C-130 Greatness

Faulkner

Faulkner

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I didn't want to get too far off topic with leswad's "SR-71 Greatness" thread, but there was a comment in one post about the several long time workhorses of the USAF, like the C-130. Just happens one of the newer C-130J's from Little Rock Air Force Base buzzed over the Faulkner Homestead at not much above tree top level. I had my telephoto lens on the camera and even at minimum zoom the Super Hercules filled the whole frame as it flew over.

I remember seeing an article in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in 2007, the C-130 became the fifth aircraft—after the English Electric Canberra, B-52 Stratofortress, Tu-95, and KC-135 Stratotanker—to mark 50 years of continuous service with its original primary customer, in this case, the United States Air Force. Today, the C-130 Hercules is the longest continuously produced military aircraft at over 60 years, with the updated C-130J Super Hercules being currently manufactured.

There are lots of stories about what the C-130's have accomplished through the years.

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They fly regular training missions over Batesville a couple of times a week. They fly down the White River most of the time. I've been trying to get a photo but by the time they are over my backyard I've got no time to grab the camera. Great catch Faulkner!
Mark
 
When they come in as low as this one did it's pretty much on top of you before you ever hear it . . . I just happened to look in the direction this one was coming from and was able to get a snapshot.
 
when I was stationed at Rhein Main AB in Germany worked on a lot of different versions of the C-130. C-130E's that were TDY from the states , MC-130 Combat Talon (7 th S.O.S.) , C-130BII (7406 Support Squadron0 and a couple of C-130A's just for luck . it ain't the fastest airplane in the world but it will get you to wherever you are going.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_axy1PDb48[/ame]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=168rTFnRkNI[/ame]
 
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Had a solid black one come over me at the hunting club I belonged to several years ago at about 50'. Low enough you could see every rivet in the skin so I thought it was kinda strange there was not a number anywhere to be seen. Never could figure out what group it belonged to. Larry
 
Faulkner said:
I remember seeing an article in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in 2007, the C-130 became the fifth aircraft—after the English Electric Canberra, B-52 Stratofortress, Tu-95, and KC-135 Stratotanker—to mark 50 years of continuous service with its original primary customer, in this case, the United States Air Force.
Click to expand...

I'm curious how the Herk reached 50 years of continuous service after the KC-135. The Herk's first flight was a touch over 2 years ahead of the same for the KC-135. Deliveries to the AF began in '56 for the Herk and '57 for the KC-135, from what I can find. (Please note that this is NOT a dig at you, as this factoid is found in multiple sources. I'm curious what I'm missing.)

Nice pics!
 
They're handy on short fields and carry a lot of weight. I rode a jump seat in one a couple of times.
 
I believe the C-47/DC-3 and the C-130 will be ranked as two of the most important and versatile aircraft of any kind in aviation history. Both have done it all, and a few Goonies are still in service around the world. The 130 is a masterpiece of pure functional design, like the A-10.

Our local Air National Guard unit, which formerly operated RF-4F's, has for a number of years flown C-130's all over the world. Even though they're turbo-prop engines. I love to hear the props rumble and sing.
 
The first time I saw one on the tarmac at Long Bien I said to myself. That flies? Well yes it does and quite nicely for such a big ship. Being in the Engineers I got to ride on quite a few and got to jump out of one. Makes quite an impression as a gun ship.

DW
 
Oldiron said:
Had a solid black one come over me at the hunting club I belonged to several years ago at about 50'. Low enough you could see every rivet in the skin so I thought it was kinda strange there was not a number anywhere to be seen. Never could figure out what group it belonged to. Larry
Click to expand...

What year did this happen? Lockheed had a flying prototype known as the HTTB, High Technology Test Bed, that was equipped with many new features - higher pressure hydraulic system, leading edge flaps, and some others. It was painted solid black with little identification. Unfortunately, it crashed in 1993 during some one-engine-out minimum ground speed rudder control testing and all seven aboard were killed.


HTTB_zpsdiatug3l.jpg
 
Herknav said:
I'm curious how the Herk reached 50 years of continuous service after the KC-135. The Herk's first flight was a touch over 2 years ahead of the same for the KC-135. Deliveries to the AF began in '56 for the Herk and '57 for the KC-135, from what I can find. (Please note that this is NOT a dig at you, as this factoid is found in multiple sources. I'm curious what I'm missing.)

Nice pics!
Click to expand...

Interesting, but you're right, the math don't seem to add up.
 
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427mach1, figuring back I'm thinking 91-92. Could very well have been it. I didn't remember the paint being shiny so I googled it and there it was in flat black also. Also would have made sense to have seen it there since the hunting club was SW of Dobbins down I-85 in Alabama. Thanks for the info and from my vantage point underneath I would not have been able to see the logo on the tail. Mystery solved. Larry
 
C-130 gunship.

I had one fly over once with the gun ports open.

Props more control at slow speed.
 
The AC-130 gun ship was designated "Specter" and the other platforms were "Spooky" and "Puff, the magic Dragon" Or just puff. Seeing one in the day time, they were really foreboding, no insignia-painted all flat black. We had Ton Son Nhuit to the north, and Soc Tang to the east, where these guys hung out-so we got to see them in the day time from time to time. One of my vivid memories is when the Rangers right down the road from us called them in one evening. They were really right above us, and after a mini gun burst, we could hear the hulls whistling down through the air-I think one rookie got beaned! Ah...memories.
 
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