Jansen

Sabena is a flight academy, whereas Tampa is for full aircrew training. That means: "Instructor-led academic and simulator training available to the entire aircrew for initial, conversion, and recurrent training. Aircraft commander/pilot in command Co-pilot/first pilot Flight engineer Loadmaster Instructor pilot/flight engineer Maintenance training is available for troubleshooting and repair of a range of aircraft systems, including: Airframe/structural repair Fuel tank systems Environmental systems Hydraulics and pneumatics T-56 engine and propellers Electrical and avionics systems"

I think the Brussels center is for civilian pilot training, whereas Tampa has training facilities for military aircrew as well as pilots.

They will probably use Tampa for training eventually once all the USAF birds are AMPed.

Flight simulator, classroom and maintenance training was conducted at Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas. Actual flight training was conducted in Nashville by the 118th Airlift Wing, a unit of the Tennessee Air National Guard. Each Polish C-130E is operated by a crew of 5 Airmen; Pilot, Co-Pilot, Navigator, Flight Engineer, and Loadmaster. The plan is for 15 crews totalling 75 personnel.

You've gotta love how every other paragraph reiterates how safe it is.

Tail #212, A7-MAI is the second C-130J-30 for Qatar (CN 5663). Its first flight was on 16 June, squawking 06A24B on Mode-S. Picture: http://www.airliners.net/photo/Qatar---Air/Lockheed-Martin-C-130J-30/1947775/L/&sid=04731f7586124c401e3343f36d24f559

The C-130 MAFFS and MAFFS II are supposed to only be used for emergencies, when the commercially leased planes are unavailable or already used. It is supposed to supplement existing resources, not replace them. The cost of outfitting every unit with MAFFS II would be cost-prohibitive and wasteful, kind of like making every herk a KC-130. The problem with the commercial industry is the cost of replacement aircraft. Most of that fleet is extremely old, and flying high airframe-stress missions does not help. The flexibility of the current system is good, as those planes are used as freighters most of the time, but are prioritized as firefighting aircraft. The problem is that the government isn't willing to pay enough so that new(er) aircraft can be acquired.

130611 (5665) CC-130J was seen flying on 23 June 2011, most likely on its first test flight.

It looks like they are trying to reduce costs by retiring their most senior guys. F-22 production is ending, and even though there is still a lot of future work on the C-130J, F-35, and C-5 lines, it unfortunately won't be for some time. The C-5 program is still in LRIP, the F-35 won't hit full production for five years, and Embraer is hyping the low costs of the KC-390, so I can understand why the company is taking action now. They could save $75-100 million a year based on these figures, but it still sucks. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics To Eliminate About 1,500 Positions, June 30th, 2011 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] today announced there will be reductions in employment across its Aeronautics business area as part of a plan to improve the affordability of its products and increase operational efficiency. Lockheed Martin currently has about 28,000 employees at its principal Aeronautics sites in Texas, Georgia and California and at six smaller locations in as many states. Reductions may occur across the enterprise, with the greatest impacts occurring at the larger sites. An organizational assessment will determine how to trim the organization with a target reduction of approximately 1,500 employees. Ralph D. Heath, executive vice president, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, said, “Bold and responsible action is necessary to meet customer expectations and reduce our costs. We are realigning the organization to be more efficient and agile, and a reduction in force will enable us to meet the requirements of our changing business environment.” Lockheed Martin will offer eligible salaried employees an opportunity for a voluntary layoff to minimize the number of involuntary layoffs. We will use a disciplined process to review every organization and position, considering all factors rather than making arbitrary reductions. We expect the greatest impact to be on employees in higher level labor grades. Employees eligible for voluntary layoffs will be notified in August. An involuntary reduction in force begins in mid-September.

This is shaping up to be a pretty good thread; there have been a few other AMP threads but hopefully we can keep this one on actual information. Thanks for sharing the serials; the serial of the first LRIP bird has been elusive, and the third is new to me. I do wonder what the USN is going to do about their Herks. Is there an AMP program in the works, or are they buying new planes? The USMC has already switched completely to KC-130Js on the 3 active VMGR sqns, and is planning to replace KC-130Ts at the reserve sqns over the next 10-15 years.

Don't get me wrong, I like the concept of the A400M, and it is being marketed as the middle ground between the C-130 and the C-17. There is a demand for it, as not everyone can afford the maintenance-intensive Globemasters, but there are a lot of loads that don't quite fit into the Herk. It is perhaps a competitor as much as the C-27J is. Different size, different market.

Does it look like this? http://www.airliners.net/photo/Turkey---Air/Lockheed-C-130E-Hercules/1939311/&sid=0ddfc72f7e3e0637ac7f0fd3273892dd That is the paint scheme for 73-0991, the support aircraft for the Turkish Stars demo team. As an aside, the Turkish Air Force herks have been repainted with new tail registrations. This is what I've seen: 3503 57-0527 3532 58-0736 3643 61-0960 3670 61-2634 4011 63-3186 4012 63-3187 4015 63-3188 4016 63-3189 4427 70-1947 4514 71-1468 4524 73-0991

They've been trying to pitch it for years, but seeing as how the project is years behind schedule and the USAF won't get deliveries until past 2020...

