C-130 replacement...

[AJ]

Never in my AF career did I see a wheel fall off due to maintenance, but I did see pilots bust a few off.

I worked on and ran a maintenance department for attack aircraft for 20 years in the Corps. Never had a bird lose a wheel assembly due to maintenance or otherwise. Saw them land with one gear up due to a bird strike and related lose of hydraulics and pneumatics. Yep, did see a few with flat tires due to the pilots landing with their feet on the brakes too.

 

[Greyman50]

K, what was PM on A/C wheels???Are wheels jacked up to check bearings? What is the end play on the axles? JAWAG that if wheel(s) were not correctly torqued and secured with wire nuts or whatever one could easily see such in PM.

 

[Mainsail]

It doesn’t need to be replaced. Upgraded yes. Just because the aircraft is old doesn’t mean that it should be replaced.

The C-130 is too important to replace. But the military being what it is, they are just looking for reasons to spend our money.

They need to replace the B-52 first followed by the KC-135.

When the AF was trying to buy new C-17 globetrotters, they very quickly retired the reliable C-141Bs and Cs. When the initial buy started to wind down and they wanted more, they crushed all the C-141s in the boneyard.

The USAF said the Starlifters were too expensive to refurb (even though Lockheed was set to do it inexpensively) but somehow the B-52s were not, and somehow the Russian copy every bit as old, the IL-76, is STILL flying.

It's all about the new, not what works or what's best. They're still trying to kill off the A-10s even though nothing in the inventory can do what they do.

 

[AJ]

K, what was PM on A/C wheels???Are wheels jacked up to check bearings? What is the end play on the axles? JAWAG that if wheel(s) were not correctly torqued and secured with wire nuts or whatever one could easily see such in PM.

The tires were mainly changed due to tread wear. Once the tire was off the axles were checked, bearing checked and replaced if needed and always regreased. Lug nuts torqued and cotter pinned. We did weekly and hourly inspections on the aircraft. Can ask one of my plane captains if needed for what was done on those inspections. Also were inspected whenever we had a problem with the brakes, such as "Hot Brakes".

 

[LVSteve]

The bigger question is would we be able to build the Embraer here in the US?
Big mistake to be dependent on another country for our military equipment.

See post#47.

 

[Greyman50]

Well, considering the intelligence and work ethic of way to many these days I always wonder about PM personnel’s knowledge and ability. IMHO, woke = Broke……

 

[SMSgt]

When the AF was trying to buy new C-17 globetrotters, they very quickly retired the reliable C-141Bs and Cs. When the initial buy started to wind down and they wanted more, they crushed all the C-141s in the boneyard.

The USAF said the Starlifters were too expensive to refurb (even though Lockheed was set to do it inexpensively) but somehow the B-52s were not, and somehow the Russian copy every bit as old, the IL-76, is STILL flying.

It's all about the new, not what works or what's best. They're still trying to kill off the A-10s even though nothing in the inventory can do what they do.

Neither the B-52 nor the A-10 would survive in a heavily contested airspace. The Buff can still carry and launch weapons from afar. The A-10, the latest coming off the line in the mid-'80s, has to get in there and mix it up. That's okay when we own the airspace and SAM threats are low to non-existent. It is unlikely the Air Force will ever desire a ground support aircraft again.

 

[AJ]

When the AF was trying to buy new C-17 globetrotters, they very quickly retired the reliable C-141Bs and Cs. When the initial buy started to wind down and they wanted more, they crushed all the C-141s in the boneyard.

The USAF said the Starlifters were too expensive to refurb (even though Lockheed was set to do it inexpensively) but somehow the B-52s were not, and somehow the Russian copy every bit as old, the IL-76, is STILL flying.

It's all about the new, not what works or what's best. They're still trying to kill off the A-10s even though nothing in the inventory can do what they do.

There were some C-141's that were modified. They had a fuselage extension installed in them. I rode in a few when going on deployments. Not as many times as on a C-130 though. The C-141 was a good bird.

 

[AJ]

It is unlikely the Air Force will ever desire a ground support aircraft again.

They will leave that to the Marines and Navy........

 

[jpage]

What assignment does the military have that the C-130 cannot perform? Good grief, that airplane can do almost anything! Gunship, troop transport, cargo plane...you name it, the C-130 can do it. What else would do it better?

There are plans in the works to mount floats for maritime use. The Toyota Hi-lux of the tactical-transport sphere.....

 

[Greyman50]

Guess all the drone development is/ has changed “ ground support???????

 

[meangreenlx50]

As a longtime C-130 Crew Chief, the A's may have been rough but the E's and H's were smooth. Combat entry into the Balkans were steep but smooth. The H's had outstanding AC and heated floor in the cargo compartment. Maybe because I was in the guard everything worked.

 

[Glynn863]

Well, the “ BUFFs” saved us a couple times in RVN. Flying on 130’s we counted the “ rattling rivets”, lol
Now who remembers the Caribou?

I was fortunate enough to get a couple of flights in an AFRES Caribou back in the late 1970s as a CAP Cadet. Very interesting STOL-capable aircraft.

 

[Greyman50]

We have left out another good A/C in RVN…..guess which.

 

[BlackAgnes]

I think "uncomfortable" is kinda mission-related. I flew all over North, Central, and South America in the back of them many times, Granted, we were a small group (CD Ops), but we usually could get horizontal on the rear cargo ramp or in the cab of a vehicle. If the web seats weren't too full, you could lie down there too.
I always liked a C-130 ride for some reason.

 

[dave1918a2]

No need to replace the best plane the AF ever had.

 

[AJ]

No need to replace the best plane the AF ever had.

Some of the older folks might argue the C-47 (DC-3) was the best. ☺

 

[LVSteve]

There are plans in the works to mount floats for maritime use. The Toyota Hi-lux of the tactical-transport sphere.....

Last reported to be on hold. Here's an article on the subject of SF aircraft with a slant towards water ops. The Japanese make a nice purpose built bus.

C-130 Floatplane Program Put 'On Pause' By Special Operations Command

 

[fordson]

Whoa…. Now that’s a float plane

 

[Greyman50]

K, no one remembers the C-123s?