Tag Archives: c-130

U.S. Disaster: Vid-Fest of M-A-F-F-S prepping for 2023 wildfire season!

Video April 15, 2023 Hutchins AAron

15 April 2023 (13:57-UTC-07 Tango 06) 26 Farvardin 1402/24 Ramadan 1444/25 Bing-Chen 4721/15 апреля 2023 года

Wyoming Air National Guard photo by by Senior Airman Edward Hermsen, 11APR2023.

This past week, Air National Guard C-130H MAFFS units from Nevada (152nd Airlift Wing) and Wyoming (153rd Airlift Wing) joined California’s 146th Airlift Wing on Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, for their yearly wildfire preparations.

MAFFS air crews get a quick explanation of how the fire retardant is mixed, Nevada Air National Guard video by Master Sergeant Garrett Wake, 11APR2023:

‘Bombing-up’ and testing your MAFFS, video by Master Sergeant Garrett Wake, 11APR2023:

Water-bombing training was conducted in the Angeles National Forest near Green Valley, California. Personnel from other federal operations such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and CAL FIRE (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection), also took part in the training.

Smoke signaling King Air 250. Nevada Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Paula Macomber, 14APR2023.

King-Air 250 FACs (Forward Air Controllers) lead the MAFFS in, using smoke signals to indicate where to drop the water bomb, video by Master Sergeant Garrett Wake, 12APR2023:

More water bombing video by Master Sergeant Garrett Wake, 12APR2023:

One more in slow motion, video by Master Sergeant Garrett Wake, 12APR2023:

Engine maintenance is always a must, Nevada Air National Guard video by Master Sergeant Garrett Wake, 14APR2023:

Wyoming Air National Guard photo by by Senior Airman Edward Hermsen, 14APR2023.

Nevada Air National Guard video, by Master Sergeant Garrett Wake, unloading MAFFS from C-130H, 14APR2023:

U.S. Wildfire 2022: C-130 MAFFS DEPLOYED, IDAHO SUFFERS MOST FIRES/ACRES BURNED IN THE U.S.!

U.S. Wildfire 2021: WYOMING & COLORADO ACTIVATES MAFFS, NEVADA’S MAFF MISSION EXTENDED!

MASSIVE MAFFS PREP for WILDFIRE 2021

2020: MAFFS BIRD FLIES PANDEMIC VENTILATORS TO NEW YORK AND ALL POINTS EAST

Idaho Wildfires 2019: BRAND NEW KING AIR 250 F-A-C

2017: IDAHO CONDUCTS MASSIVE MAFFS TRAINING, IN PREPS FOR HOT WILDFIRE SEASON!

FEMALE PILOT TELLS YOU WHY SHE FLIES MAFFS

2016: 45 YEARS OF C-130 MAFFS OPS. WHO WOULD’VE KNOWN WILDFIRES WOULD BECOME SUCH A PROBLEM?

Idaho Wildfires 2012: MAFFS C-130S RETURN TO POCATELLO AIRPORT, IDAHO NATIONAL GUARD JOINS BATTLE! IDAHO & CALIFORNIA HAVE THE MOST FIRES!

Technology

Cold War to Ukraine Crisis: EC-130H Compass Call makes its last call?

Video October 15, 2022 Hutchins AAron

Another U.S. Air Force EC-130H Compass Call retires at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, 28FEB2022. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alex Miller.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Alex Miller, 28FEB2022.

To be replaced by the new British built EC-37B, EC-130H Compass Call aircraft are slowly being retired.

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kaitlyn Ergish, 08NOV2021.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Kaitlyn Ergish, 08NOV2021.

Retirements began in 2018 and are ongoing, as the new EC-37B is only now coming off the production line. Unfortunately, just like the EC-37B the British empire’s BAE System is also involved with the EC-130H (another Yankee taxpayer feather in the cap of the Red Coats). A total of 14 modified EC-130H served in the USAF.

An EC-130H Compass Call’s retirement flight, 31AUG2021. USAF photo by Senior Airman Alex Miller.

First flight 1981, entered service 1982, costs $165-million each. By October 2021, the EC-130H Compass Call had been flying for 40 years. However, keep in mind that the first Compass Calls were modified C-130Hs that had already been flying for at least a decade (known as Baseline 1 aircraft)!

