fltsload

Try this site. www.troopcarrier.org/home.html

New Update: The Air Force has awarded Boeing a $30 million follow-on contract to continue testing the advanced tactical laser, the company announced yesterday. The funds will cover an extended user evaluation of the prototype ATL aircraft, which is a C-130H fitted with a high-power chemical laser. The laser fires a beam of energy from a turret in the aircraft\'s belly that is capable of destroying, damaging or disabling ground targets from overhead, while causing little or no collateral damage. During the EUE, the Air Force and other potential users will perform hands-on ground and flight tests of the ATL in order to assess how well the ATL can be integrated into battlefield operations, said Gary Fitzmire, vice president and program director of Boeing Directed Energy Systems. The EUE takes the work of the Boeing-led industry team beyond the Office of the Secretary of Defense-sponsored ATL advanced concept technology demonstration.

The last active Bomb Live Unit-82 in the Air Force inventory was detonated at the Utah Test and Training Range July 15 with the assistance of the 919th Special Operations Wing from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. \"This BLU-82 was dropped as part of the aging and surveillance program for the weapon,\" said Capt. Andrew Jauhola of the 582nd Missile Maintenance Squadron at Hill Air Force Base. \"The data gathered will give us more information on the shelf life of the explosive used in the weapon.\" The BLU-82, also known as the \"Commando Vault\" bomb or the \"Daisy Cutter\" bomb in reference to its specific nose fuse assembly, was originally designed to clear landing pads for helicopters during the Vietnam War. The 15,000-pound bomb detonates prior to ground contact, leveling a 250-foot radius without leaving a crater in the ground. Eleven BLU-82s were dropped during Desert Storm, all from Special Operations MC-130 Combat Talon aircraft, and in 2001, four Daisy Cutter bombs were dropped in Afghanistan on tunnels reportedly holding top al-Qaida leaders, according to the GlobalSecurity.org Web site. The BLU-82 warhead contains 12,600 pounds of gelled slurry explosive, which is prepared by combining a mixture of aqueous ingredients. Once the material has gelled, it is detonated by a high explosive booster. The aqueous gel solution in the BLU-82 breaks down over time and the warhead must be destroyed as a precaution. At its inception, the BLU-82 was considered the largest and most powerful chemical bomb. Since the bomb is too heavy to be carried on bomber or attack aircraft bomb racks, it must be launched from the rear cargo hatch of an MC-130 or C-130 Hercules aircraft and stabilized during the drop with a parachute. The 919th SOW assisted with the aerial drop of the BLU-82 with its MC-130 aircraft on July 15. Hill AFB personnel have worked extensively with this warhead for the past seven years. The 506th Combat Sustainment Squadron of the 784th Combat Sustainment Group at Hill AFB refurbished the BLU-82 bomb cases in 2001 and loaded the cases with the gel slurry explosive. In 2002, extensive testing and modeling was conducted to extend the shelf life from one year to seven years. \"Since that time we have validated that shelf-life extension through daily monitoring of the interior temperatures and pressures,\" said Gordon Guymon, a bomb engineer with the 506th CSS. \"Part of our validation testing effort includes live tests of the BLU-82s in stockpile.\" Six BLU-82s have been used for training and flight testing by the 582nd MMXS over the past four years, Guymon added. There are no plans to produce more BLU-82 bombs by the Air Force at this time. Inactive static displays of BLU-82s appear at military museums, such as the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio.

Air Force officials announced the award of two contracts to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company-Marietta, Ga., June 13 for the procurement of six modified KC-130J aircraft, and non-recurring costs associated with modifying the KC-130J. The modified KC-130Js meet the unique mission requirements of the Air Combat Command\'s search and rescue and Air Force Special Operations Command\'s special operations forces mission areas. These awards begin the recapitalization of the Air Force\'s aging fleet of CSAR and SOF HC/MC-130 aircraft, which have long been in a state of low supply and high demand and are facing mounting sustainment challenges.

If I remember correctly, The 53 AS will reopen with J models, and be the first AD squadron, with all J models asigned to AMC. The 41 AS is already operating at Little Rock and is the first AD J model unit in AMC. Bob

Here\'s a web site that an Air Force guy draws. Likes to pick on the \"O\'s\" http://www.afblues.com/index.php?page=today-s-comic Some preety good slams on fighter pilots.

Aeronautical Systems Center is in the market for 115 medium-size transport aircraft to replace USAF’s current fleet of HC-130 and MC-130 combat rescue and special operations tankers. A “sources sought†notice says the Air Force expects to take delivery of the first six aircraft by the end of 2011, followed by eight per year thereafter. ASC plans to hold an industry day on Feb. 5 to discuss the program with potential contractors—large or small or teams.

