loadsmith

Here is some good video from a triple sequential airdrop performed last week by a C-130J from the 772 EAS (41 AS) deployed to A-stan. Enjoy http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=video/video_show.php&id=76160 http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=video/video_show.php&id=76139

sad to report but it looks like 62-1817 "patches" will be heading to AMARC this week. It will be a sad day indeed just based upon the history of this aircraft.

Here are the pages from the -9 which show the directions for building the milkstool. Good luck.

what Herks are you talking about? If you are flying on E's then I agree with your statement. What better ways do you suggest? The mission of the C-130 isn't the same as the C-17, it's like comparing apples and oranges. What is your experience with the J model and how did you come to the conclusion that it is obsolete?

some pretty cool stuff! there are a few videos at the bottom of the link on the Times website. http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/10/airforce_tactical_laser_100209w/ Test of laser from C-130H melts hood of car By Bruce Rolfsen - Staff writer Posted : Friday Oct 2, 2009 14:14:28 EDT New video released by the Air Force and Boeing Co. show what happens when a C-130H Hercules aims the Advanced Tactical Laser at the hood of car. In the video recorded Aug. 30 during a test flight at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., the laser melts the hood and sparks a fire. A press statement from Boeing said the laser “killed the vehicle.†The weapon uses a chemical laser that fills the cargo hold of C-130 to produce a laser beam fired from a turret mounted in the belly of a C-130. If the size of laser can be reduced, the Air Force could one day fly laser versions of the AC-130 gunships. The future of the project is in doubt as it competes for funding with other weapons, but a Boeing official said he is optimistic. “The bottom line is that ATL works, and works very well,†Gary Fitzmire, program director of Boeing Missile Defense Systems' Directed Energy Systems unit, said in a release. “ATL's components — the high-energy chemical laser, beam control system and battle manager — are performing as one integrated weapon system, delivering effective laser beam energy to ground targets.†Working with Boeing on the $200 million project, which began in 2002, is the Air Force Research Lab’s Directed Energy Directorate.

http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2009/10/defense_c130_avionics_100209/ Source: Panel to discuss fate of C-130 AMP By John T. Bennett - Staff writer Posted : Friday Oct 2, 2009 9:44:59 EDT A high-level Pentagon panel could decide as soon as Oct. 2 whether to pull the plug on the Air Force’s C-130 avionics modernization program, an industry official says. Targeted for termination by Air Force brass several weeks ago, the C-130 program is expected “to be discussed [Oct. 2] by the DAWG,†Mike Harris, Boeing’s vice president for weapon system modernization programs, said Oct. 1, referring to the Deputy’s Advisory Working Group. Boeing is the prime contractor on the multibillion-dollar avionics enhancement project. Harris said Boeing executives expect the DAWG will hear support to keep the modernization effort alive from the Office of the Secretary of Defense. That’s because OSD “has a vested interest in the AMP†because it opted to recertify the program as vital to national security after technical problems caused the effort to exceed legal cost growth caps, Harris said. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz announced in mid-September that the service was planning to kill the modernization program and replace with a less-expensive alternative. “The bottom line is we couldn’t afford it,†Schwartz said. He said OSD must first approve killing the AMP effort before the new plan is enacted. “No decision in this town is final.†Calling the decision “largely an affordability issue,†Schwartz said service brass has pitched the idea to the Office of the Secretary of Defense. The price of an installed C-130 AMP kit is about $8 million per plane today, Harris said. Following Pentagon desires, Boeing has been working to get those costs down to about $7 million per plane, the air service’s desired price target. Harris said the AMP program “is very much on a glide path to meet†the $7 million-per-plane mark. Air Force officials are mulling a new upgrade approach that would fit air lifters with “stand-alone integrations†as opposed to the planned across-the-board avionics upgrades, the air chief said at that time. Harris told Defense News he doubts the Air Force would save money by going with a new approach. Billions already have poured into development work on the current AMP architecture. Since that stage of any complex defense program typically is the most expensive, Harris said the Air Force would “assume a lot of development risk†by seeking a new avionics suite for its C-130 fleet. “That should worry a lot of people,†Harris said, noting the Air Force already “has spent $1.4 billion in development.†He said four government studies all have concluded the current AMP program is the “most cost-effective solution to this.†Boeing has for years been the contractor for the AMP program, but it is expected to compete against Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems if the program is kept alive. The Air Force delayed a key milestone decision for the program several months ago, citing budget constraints. House and Senate versions of 2010 Pentagon spending legislation then cut funding for the AMP program; the Senate version expresses support for the current plan, but urges the department to carry out the slipped milestone decision.