On 31AUG2021, yet another Compass Call was retired to the ‘Boneyard’ on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB), in Arizona. U.S. Air Force (USAF) video by Senior Airman Kaitlyn Ergish:

12JUN2019, the 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron (Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona) deployed to NATO Poland, for the first time in the Squadron’s history. Compass Call worked alongside fighter aircraft (in U.S. English the word aircraft is both singular and plural, do not add an ‘s’ at the end of the word aircraft) of the U.S. and Polish air forces. USAF video by Airman First Class Chanceler Nardone:

By December 2018, the EC-130H has been on-station over Afghanistan for 15 years, video interview by Senior Airman Jean-Paul Arnaud-Marquez:

USAF video by Senior Airman Kayla Palmer, an EC-130H retirement ceremony on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, 02AUG2018:

In 2018, the oldest EC-130H was retired, it was tail number was 65-0989. According to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, it was originally a C-130H built in 1965. 65-0989 was one of the first C-130Hs to be modified for the Compass Call mission. In 2018, the older Compass Calls were being replaced with newer/upgraded C-130s (known as Baseline 2, 5th generation electronic attack aircraft).

November 2017, night vision video by Technical Sergeant Justin Jacobs, of 41st Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron’s EC-130H operations on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan:

August 2017, Afghanistan, Airman explains his job maintaining Compass Call’s electronic warfare equipment, video by Senior Airman Joshua Crawley:

December 2016 video report, by Technical Sergeant Lance Daigle, explaining Compass Call’s mission over Iraq and Syria:

June 2012, Ohio Air National Guard refuel Compass Call over Utah, video by Senior Airman Robert Harnden:

Brand new EC-130H Compass Call Block 30 Baseline-1 arrives on Davis-Monthan AFB, 18FEB1997. USAF photo by Airman Elizabeth J. Harris.

This U.S. Navy photo by John Bouvia, incorrectly claims to show an early EC-130H Compass Call, on Mcdill AFB, Florida, 05DEC1993. It is an EC-130E Commando Solo.

An EC-130H Compass Call lands in NATO Germany, Sembach Air Base, after taking part in Desert Storm. USAF photo by Master Sergeant Dave Casey, 11MAR1991.

Cold War: Approximately 1947 (due to U.S. President Harry Truman’s Truman Doctrine) to 1991 (Operation Desert Storm, collapse of Soviet Union).

USAF photo by Master Sergeant Bill Thompson, December 1989.

Compass Call takes off from Sembach, NATO West Germany. USAF photo by Master Sergeant Dave Casey, 07JUN1989.

An EC-130H gets refueled over NATO West Germany by a KC-135 Stratotanker. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Fernando Serna, 30AUG1987.

Agent Orange/Chem-Trails: C-130H DUSTS IDAHO WITH CHEMICALS, IN THE NAME OF FIGHTING WILDFIRES!

C-130J: ONCE A RED COAT, NOW A BLUE ANGEL

Cold War to Ukraine Crisis: ANTONOV 2 BIPLANE, THE MOST PRACTICAL AIRCRAFT EVER?

Idaho, U.S.

Idaho ends Vehicle emission testing, the Air is too clean, despite those dirty Domestic Migrants?

Image October 8, 2022 Hutchins AAron

08 October 2022 (12:30-UTC-07 Tango 06) 16 Mehr 1401/12 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1444/13 Geng-Xu 4720/08 октября 2022 года

Most regions of The Gem State have such clean air that there is no vehicle emission testing. An area known as The Treasure Valley (aka Greater Boise Metro Area), however, has vehicle emission testing (and it’s the main reason registration fees are noticeably higher), since 1984.

The Treasure Valley is in the region of Southwestern Idaho, it encompasses the counties of Ada, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Kuna and Owyhee. The area is geographically a ‘bowl’, and experiences a lot of atmospheric inversions which hold down all kinds of air pollutants, not just those from ground vehicles.

The massively polluting ‘Air Force One’ (Boeing 747) delivered President Biden to Gowen Field/Boise Airport, 13 SEP2021. Idaho Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Joshua C. Allmaras.

