tahoejace

92-0554 is at Reno. A former co-worker posted a photo. Apparently, they're very slowly getting H3s.

Just getting the one H3, no plans for Reno to receive any others for now. 554 is listed as BAI.

BTW here is the latest I have on the Shuffle:

73-1597 was reported for MT ANG is still at Reno?

1597 is now at depot. MT will pick it up when it's done.

74-1671 and 73-1597 are both sitting on the ramp in Reno now as a temporary home until they eventually make their way to Great Falls. The Super-E still has a "naked" tail.

I was there early last week for ORI support. All H's gone as of August, one C-27J on the ramp and they were expecting the second to arrive middle of last week.

From AFA's Daily Report:

Let the Modifications Begin: Boeing announced Monday that the first C-130H aircraft slated to receive new avionics at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Ga., has been inducted there for the modifications. This is the first of 20 C-130s that will receive new cockpit displays and communications and navigation gear during the low-rate initial production phase of the C-130 Avionics Modernization Program. Boeing developed the AMP upgrade kits for the Air Force. "Our team has been trained by Boeing, and we are excited to get the first of many aircraft through our line and upgraded," said Tommy Jackson, USAF's C-130 AMP deputy program manager. Air Force workers at Warner Robins will install the new avionics in 10 of the 20 C-130s. Boeing will do another five, starting in early 2012. A competitively selected third party will upgrade the remaining aircraft. Overall, the Air Force intends to upgrade 221 C-130Hs under AMP.

And Boeing:

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 30, 2010 – The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced the induction of the first C-130 aircraft slated to receive the Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) upgrade at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Ga. This is the first of 20 aircraft to be upgraded during low-rate initial production (LRIP).

“Warner Robins is ready to receive the C-130 and begin installing the AMP kits,†said Tommy Jackson, C-130 AMP deputy program manager for the U.S. Air Force. “Our team has been trained by Boeing, and we are excited to get the first of many aircraft through our line and upgraded.â€

Air Force workers at Robins will install glass cockpits that include a head-up display; six flat-panel, full-color displays; and night-vision capability in 10 of the 20 LRIP aircraft. Warner Robins will receive its second C-130 for AMP modification in October.

“The C-130 AMP is production-ready,†said Mahesh Reddy, C-130 AMP program manager for Boeing. “Today marks a very important day for the warfighter. Boeing and the Air Force are one step closer to delivering a fleet of C-130 AMP aircraft.â€

Boeing will begin its portion of the installations in early 2012 at its San Antonio facility.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide.

Anybody know which tail it is?

Walked into the FSDO a few days ago with my Form 8, written test score, and filled in FAA Form 8710. Walked out 20 minutes later with CFI CFII MEI certificate. Easy.

Go to www.sheppardair.com for info on the new rule, test prep software, and an excellent rundown on exactly how to get the cert added to your ticket. I just took the mil-comp test after using their software and it worked like a champ.

BBC says the crews were from Camp Pendleton and Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento, some debris found in the water.

Nine missing after US air crash

A search is under way for nine people missing after a US Coast Guard plane and a military helicopter crashed off the coast of southern California.

The collision is believed to have happened 16 miles (27km) east of the US Navy-owned San Clemente Island.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesman said a pilot reported seeing a fireball near the area.

The plane - reported to be a C-130 aircraft - is believed to have had seven people on board.

The Marine Corps said the other aircraft was an AH-1 Super Cobra attack helicopter.

Coast Guard spokeswoman Allyson Conroy said the crash happened on Thursday at about 1910 local time (0210 GMT, Friday).

'Survival training'

Cpl Michael Stevens, a spokesman for the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, said the helicopter and its crew belonged to Marine Aircraft Group 39, stationed at Camp Pendleton and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, based at Miramar.

The plane and its crew belong to Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento.

A number of helicopters and navy vessels are being used in the search.

Map

FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said the coast guard had reported seeing debris from a C-130.

Lt Josh Nelson from the Coast Guard said all those who would have been on the plane and helicopter would have had survival training.

"We are throwing everything we can at this right now," he said.

San Clemente Island, which is owned by the US Navy and is used for training purposes, is 68 nautical miles west of San Diego.

Meanwhile the Coast Guard said it was suspending its separate search for two Navy pilots whose plane had gone missing along the central Texas coast.