It sort of looks like defensive system sensors. Although not in the normal spot for a Herk the angle of them would seem to be something along those lines. Just my uneducated guess.

This is a little background on the "aldis lamp" from Wikipedia: Signal lamp, also called Aldis lamp, is a visual signaling device for optical communication (typically using Morse code) – essentially a focused lamp which can produce a pulse of light. It is named after its inventor Authur C W Aldis. This pulse is achieved by opening and closing shutters mounted in front of the lamp, either via a manually-operated pressure switch or, in later versions, automatically. The lamps were usually equipped with some form of optical sight, and were most commonly used on naval vessels and in airport control towers (using color signals for stop or clearance). hope this helps

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123164970 by Tech. Sgt. Alec Lloyd 17th Air Force Public Affairs 8/26/2009 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- A group of active-duty Air Force and Tennessee Air National Guardsmen recently helped restore one of Nigeria's C-130 transport aircraft to flying condition as part of an ongoing military-to-military engagement between 17th Air Force (U.S. Air Forces Africa) and the West African nation. Lt. Col. David MacKenzie, deputy director of 17th Air Forces plans and programs directorate, visited Nigeria in January along with members from the Secretary of the Air Force International Affairs, Africa Division and the C-130 System Program Office to lay the groundwork for the visit. From Aug. 16 to 29, he partnered with a team of 12 maintainers from the 118th Airlift Wing in Nashville, Tenn., to help demonstrate and familiarize the Nigerian air force maintainers with evaluating and repairing one of Nigeria's C-130H transport aircraft. Currently, only one out of eight C-130s is available for service. "The 118th has done a terrific job in helping us partner with this key African nation to build capacity to support African Union and United Nations peacekeeping transport capabilities," Colonel MacKenzie said. "This is the biggest military-to-military exchange event we've done in 2009, and we couldn't have done it had the 118th not stepped up with not only the maintenance folks but with their own C-130H aircraft and crew providing the transport and Ravens to guard the aircraft." The mission was primarily to demonstrate propeller and engine change procedures in order to render the C-130 airworthy enough to fly to an aircraft repair depot in Europe for a more extensive overhaul. The Nigerians took advantage of the opportunity to learn as much as they could from the 118th demonstrations. "The 118th was perfect for this task as they are developing into an international training unit having recently conducted training and visits with the Polish air force and their own growing C-130 fleet," Colonel MacKenzie said. The Nigerians' drive to learn impressed Senior Master Sgt. David West, a flightline supervisor with the 118th AW. "They want to know everything we can teach them," he said. "They want to learn and they want to work." The Nigerian C-130 fleet dates from the mid-1980s, and has not been upgraded since then. Sergeant West said that this is where the continuity of the Air National Guard really comes in handy. "There's hardly anyone here with less than 20 years experience," he said. "That means you can always ask one of the guys 'remember when we had a problem like this?' and odds are you've experienced it, either on the military or civilian side. Someone who had only worked on the J-model would be completely lost on this." Chief Master Sgt. Tony Jeanette, also of the 118th AW, said that their Nigerian hosts have been excellent. "They welcomed us with open arms, very cordial and polite," he said. "Their problem is that they need some formal training and tools. Without tools, you can't fix anything." In addition to the 118th AW, the mission drew upon two Air Force international affairs officers, a civilian technician from the new business office and 1st Lt. Dan Wilkenson, an aerospace composites engineer from the 330th Aircraft Sustainment Group at Robbins Air Force Base, Ga. Lieutenant Wilkenson's expertise was critical in setting the stage to render the additional Nigerian C-130 aircraft ready to enter Program Depot Maintenance. "The biggest challenge we have so far is part and tool availability," Lieutenant Wilkenson said. "If we have to replace something, we pretty much have to can it from another aircraft instead of drawing it from supply, which is a lengthy process." He also noted that there was a shortage of safety equipment and larger tools such as engine stands, making what would otherwise be fairly simple repairs much more complex. Despite the obstacles, the event has been so successful that the Nigerian chief of air staff initiated talks during the event to repair a second aircraft as soon as possible. "I'm really glad to be here," Chief Jeanette said. "This has been a good experience for both sides and we hope to come back again when they launch this aircraft to fly to the depot and start work on the second one."