The Treasure Valley is also home to the busiest airport in Idaho; Boise Airport, which is also used by the aircraft of the Idaho National Guard (known as Gowen Field) and by the U.S. Navy (known as Gowen Field Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center).

U.S. Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, F/A-18 Hornet, parked next to the Jackson Jet Center, Boise Airport, 19OCT2020. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Levi Voss.

Boise Airport is also home base for the National Interagency Fire Center, which includes fire fighting water bomber aircraft.

A Wyoming Air National Guard C-130 MAFFS fire fighting aircraft performs a water drop east of Boise, 21APR2017. Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Maj. Jolene Bottor-Ortiona.

Elmore County is home to the U.S. Air Force’s Mountain Home Air Base.

A U.S. Air Force Reserve C-130H Hercules operated out of Mountain Home AFB, spraying plant killing chemicals, 23SEP2020. It was an attempt to reduce wildfires by killing-off Cheatgrass. USAFR photo by Senior Airman Christina Russo.

This is important in regards to air pollution as many studies have shown that the true air polluters in metro areas are busy airports (according to one rabid environmentalist group, global aircraft operations put out enough emissions to be ranked in sixth place behind the top five polluting countries), yet you can’t install emission control devices on a jet turbine, so they continue to blame piston engined ground vehicles which produce only a fraction of the pollution that a turbine can generate upon take-off (this fact was known way back in the 1970s when the environmentalists succeeded in imposing expensive, yet ineffective, emission control devices on your car). Do some research, you might discover that most of the highly air polluted areas of the United States just happen to have a lot of busy airports/military bases.

On October 7th, 2022, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced they would no longer require emission testing in Kuna or Canyon counties. David Luft, a manager with DEQ admitted that “Motor vehicles are becoming cleaner and cleaner burning. They’re manufactured to be cleaner, so emissions testing program isn’t as effective as it used to be in the past.” Heck, even jet turbines have become more cleaner burning since their invention way back in the 1930s-40s. It is not just the motors becoming cleaner burning, the fuels themselves are being refined, within the U.S., to a standard that makes them burn cleaner than they did 50 years ago (and this is outside of California’s police-state environmental regulations).

A U.S. Navy parachutist jumped from a perfectly good airplane, into the relatively (compared to other U.S. metro areas) clean air over Boise, 25AUG2010. U.S. Navy photo by James Woods.

But in the state capitol of Boise, in Ada County, emission testing will continue because it is a city law! Despite it being city law, state DEQ officials are pushing Boise officials to end that law, especially since the state legislature ended state level emission testing back in March!

So far the only people protesting such a move are the owner/operators of emission testing stations, many of those testing stations are actually mobile vans.

David Luft also admitted that air pollutants in Idaho have been on the decline for years and that it will continue to decline even without emission testing: “Even without that program, on-road-motor-vehicle emissions will continue to decline through 2040.”

However, in 2020 Idaho was ranked as having the highest percentage increase in carbon emissions, but that was blamed on all the new people moving to the Boise area, and it was pointed out that Idaho’s air is so clean to begin with that any increase looks bad: “Idaho is one of the fastest-growing states. And you’re going to see… some level of increased carbon emissions….. Since Idaho is already starting with low carbon emissions, a relatively small increase results in a higher percentage increase.”-Tiffany Floyd, DEQ

Hunger Games 2022:

WHY ARE U.S. TAXPAYER FUNDED HUMANITARIAN RATIONS BEING SOLD TO THE PUBLIC IN IDAHO?

2021: CANADIAN GOLD-DIGGERS ALLOWED TO RIP-UP IDAHO FORESTS!

MEXICAN DRUG WAR TARGETS SOUTHEAST IDAHO, MORE THAN 200% INCREASE! CONNECTION TO PANDEMIC?

2019:

Photo by AAron B. Hutchins, July 2019.

IDAHO’S BRIDGE TO NOWHERE?

2016: “IT’S PART OF OUR NEW BUSINESS MODEL…” IDAHO HIT WITH SKYROCKETING POOR U.S. MIGRANTS!

2015: IDAHO LOSES JOBS DESPITE RECORD NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN WORKFORCE, UNEMPLOYMENT RATE REMAINS THE SAME? BLAME IMMIGRANTS!