Same aircraft, the wings were beefed up to hold 10,000 lbs at the in and out board pylons. For a total of 40,000 lbs. That is why this aircraft had a rapid transfer fuel system installed. Sadly thou, the wings were removed back around 92-94. It now has the standard wing on it. The nose use extended for a microwave antenna. With was used to communicate with the drones. It was with the 514th FLTS at Hill AFB, untill it was sent to the 418th FLTS at Edwards AFB in 95.

That is c/n [cn]4131[/cn] 65-0979. It was transfered to Eglin AFB from Edwards AFB, to replace c/n [cn]3049{/cn] 55-0022.

Would those be the C-130\'s still sitting in the weeds at the Marietta plant? Check Google Earth and you can see 8 C-130\'s, 2 groups of 4, sitting in the weeds on the south side of the Dobbins ARB.

11/13/2007 - DUKE FIELD, Fla. -- Air Force Reserve Command\'s 919th Special Operations Wing will reorganize, change missions and move in the next few years. Wing reservists currently fly MC-130 special operations aircraft. In the future, they will form reserve associate units in which they will fly and maintain new aircraft with Airmen in Air Force Special Operations Command. \"The 919th SOW will become a fully integrated partner in more special operations missions as a result of planned total force integration initiatives,\" said Col. George Williams. The colonel is the senior individual mobilization augmentee to the AFSOC director of plans, programs, requirements and assessments. Over the next five years, the 919th SOW at Duke Field will integrate with AFSOC\'s 1st SOW at Hurlburt Field in several phases, said Col. Steven Chapman, 919th SOW commander. \"The result is realizing the efficiency of standing up a true associate special operations unit using the highly dedicated and experienced citizen commandos of the 919th SOW,\" said Colonel Chapman. \"In this day and age of decreased assets, it\'s truly a force multiplier.\" The wing\'s 5th Special Operations Squadron flies the MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft. The Combat Shadow supports special ops helicopters on low-visibility, low-level air refueling missions. It can also air-drop small special operation teams and their equipment. The wing\'s 711th SOW flies the MC-130E Combat Talon I. This aircraft deliveries people and equipment, day or night, in all kinds of weather in support of U.S. and allied special operations forces globally. The wing will begin getting out of the Combat Shadow mission in the next year or two and will retire the Combat Talon I in 2011 or 2012. One immediate change for Duke Field\'s reservists is the sharing of flight training duties. AFSOC is developing an Air Force Special Operations Training Center at Hurlburt Field, where reservists from the 919th SOW would augment training units in a variety of missions. Those missions include the single-engine U-28 Pilatus light transport aircraft, the AC-130U gunship, and aviation foreign internal defense. AFID involves advising, training and assisting foreign aviation forces in the application of airpower in internal defense and development. Another possible emerging mission for the 919th SOW is an associate unit to augment the 3rd SOS at Nellis AFB, Nev. The squadron flies and maintains the MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle. \"We can look forward to positions opening up to help support and maintain MQ-1 Predator, PC-12/U-28A Pilatus and AC-130U gunship aircraft,\" said Colonel Chapman. \"Everyone here has the opportunity to bring a wealth of knowledge to the wing\'s future mission.\" According to Col. Max Maxwell, Reserve advisor to the AFSOC commander, the proposed associate concept will help relieve stress on AFSOC-gained reservists in a variety of ways. \"AFSOC relies on 919th aircraft and personnel to fill deployment rotations,\" said Colonel Maxwell. \"The 919th has always stepped up to the plate and performed magnificently. However, numerous deployments take their toll on reservists as well as their employers. \"The proposed way ahead for the 919th should be much more Reserve friendly, while at the same time adding great value to AFSOC,\" he said. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service from an AFSOC news release)

Bob, what does Lar\'s book say about this a model? Lars has it delivered to the USAF in 1957 and first reported at the 4442 CCTW at Sewart in 1964. Looking at the lack of camo paint most likely this was before then. bob

I had read a newspaper report saying that the 2 MAFFS California had were retired and they are waiting for the new MAFFS.

http://thehill.com/business--lobby/lockheed-pitches-6-billion-c-130j-buy-2007-10-25.html

To all, who are interested. There is a PACAF Air Force 60th Anniversary Hawaiian Shirt. If interested here is the link. http://www.reyns.com/SC101_Services/SC101_Shopper/showItem.php?menuId=1&itemNum=397