I can tell you the grass isn't always greener...there are pro and cons to your situation...I was a loadie on 141s, then E model Herks and now J's....we just received our first group of CHS and McChord crossflow guys that are mainly of the E-6's and E-7's. They weren't really happy to leave but I am sure they will drink the kool aid and be proud tac airlifters in no time. You could try getting to C-130s and then try AFSOC from there as was already mentioned. I know many herk people who would go to 17s in a heartbeat. Speaking generally here you probably have to look at the manning for your grade and possibly talk to your chain about getting to herks. Coming from the Strat airlift world to Herks was an eye opener for me but I wouldn't go back. The C-130 is an awesome plane and a lot of fun. Good luck to you.

Greetings, this is more for the folks living in the Andrews area. Their annual open house is this weekend, Friday is more of a DOD family day and Sat-Sun for the general public. We are bringing a J from LR and I believe an AC-130H will be there as well along with numerous other static displays and the Thunderbirds. If you make it over there stop by the J and say hello. http://www.jsoh.org/

This may help explain Shadow Harvest a little, I have personally never heard of it until that article. check out page 72. http://www.1af.acc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070808-022.pdf

here's a link for the pic of Ramstein's first J model 08-8601 http://www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=831857

greetings and welcome.....do you have any of the serial numbers that you can provide or any numbers at all in the pic or on the aircraft itself. I am assuming it's a 94 AW herk from Dobins and I am quite sure all their herks are still flying. Should not be a problem to track down specifics once the serial number is determined.

here's a pic of the sensor in question I believe http://herkybirds.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=4221&c=76 AWADS was/is the Adverse Weather Aerial Delivery System. Easiest way to tell an old AWADS bird was the nipple on the radome that sprayed the anti-ice chemical whose name escapes me. Most of these planes were already grounded by the time I got to Pope in 05 so my knowledge is not too extensive. Hope the pic helps.

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/03/ap_pilotawarded_032609/

11 pages worth of reading if you are interested, some input from some folks in the same unit as well. http://www.flyingsquadron.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=14852

anytime that we do a Combat Offload I know for sure that the pilots will override the WOW. Hope that helps.

well I saw 62-1817 in a hanger here at LRF with a new tail flash. She has lost her Pope flash and has gained what looks to be the new 53rd flash, looks to be black and gold with the standard "the rock". Still one or 2 Pope planes here still wearing the old Pope flash as well.

Greetings, I saw a few new 61st E models sitting down on Alpha row here at LR, along with the other 3 grounded E model MX trainers. (yellow tails) Rumor was that sheet metal had been doing some work on one of them (not sure if it was 7823) made some in-proper cuts or something along those lines, grounding the airplane. Hopefully a MX troop from LR will chime in and clear this up with some positive/correct info.

I did a quick search through my pubs and then looked on google....the only thing that I found is the following: the NSN numbers seem to bring up the Urinal. I believe the other numbers may be the associated parts. http://www.tpub.com/content/logistics/45/10/22/01-462-2565.htm

here\'s a better link for the story http://www.macon.com/197/story/549025.html

greetings, there are some really good pics of this plane over at www.airliners.net -- pre-gunship mod and post.....you can type the tail number in the \"search\" block or just type in C-130 and page through all the other pics. There are also some other A-model pics including 55-0022 on there as well. Enjoy

here you go....I am pretty sure that it was mentioned previously but our current CSAF has logged some time in the YMC-130 according to his bio. enjoy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Credible_Sport

These are the photos that we were explicitly told not to distribute until the SIB/AIB is complete. You should read the other post concerning this subject and understand why this reason exists. There are several links to authorized pictures that have been released by AF PA.