Idaho, U.S.

U.S. Wildfire 2022: C-130 MAFFS deployed, Idaho suffers most fires/acres burned in the U.S.!

Video September 10, 2022 Hutchins AAron

From the week ending 10SEP2022:

According to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), based in Boise, Idaho leads the nation with 34 reported wildfires, as well as the most acreage burned.

10SEP2022, family moving onto their new property in Northern Idaho discover they are surrounded by wildfires:

09SEP2022, two suspected arsonists arrested:

09SEP2022, Bannock County 2 & 1/2 MILE FIRE, HISTORY REPEATS?

09SEP2022, Moose Fire burns more than 125-thousand acres, largest fire currently in the U.S., been burning since July:

On 09SEP2022, at the request of the NIFC, two Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) equipped C-130s were deployed to Boise Airport (Gowen Field) for fire fighting duties. One is a C-130H Hercules (upgraded with the eight bladed prop) from Nevada Air National Guard, the other is a C-130J Super Hercules from California Air National Guard. The last time C-130s went to Boise Airport was in April 2022, for yearly MAFFS training. The two MAFFS equipped C-130s will remain on-station until 08OCT2022, unless another NIFC request is issued.

09SEP2022, Four Corners Fire update:

09SEP2022, Blaine County’s Ross Fork Fire (not to be confused with last month’s Ross Fork Fire in Bannock County) still only 2% contained:

09SEP2022, Jerome County declares state of emergency as a result of a new fire:

08SEP2022, Rainbow Fire:

08SEP2022, air quality warnings issued:

08SEP2022, electrical power cut as mine operations are evacuated:

07SEP2022, Idaho Power (a for-profit utility company) now blames wildfires for causing power shortages in Idaho:

06SEP2022, Sagehen Fire borders Bingham and Caribou Counties:

04SEP2022, Limelight Fire destroys 26 low income homes:

Idaho, August 2022: What timing as Pocatello Airport’s U.S. Forest Service Air Tanker base is back online after extensive upgrades!

U.S. Wildfire 2021: IDAHO UPDATE, 15 AUGUST

FOR FIRST TIME, IDAHO MOBILIZES MILITIA (National Guard) FOR FIRE DUTY!

WYOMING & COLORADO ACTIVATES MAFFS, NEVADA’S MAFF MISSION EXTENDED!

U.S. Wildfire 2017:

C-130 aircraft from three National Guard units and a U.S. Air Force Reserve unit arrive on Gowen Field (Boise Airport), Idaho, 20APR2017. California Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Nieko Carzis.

IDAHO CONDUCTS MASSIVE MAFFS TRAINING, IN PREPS FOR HOT WILDFIRE SEASON!

Southeast Idaho Wildfire 2012:

A couple of Neptunes awaiting orders, on the tarmac at Pocatello Airport. Photo by AAron B. Hutchins, July 2012.

BUSY 30 MINUTES AT POCATELLO AIR TANKER BASE, AS FIRE FIGHTING AIRCRAFT FLY INTO ACTION

Kit Bashing

North Carolina’s Baby C-130 gobbles-up your children, Kawaii!

Image June 16, 2022 Hutchins AAron

Notice the frost on the nose, and the rest of the transporter baby. North Carolina Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Patricia F. Moran, 26OCT2013.

Will eat big children as well. North Carolina Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Patricia F. Moran, 26OCT2013.

In 2013, the North Carolina Air National Guard 145th Airlift Wing’s Aircraft Maintenance Squadron was the proud parent of a baby C-130, showing it off at a dozen shows, parades and other events during that year.

Yet more children gobbled-up by the hungry baby C-130. North Carolina Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Patricia F. Moran, 26OCT2013.

It took air-militia personnel more than five years, on their off-duty time, to birth the baby C-130. It has taken part in Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day and Fourth of July parades, and even attended air shows as far away as Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.

North Carolina Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Julianne M. Showalter, 04OCT2014.

Is anything more kawaii than a baby’s butt? North Carolina Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Julianne M. Showalter, 04OCT2014.

North Carolina Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Patricia F. Moran, 26OCT2013.

Kawaii!: Baby C-17

Technology, U.S.