Contact was lost with the single-engine Navy T-34 training plane on Wednesday.

Its last known location was close to San Jose Island, two miles (3.2km) off the Gulf of Mexico.

The search is expected to resume once the stormy weather has cleared up.

Of the 8, 475 was the fastest, 479 and 480 the most reliable, tho all were great flyers.

Well, they're all a little slower now that they've got LAIRCM on 'em. While a little uglier, they're all still damn good airplanes.

Look on the copilots forward panel on 473 and see if it still has the "turbo boost switch"

I don't recall seeing the turbo on 73, might be gone by now. I'll have a look when it gets back from PDM.

By the way what's the average hours on these acft. today?

Not sure, I'll have to check next time I'm out there.

Reno has H2's 79-0473 through 79-0480. All tails have been upgraded with APN-241 and LAIRCM. I had been under the impression that our airplanes were the first H2's, sounds like that's not the case. Who has the former OKC airplanes (FY 78's) now?

Thanks Nat, developed way after my time.....our sam deterant was the loadmaster in the opened troop door with the verry flare pistol...things have come a long way.

Do you know if any of the C-130s have been equiped?

Muff

If you're asking about LAIRCM, I think about half of the H-model fleet has been modded. I believe NY and WY ANG are the only units that have airplanes with the 8-bladed props.

US Herk wrote:

Muff, I agree completely. We\'re getting Instructor FEs here from the AD slick ranks whose general knowledge is pretty sub-standard.

I would say that the product leaving LRF has been in a steady decline for several years in ALL crew positions. The focus in a lot of AETC units, not just at Little Rock, has become more about quantity than quality. Unfortunately, instructors in ops squadrons are so spread thin that they can\'t devote the time necessary to fix the problems, they can only affix a band-aid and hope nothing bad happens.

US Herk wrote:

See? I\'m wrong! Haha! Thanks. We don\'t do many (enough) of these (regardless of what they\'re called anymore). Guess folks were still using old terminology - looks like a year old change.

Don\'t feel bad, I still thought BOTH terms were valid until I went looking for the reference to post here. I learned something, too. I\'m all over 11-2C-130 when there are changes, but I never think to look in some of the other 11-series pubs anymore.

US Herk wrote:

Interesting. The last four we\'ve done here were all AEB (officer and enlisted) - at least to my knowledge they were. Perhaps it was folks using improper terminology...have to admit, I\'m not up on 11-402.

From the summary of changes in 11-402 dated 25 Sep 2007:

Combines Chapter 4, The Flying Evaluation Board, and Chapter 7, Aircrew Evaluation Board, into one chapter titled The Flying Evaluation Board. Removes the term Aircrew Evaluation Board.

Muff Millen wrote:

I\'m an old fart and am not up to date on new terminology....

What is FEB and AEB and also what does AFI 11-402 cover?

Muff

Link: AFI 11-402, AVIATION AND PARACHUTIST SERVICE, AERONAUTICAL RATINGS AND BADGES. Covers all things aircrew...badges, gate months, aeronautical orders, FEB\'s, etc.

FEB = Flying Evaluation Board

AEB = Aircrew Evaluation Board

It\'s how the Air Force decides whether to let you keep your wings or not. Usually follows removal from a formal training program like the schoolhouse at Little Rock.

RZHill wrote:

What a crock of \"public Affairs\" generated BULL CRAP. Don\'t know about otheres but 4 engine rollback was always covered at Simiflite.

Got a couple of thousand hours in 62-1788 , great flying plane.

RZ Hill

Actually, for a while, officer aircrew still went to an FEB, while enlisted aircrew went to an AEB. With the most recent AFI 11-402, those two chapters were combined and the term \"AEB\" was eliminated. Now, rated officers, career enlisted aviators, and non-rated aircrew are all sent to FEB\'s.

Back on topic, I\'ve always had 4-engine rollback EP\'s (in some form) covered every time I\'ve been to a sim since day 1. Way to fact-check your stories AP.

High Roller checking in, been lurking for a few weeks. Great site! I posted a few pics from OIF during my AD days. Enjoy!

...and here\'s the CalFire website with info on the current MAFFS activation:

http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire_protection/fire_protection_air_program_maffs.php