Herkeng130

I agree, sounds like a Tepper but both of those reg numbers are to Piper Malibu Mirage type aircraft...

That is a kick in the jimmy... the paint looks nice.

What are the differences in the -8 model?

Added 13ft in the wing length

max takeoff weight has gone from 875,000lb to 975, 000lb (but empty weight also was increased from 406,900 lb to 472,900lb)

She has extended her range over the 747-400ER from 7670 nm to 8000nm

and her engines (GEnx-2B67 produces 66,500 lbf) has been increased 7000lbf-3200lbf depending on engine option for the 747-400

The 747-8 looks like she will be able to keep going well into the future.

Do you know if Boeing is building anything large that will compete with the Airbus A 380?

Dan

The 747-8

Boeing (after buying out McD) had in its hands the MD-12 and also had a concept that was in this same category called the Boeing NLA and decided to do nothing with it. I think it was a good call. The A380 is a very large aircraft and right now they are selling seats because of how new and unique she is... but this will die down. The 747-8 will do fine to compete.

Beautiful!!

She should have the gear slapped back on and put in a museum... instead of sold for what will result in scrap.

GSa has a B model up for auction starting on 3 June. It requires a $25,000 bid deposit. I think that you will need more than one crew chief. Tail No N707NA, 58-0712. It looks like one of the planes that NASA used for research. Auction web address is WWW.gsaauctions.gov

Isn't that the famous six engined NC-130B Herk?

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.

This is what i was thinking of. I was not aware that later C-130s (H3s and so on) were also AWADS

Thanks for the help.

What units had the old system?

What units and how many aircraft were modified with AWADS?

I know Pope and Ramstein had them. Any list of tail numbers?

Thank you

James, If I remember correctly, the aircraft in the picture is the same C-130A that was made up to look like an AC-130H back in the early 1990s.

I saw another picture with one that had an ASD-5 where the AC-130Hs had them and another one above the left main wheel well

Being a wee junior at the time, I don't remember much except the fact i avoided 1855 like the plauge. I do remember that when we sent 1855 to Kadena our email accounts blew up. Apparently in the flight deck there was bit of corrosion, ok actually alot of corrosion. To summarize the corrosion had corrosion of its own. Needless to say Kadena was not very happy. Lost track of it after that. I am sure all of us in the 16th remember that.

Well, She was SSgt James's plane...

Any more info on this bird and her crew?

So, I take it that the GBU-44/B Viper Stike on a gunship is dead too?

SOF To Convert One C-27J To Gunship Lite

Jul 25, 2008

Amy Butler

The Pentagon is planning this fiscal year to buy one C-27 for quick modification as a prototype gunship to augment U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command’s (AFSOC) existing AC-130 fleet.

A $1.8 billion reprogramming request from the Pentagon for FY ’08 includes a set aside for $32 million for the purchase of a single C-27, which would be modified to include “proven/known†weapons, sensors and other tactical systems for what AFSOC is calling an AC-XX Gunship Lite prototype. “This prototype will serve as a risk mitigation effort to field a new platform to operate in austere locations, with increased operational flexibility and a smaller support tail of manpower and logistics,†the reprogramming request states, noting the effort is a new start.

The U.S. Army and Air Force are already on contract to buy the first C-27Js for use as light cargo transports. The aircraft are being built by an L-3/Alenia North America team, with Boeing continuing negotiations to help stand up a U.S.-based final assembly plant in Florida.

Another $11.5 million is requested to execute an AC-XX feasibility study and engineering analyses associated with the so-called Gunship Lite. Further funding for the procurement of the aircraft is likely to be in the FY ’10 budget, which is now being crafted at the Pentagon.