U.S. Disaster 2022: Hurricane Hunters going ‘Back to the Future’

Image April 9, 2022 Hutchins AAron

09 April 2022 (15:08-UTC-07 Tango 06) 20 Farvardin 1401/07 Ramadan 1443/09 Jia Chen 4720

Just in time for another early/busy hurricane season?

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sergeant Jessica Kendziorek, 05APR2022.

The Hurricane Hunters (53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron) based on Keesler Air Force Base, in Mississippi, decided to ‘go back to the future’ by painting their new WC-130J Super Hercules in retro Cold War through early 2000s style.

WC-130 Hercules, July 1977. USAF photo by Master Sergeant Curt Eddings.

A USAF WC-130 Hercules from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, ‘Hurricane Hunters’, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. USAF photo dated 1995.

About to drop a DropSonde during the 1995-96 Hurricane Season. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant John K. Mcdowell, December 1995.

On the right you can see a bare metal WC-130J waiting for its new retro ’90s look, on Robins AFB, Georgia. USAF photo by Kisha Foster Johnson, 05APR2022.

The 53rd WX Recon Squadron WC-130Js are undergoing depot level maintenance on Robins AFB, Georgia, and are being painted in the retro 1990s look before being sent back to Keesler AFB.

USAF photo by Senior Master Sergeant Jessica Kendziorek, 05APR2022.

You can compare the current paint scheme to the new retro look. USAF photo by Joseph Mather, 05APR2022.

In the background, the first WC-130J with the retro paint-job about to land at Keesler AFB. In the foreground, the modern Hurricane Hunters’ tail colors. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Kristen Pittman, 05APR2022.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Kristen Pittman, 05APR2022.

This light grey Hurricane Hunter is being used as a MedEvac during a Homeland Security ‘Life Saver’ training event, in May 2004. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Ramon Reynaldo.

Light grey WC-130J about to hunt down Hurricane Katrina, 04OCT2005. FEMA photo by John Fleck.

Hurricane 2021: WC-130J WX HUNTERS DEPLOY

Hurricane 2020: ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS EARLY, AGAIN,1ST WC-130J HURRICANE HUNTER LAUNCHED!

Bare Metal: C-130 PAINT PREP, OR THE EMPEROR GETS SOME NEW CLOTHES

Hurricane Dorian: WC-130J & WP-3D

Hurricane Harvey: WHAT IS A DROPSONDE?

Cold War Battle Damage: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FLY YOUR C-130E THROUGH A HAILSTORM?

AIRBORNE HURRICANE HUNTERS, WHEN DID IT ALL START?

Disaster Warnings: TORNADO FORECASTING, IT STARTED WITH THE USAF IN 1948!

Disaster Prep Idaho: 1989 7.3IDI DIESEL AMBULANCE COLD START

Idaho, Technology, U.S.

U.S. Wildfires 2021: Wyoming & Colorado activates MAFFS, Nevada’s MAFF mission extended!

Video July 27, 2021 Hutchins AAron

“The request for additional support shows just how challenging this fire season is and how critical our MAFFS aircraft, aircrews and maintenance personnel are to supporting NIFC [National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho].”-Colonel Jeremy Ford, 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard

Wyoming ANG photo by Technical Sergeant Jon Alderman.

On 19JUL2021, a Wyoming Air National Guard (ANG) C-130H MAFFS (Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System) was activated, and on 20JUL2021 was sent to battle wildfires in California.

Wyoming ANG photo by Technical Sergeant Jon Alderman.

The C-130H has been upgraded with a new propeller system.

Wyoming ANG photo by Technical Sergeant Jon Alderman.

Wyoming ANG video by Jacqueline Marshall, 19JUL2021:

Wyoming ANG photo by Technical Sergeant Jon Alderman.

Also on 19JUL2021, Colorado ANG activated a MAFFS to fight the fires in California. Music video announcement by Staff Sergeant Laura Fitsmorris:

Earlier in the month, one California ANG C-130 MAFFS, and two Nevada ANG ‘High Rollers’ C-130 MAFFS began fighting fires in California.

CAL FIRE Air Tanker Base, McClellan Park. Nevada ANG photo by Senior Master Sergeant Paula Macomber.

