums around the country that would probably love to have one of these planes for their collections, but getting the word out and making it happen takes a lot of effort, coordination, paperwork and a desire to "do it". Hopefully there's a museum future down the road for the other Talons when they retire in a couple of years, but the pre-coordination has to happen up front. I'd like to see at least one end up in the NMUSAF and one end up in the NASM. Wishful thinking?

r

Re-route the hydraulic lines, rip out the C/P and beg for forgiveness later... :-)

I've never seen armor mounted to the ceiling of the wheel well. I've always seen it on the flight-deck floor. Is the mystery C/P interfering with the armor install?

OK, now I'm going to show my ignorance. What's all the black, Velcro looking stuff in the wheel well? Never seen it before....

I was in the 7th ACCS at Keesler and the 42nd ACCS at DM. I believe the armor was removed in the late 70's/early 80's (the unit got to Keesler in 1975). Either way, the "old school" armor wouldn't do you much good as it mounted with metal brackets, screws and bolts...nothing "high-speed".

As far as the hydraulic lines: not sure what you mean. 1863 is pretty standard as E-models go. Drain lines? There are some on the forward fuselage on each side (exterior) about cargo floor level that drained condensation from the ECS system for the capsule. Everything else was probably demoded.

Hang in there...J-Models are on the way... :-)

Hope they take some good pictures out of the forward scanner windows...oh, wait...

It's done all the time...at depot.

I'm curious as to why some of the P-models have had their old Fulton Nose radomes converted to the standard radome configuration. I recently noticed a picture of 66-0223 with a standard nose. This must have cost a considerable amount of money and effort...why? How many of the P-models have had this done? Just curious. Thanks.

It's a wonder that this aircraft exists at all...especially with the MC-130E's going to the boneyard now. It's a shame that it has been allowed to deteriorate so badly...

http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6121008&nseq=0

You were looking at an AC-130A...an A-Model C-130. There are significant differences between an A-Model and later Models (i.e. E and H). Landing lights, safety valve location and external tanks are just a few of the differences. The tail number in the airpark is: 56-0509.

The HC-130H and P's had round paratroop door windows...originally (many have since been replaced with square). The HC-130N's came from the factory with square paratroop door windows. The forward scanner windows were essential when I was in Rescues although this was years ago. I don't recall a large doubler on the interior but it's been along time...

I don't recall a large doubler on the interior, but it makes sense. Then again, it's been a long time (1992) since I ripped the insulation back in that area on an HC-130N or P Model. Still can't understand why scanner windows weren't part of the basic production contract for these new planes. I think the crews will really miss them. Just my opinion...

Pretty neat except it says it wants a short note on your connection to the Combat Shadow when you apply and there's no way to do that when you apply for membership to a Facebook group....

The mod to put them into 62-1863 was extensive and required a huge beef-up doubler on the exterior of the aircraft. I guess engineering requirements have changed since the 1960's when the scanner windows were installed in the HC-130 fleet (originally done on the factory floor without "battleship" plating on the fuselage). Maybe it was the age of a 1962 model that called for it...I'm no engineer....

I was in Rescue for 7 years (67th ARRS - RAF Woodbridge) and we used the scanner windows constantly. Unless the mission has changed over the years, they were critical to many CSAR missions...

No forward scanner windows...on a Rescue bird? I would think that would have been a requirement...

Not sure from your description where your leak is coming from but... I've seen several "mystery in-flight leaks" over the years yet everything is fine on the ground. Check the wiggins fittings in the flapwells. I've seen these leak in-flight but not problem on the ground...You might have to work them all in the affected area. Check the comp probes. They can leak in-flight off the top of the wing and give the appearance of coming from a flapwell.

Good luck...

In the summer of 1985, the tail numbers were:

65-0962 - Departed in July to be converted to Compass Call

66-0220 - The Last Dragon

69-5820 -

69-5823 - Skippy

69-5826 - Da Hacker

69-5827 - The King

Later, we received:

69-5831 - Twisted Sister

66-0223 - Christine

We traded 5831 for:

65-0973 -

I was in the 67th at Woodbridge from 1985 - 1992. I crewed HC-130N 69-5826 "Da Hacker" the entire time I was stationed there. Kind of sad if you look at the base on youtube and facebook, Google, etc. Some of it is still in use but a lot of it is overgrown. It's amazing what 17+ years of neglect can do to a base. Bentwaters is worse....

63-7785. I was really hoping this one would avoid the boneyard and end up on display somewhere... I took these pic's in 2005.