Hamilton Sundstrand has completed performance testing of its NP2000 propeller on a US Air Force Lockheed Martin C-130H, while operational evaluation of the eight-bladed prop on the New York Air National Guard's LC-130 is almost complete, the United Technologies subsidiary said. By Kate Sarsfield, FlightGlobal http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/06/24/358704/paris-hamilton-sundstrand-tests-propeller.html

Aircrew was a a joint LM-Qatari mix, consisting of P.R. Helm, Chuck Nelson, Scott DeMarco, Brigadier General Al-Assiri, Colonel Al-Mohannadi, and Major Al-Mannai.

Five C-130 Avionics Modernization Program aircraft will fly in IOT&E program PALMDALE, Calif., June 21, 2011 -- The Boeing C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) is making final preparations for five aircraft to enter the U.S. Air Force Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) program in early 2012. "Once evaluation is complete in late 2012, we will have a fully-tested and proven weapon system that will offer more situational awareness for aircrews, increasing flight safety during their many mission types," said Mahesh Reddy, C-130 AMP program director for Boeing. Three AMP aircraft have been in scheduled programmed depot maintenance at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Ga., over the past year. Two of these aircraft received final software and hardware upgrades at Boeing's Flight Test Operations facility in Palmdale, bringing them up to production configuration. The first of these was delivered to Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., on April 23, and the second was delivered on May 16. The third aircraft is receiving final upgrades at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. It will be delivered to Little Rock in July. The first two low-rate initial production C-130 AMP aircraft were inducted at Warner Robins in August 2010. These aircraft will be completed in late 2011 and early 2012 and then will join the three other aircraft in the IOT&E program at Little Rock Air Force Base. "The Little Rock 'schoolhouse' for C-130 AMP is now training flight crews," said Lt. Col. Kevin Tebbutt, Chief of Operations and Training, 189th Operations Group. "Our crewmembers are currently in the academic and simulator phase of training. The initial cadre of AMP instructors is flying the AMP aircraft we have on the ramp to prepare for the students that will start their flight line training in June."

The first of four C-130J Super Hercules for the Qatar Emiri Air Force took to the skies over the Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta, Ga., June 8. This is Qatar’s first experience with C-130s, so the package provided by Lockheed Martin is a complete solution including four aircraft, training of aircrew and maintenance technicians, spares, ground support and test equipment, servicing carts, cargo pallets and a team of technical specialists who will be based in Qatar during an initial support period. Picture: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/data/assets/aeronautics/press_photos/2011/MP11-0738_TDN3545.jpg Source: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2011/110620ae_qatar-c-130j.html

The third and fourth C-130J Super Hercules transports for the Indian Air Force were flown from the Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta, Ga. en route to AFS Hindon, near Delhi, India, on 15 June 2011. The remaining two C-130Js on order for India will be delivered later this summer. The Indian C-130Js will be equipped with an infrared detection set to allow precision low-level flying, airdrops, and landing in blackout conditions. Neither the radome-mounted infrared sensor turret nor the removable air-to-air refueling probe was installed for the ferry flight. http://www.codeonemagazine.com/news_item.html?item_id=368 MSN Registration C/S Hexcode 5653 KC-3804 IFC3411 AE2738 5654 KC-3805 IFC3511 AE2739

Sounds like it was some minor wingtip damage. Check out the retarded comments: "What is a plane that size doing so close to a building?" Seems the commenter hasn't heard of a hanger.

Definitely sounds like a "Cover Your Ass" situation, but you can imagine heads will roll if something unfortunate were to happen. I think the reduced maintenance costs (manpower and parts) and inventory trail from using a single brake system throughout will be enough to justify it. Plus, the old brakes aren't being made anymore, so what are your choices really?

I'm no expert, but I think that they needed to establish a new baseline with their current testing methodology. It doesn't mean that the old data is invalid, but probably that the new methodology records more data with different variables. For example, there may be newer, more accurate sensors being used, or the holes may be drilled in different locations, or any number of things that make the new data incompatible with the old data.

Enough of this LRIP crap, time for full production.

Not yet, they just started on the latest batch of KC-130Js. Probably within the next couple of weeks.

First flights: 5660 168069 KC130J VMGR-352 01 Jun AE2F9B 5661 168070 KC130J VMGR-252 25 May AE2F9C Should be delivered by the end of June.

"Similarly, negotiations for six more C-130J `Super Hercules' heavy-lift aircraft will begin soon. "IAF has already inducted two of the earlier six C-130Js ordered for $1.2 billion in 2008. Two more will come around July, with the last two in September-October," said the MoD source. http://air-ace.blogspot.com/2011/05/decks-cleared-for-biggest-ever-indo-us.html