Nevada’s ‘High Rollers’ just had their mission in California extended until August 26th!

MAFFS aircraft are only activated when it becomes clear that the private sector water bombers are overwhelmed, or will soon be, by the volume of wildfires.

NIFC in Boise, Idaho, warns that ‘Scary Fuel’ shortage could ground firefighting aircraft.

U.S. Wildfires 2021: Wyoming governor waves federal pandemic restrictions to ease aviation fuel shortage for water bombers

K-MAX & 10 TANKER, WAITING FOR THE CALL IN SOUTHEAST IDAHO

Technology, U.S.

Hurricane 2021: WC-130J WX hunters deploy

Image June 25, 2021 Hutchins AAron

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant Kristen Pittman.

On 17JUN2021, the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (U.S. Air Force Reserve) began launching their WC-130J hurricane hunters from Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, for the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane season.

Planning an ‘LLI’ mission. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Kristen Pittman, 17JUN2021.

The first WC-130J mission of the 2021 Hurricane season was a ‘lower level invest’ (LLI) over The Gulf of Mexico.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Kristen Pittman, 17JUN2021.

LLIs are flown by WC-130Js at a lower altitude than regular storm missions, whenever weather satellites are having a hard time finding the center of a tropical system.

Hurricane History: AIRBORNE HURRICANE HUNTERS, WHEN DID IT ALL START?

Hurricane 2021: U.S. ARMY DEPLOYS EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION VEHICLES!

Technology

Last Flight, and Salvation, of 1503

Video February 14, 2021 Hutchins AAron

After 29-thousand-985 flight hours, and 25 years of service, the U.S. Coast Guard retired HC-130H #1503 on 21JUN2019. Its final flight was from Clearwater, Florida, to Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Video of final take-off, by Petty Officer Second Class David Micallef:

Then, on 10FEB2021, it was revealed that 1503 had been saved from certain death in the scrapyard!

Photo by Aviation Technical Training Center (ATTC), Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

According to the MyCG (Coast Guard) report, in December 2020 the Avionics Electrical Technician (AET) School located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, acquired 1503 for hands-on avionics training: “Thanks to the coordination between our AET School Chief, our Training Delivery Branch, and our partners at the Aviation Logistics Center, we were able to save this aircraft from demolition and repurpose it as a valuable training aid.”-Captain Brian P. Hopkins, ATTC commanding officer

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer First Class Sara Romero.

In September 2018, 1503 deployed to Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, in response to Hurricane Florence.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer First Class Sara Romero.

1503 was loaded with hurricane relief supplies, which included parts for a MH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter.

USCG video, 1503 taxis out for Hurricane Michael, October 2018:

U.S. Coast Guard photo.

August 2017, Hurricane Harvey response in Texas. Notice that ‘1503’ is painted in gold, that’s because 1503 became the oldest active HC-130H in USCG inventory in 2017.

U.S. Coast Guard photo.

U.S. Coast Guard photo.

1503 preps for take-off to conduct Hurricane Matthew damage assessment, October 2016. You can better see the FLIR pod hanging from its nose like a grey booger.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer First Class Michael De Nyse.

October 2016, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Hurricane Matthew response.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer First Class Michael De Nyse.

U.S. Coast Guard photo.

In November 1998, while operating out of Kodiak, Alaska, 1503 crashed during bad weather.

The 1500 though 1504 series of USCG HC-130Hs were originally ordered under a U.S. Air Force (USAF) contract. 1503’s USAF # was 73-0844. Over the decades, 1503 has been based in North Carolina (1994-2010) and then Florida in 2011, but operated where ever needed.

Vehicle I-D: KC-130 SUPER C-O-D

KC-135: THE LAST ISO FOR THE 916TH

QF-4: PHINAL UN-MANNED PHANTOM PHLIGHT

Utah: PHINAL PHANTOM PHLIGHT, NO MORE USAF F-4 PHANTOMS!

International, Technology

End of the Cold War to Ukraine Crisis: No more Open Skies, or whatever happened to the OC-135B?

Video November 30, 2020 Hutchins AAron

U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sergeant Keith Reed the Third, 17JUL1997.