In congressional testimony earlier this year, the Special Operations Command’s (SOCOM) chief said SOCOM was trying to roll out a small fleet of gunship-oriented C-27Js but was struggling under competing Air Force budget pressures, as well as the need to pursue necessary funds via an unfunded priority list to Congress that is not part of the regular appropriations process. He told senators that it would be an “exaggeration†to say SOCOM and the Air Force were equally eager to fund the small gunship variant, but the armed service supported the combatant command’s effort nevertheless (Aerospace DAILY, March 10). SOCOM, which has limited acquisition authority of its own, listed $30 million for a “gunship lite prototype†as a high priority in its annual unfunded procurement wish list this year.

Meanwhile, AFSOC has also dashed its plans to field a 30mm weapon on the AC-130U gunship. Command officials had hoped to replace the AC-130’s 40mm and 25mm weapons with a common 30mm system. But it fell short in testing. “Flight-testing revealed that it is operationally unsuitable due to unsatisfactory gunfire accuracy,†the reprogramming says.

Legacy systems

AFSOC is adding the 40mm and 25mm weapons back to the four AC-130Us delivered with the 30mm gun configuration. The omnibus includes a request to shift funding from the 30mm program back into the legacy systems.

Also for AFSOC, the Pentagon requests $7.5 million be transferred from an account for the MC-130W weapon system trainer to one that will purchase a U-28A trainer. AFSOC has begun to purchase the modified Pilatus PC-12 fixed wing aircraft for use in low-profile intratheater lift missions.

A separate line-item in the omnibus reprogramming also calls for $23.9 million to be dedicated toward the purchase of six PC-12s for use as communications relay systems for the Air Force. The mission is now being handled by C-130s and EA-6B Prowlers, which are badly needed to conduct other missions. This is also a new start program.

Try uploading it to a site like photobucket or another of your choice...then post a link

There is a lot wrong with the A400m

I would pick the An-70 over the airbus any day...but no one will buy from the Ukraine right now.

The An-70 can beat the A400m in about every category (on paper...because the A400m is way late for first and test flights)

It will be interesting to see...

It is clear that customers want something larger then the trusty old Herk...but really have little options for anything else. Now something is larger. It will be interesting to see if any US makers plan on attacking this head on...or keep offering the little turd J model.

I miss that sound...

I do get a KC-135R twice a day over the house.

herkman wrote:

The sad thing about this conversion, is that according to Marshalls the airplane cannot be converted back.

Shame as I believe the aircraft has less than 16,000 hours on it.

This is the aircraft that was converted back from being Snoopie, and was stated to be sold over seas.

Also my info source was wrong, it is 10\" between the prop tip and fusalage.

Regards

Col

Casey wrote:

All,

Having many of my 3d models removed from games and spread across the net and having many of my renders used without my permission gives me insight into Nicholas\' frustration. The image is his and was posted without his permission. He has every right to ask that credit be given or that the image be removed.

I replaced the image with one displaying his copyright. The situation has been handled and we must let it go. Arguing further will only serve to discredit all involved and this site.

As for the future of the gallery, I will post a \"disclaimer\" offering to add credits to photos or remove them from the gallery upon request. It has been my experience that when it pertains to non commercial use most artists ask for nothing more than the credit they deserve for their work (free advertising for them.) If I am wrong, I will deal with it when the time comes.

--Casey

I fully understand his frustration and I believe he has been a great sport about the whole thing.

Enough is enough.

Here is the photo of the USAF herk with the NP2000 props... [img size=800]http://herkybirds.com/images/fbfiles/images/080305_F_3571D_009_sm.jpg

View full size image here:

http://www.herkybirds.com/coppermine/images/080305-F-3571D-009.jpg

My vote goes to the D-Day style paint...

B-47

100% sure of it...

AMPTestFE wrote:

We\'ll be doing the VMCA/VMCG testing late this Spring & early Summer at Edwards. Snow\'s testing didn\'t really provide any accurate data for the USAF. For one, their airframe has been altered(dorsal & rudder). The H3 is scheduled to do it\'s first engine run on Tuesday here. You\'ll bet that I\'ll be out there to watch!

I have seen this picture before with #1 feathered, but what is the background story on it. Test?

Have the 16th SOS moved to Cannon yet? If not, when will it happen?