On 24MAR1992, the Treaty on Open Skies was created as a way of being sure that countries that have military weapons (military-grade arms) control agreements are complying. However, it wouldn’t be until 01JAN2002 that Open Skies actually went into effect, with 34 countries signed-on (but only 20 ratified). Interestingly, the first OC-135B was ready to launch in June 1993!

Newly independent Ukrainian Air Force personnel get their photo taken in front of their Open Skies Antonov An-30. Photo by Technical Sergeant Brad Fallin, 14APR1997.

Russian Open Skies Antonov An-30, 25SEP2009. Photo by Alan Lebeda.

On 22NOV2020, the United States officially withdrew from the Treaty on Open Skies, so far the only country to do so. It’s interesting that the many countries who did not sign-on to Open Skies, like nuclear armed China, condemned the U.S. withdrawal.

Photo by Kelly White. 23APR2020, U.S. Air Force OC-135B (6-12670) stripped and awaiting what would become its final Open Skies livery.

But it is more complicated than U.S. President Donald Trump being a mean old ‘orange man’, it’s about other treaty signators not complying, and the fact that updating the now ‘ancient’ observation technology is just too cost prohibitive for taxpayers.

A naked OC-135B anticipates its final Open Skies paint job on Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. Photo by Kelly White, 23APR2020.

Here’s a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) video, 22MAY2020, in which NATO accuses Russia (Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) of violating the Open Skies agreement:

Photo by Charles Haymond. An OC-135B Open Skies (converted WC-135 weather research) aircraft takes off from Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska,14SEP2018.

Photo by Technical Sergeant Heather Salazar. Voyenno-Vozdushnye Sily Rossii (Military Air Forces of Russia) Open Skies Tupolev Tu-154M RF-85655, lands at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, 14AUG2019.

From 1992-93, three WC-135B aircraft were modified for the Open Skies mission, re-designated OC-135B. For some reason, after only a few years based at Offutt Air Force Base (AFB), Nebraska, the first OC-135B was sent straight to ‘moth-balls’ at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, in 1997.

Photo by Charles J. Haymond, 14SEP2018.

This OC-135B conducted observation flights over Haiti, after the 7.0 earthquake in 2010. Photo by Senior Airman Perry Aston, 16JAN2010.

Despite the OC-135Bs being used on other non-Open Skies observations, such as natural disasters, according to some reports the remaining two OC-135Bs are now available for sale as a result of the U.S. exit from Open Skies: “We’ve started liquidating the equipment. Other countries can come purchase or just take the airframes. They are really old and cost-prohibitive for us to maintain. We don’t have a use for them anymore.”

Photo by Staff Sergeant John Hillier. 01FEB2018, a Commonwealth of Nations (aka British Empire) Royal Canadian Air Force C-130J arrives at Rosecrans Memorial Airport, Missouri, joining units from France and Czech Republic for Open Skies training with the Missouri Air National Guard.

What many people might not know is that the Open Skies operation required the use of old school film technology. In this 2015 U.S. Air Force video report, by John Harrington, it’s revealed that the old technology was getting difficult to maintain due to no new parts:

Here is an October 2016 USAF video (by John Harrington) explaining how the imagery captured by the OC-135Bs are processed:

Photo by Delanie Stafford. Snow removal from Open Skies OC-135B, 03FEB2015, Offutt AFB.

Via Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Russian examine a U.S. OC-135B, 27FEB2007.

Via Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Italian C-130 with SAMSON observation pod.

23NOV2020: Russia warns remaining Open Skies members not to share data with United States

11NOV2020: French personnel to use Romanian An-30 for Open Skies flyover of Russia

Realize that the United States and Russia have always conducted observation flights of each other, Open Skies was just an attempt to make it more militarily non-threatening.

28NOV2020: Russian Sukhoi 27 scrambled to intercept U.S. RC-135 over Black Sea

27NOV2020: Russia accuses NATO of conducting more than 1300 non-Open Skies spy flights

There were rumors that the two remaining Open Skies OC-13Bs were up for sale in 2020, however, the aircraft were given a fresh ‘Open Skies’ paint job and sent to the ‘boneyard’ in Arizona. USAF video by David Farley, 13MAY2021: