Tag Archives: hercules

Technology, U.S.

Pennsylvania’s new MC-130J Commando-2

Video

Pennsylvania Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Alexander Farver, 02FEB2023.

On 02FEB2023, Pennsylvania’s 193rd Special Operations Wing (SOW) received its first MC-130J Commando-2: “The 193rd now offers something the U.S. military didn’t have before. Special Operations Forces based in the northeast now have a crucial air asset right in their backyard to build their combat readiness. Combatant commanders have a much more robust and versatile capability to project air power in different geographic regions.”-Colonel Gordon Frankenfield, 193rd Special Operations Group

The MC-130J can refuel other aircraft, in the air. Pennsylvania Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Alexander Farver, 15APR2023.

The MC-130J Commando-2 is used for low-level infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces, by airdrop or air-land, air refueling missions for special operations helicopters and tiltrotor aircraft, and intruding ‘politically sensitive’ or hostile territories. Most missions are flown at night.  The airdrop of propaganda leaflets is another mission the MC-130J conducts.

Pennsylvania Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Matt Schwartz, 16APR2023.

Pennsylvania Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Diana Snyder, 27JUL2023.

On 27JUL2023, Pennsylvania’s 193rd SOW became the first Air National Guard unit in the United States to get a second modified MC-130J Commando-2 aircraft. Video by Senior Airman Diana Snyder:

Pennsylvania Air National Guard’s 193rd SOW now has two new MC-130J Commando-2s, on 31AUG2023 they practiced dropping supplies to Special Forces troops waiting on the ground. Video by Senior Master Sergeant Alexander Farver (edited by me):

Pennsylvania Air National Guard 193rd SOW’s new MC-130J Commando-2 shows you what it is like to be a pallet of supplies being airdropped to troops waiting on the ground. Video by Senior Master Sergeant Alexander Farver, 31AUG2023:

C-130H Hercules: NEW MILITIA COLORS FOR AN OLD FLYING YANKEE!

C-130J-30: IRAQ’S SUPER HERCULES سوبر هرقل العراق

Technology, U.S.

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

Video

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

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.

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, Technology, U.S.

Agent Orange/Chem-Trails: USAF dusts Idaho with chemicals, in the name of fighting wildfires!

Video

I discovered that in September 2020, of The Pandemic, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) conducted herbicide spraying over a part of Idaho, claiming that it was an attempt to prevent wildfires by killing Cheatgrass.

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christina Russo, 22SEP2020.

The operation was launched from Mountain Home Air Force Base (AFB), using a USAF Reserve 910th Airlift Wing (AW) C-130H Hercules ‘Weed Whacker’ out of Ohio.  The USAF also claimed that their herbicide mission would somehow not affect the endangered Sagebrush, and they were actually trying to protect the Sagebrush by targeting Cheatgrass.

Low-tech spray nozzles protruding from sides of the C-130H ‘Weed Whacker’. USAF photo by Senior Airman Christina Russo, 22SEP2020.

The spraying took place over the Saylor Creek bombing & gunnery range near Mountain Home AFB.

USAF video explainer, by Staff Sergeant Juliet Louden, how the mission of the C-130H Weed Whacker is planned:

USAF photo by Senior Airman Christina Russo, 22SEP2020.

Cheatgrass is considered an invasive species, brought into North America by European illegal immigrants, oops, I mean settlers.  Apparently animals do not like to eat Cheatgrass, due to its short life cycle and low nutrition, it is blamed as a major cause for the decline of a bird called Sage Grouse.  Once Cheatgrass gets established it prevents native plants from growing. A top problem associated with Cheatgrass is wildfires.  It is bad, mmm-kay.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Christina Russo, 22SEP2020.

From September 14th through 25th, the Weed Whacker flew 1-hundred feet above ground level, at 2-hundred knots ground speed, dumping 19-thousand-979 gallons of diluted herbicide over 3-thousand-50 acres.  The crop dusting over Saylor Creek Training Range takes place every year (has the Cheatgrass become resistant?).

Some Weed Whacker video by Staff Sergeant Juliet Louden, 23SEP2020:

The 910th AW’s C-130H Weed Whacker is also used for spraying insecticides, and oil dispersants onto oil spills.  It is the only ‘large aircraft’ used by the USAF to conduct spray missions.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Connor J. Marth, 17SEP2020.

But herbicides are bad, also.

2019: A LITTLE ROUNDUP WITH THAT BEER? 

2016: 500 YEARS OF GERMAN BEER PURITY FLUSHED BY HERBICIDES! Oh Ja! Angela Merkel liebt ihr Glyphosate Bier!

2014: ROUNDUP PROVEN TO CAUSE KIDNEY FAILURE! CAUSE OF GLUTEN ALLERGIES! BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE 1970S, WAKE UP YOU IDIOTS AND STOP USING GLYPHOSATE!

2012: MONSANTO FOUND GUILTY OF POISONING FARMERS! NEW STUDY CONFIRMS ROUNDUP DESTROYS SOIL, REDUCES CROP NUTRITION!

MYSTERY DISEASE KILLING CHILDREN IN CAMBODIA? REMEMBER VIENTAM’S KANUP/ROUNDUP/MONSANTO DISASTER?

MORE EVIDENCE THAT KANUP 480 SL RESPONSIBLE FOR MUTANT WILD DOGS IN VIETNAM!

Idaho, U.S.

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

Video

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

Technology

Cold War Battle Damage: All Hail the Hail Buster! What happens when you fly your C-130E through a hailstorm?

Image

A case of ‘hail nose’. This is what happens when a Hurlburt Field, Florida, based C-130E gets hit by a hailstorm while in flight. March 1987, U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

The damaged C-130E Hercules landed at Naval Air Station New Orleans, Louisiana. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

Awaiting the repair crew. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

Damaged SKE (Station Keeping Equipment) radome. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

Damage to the leading edge of the wing. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

Broken formation light. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

Gotta have that metal tape, and I don’t mean that cassette tape of the latest ’80s metal band. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

A bit of damage to the engine intake. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

A new nose for the old Hercules. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

Replacing the ‘greenhouse’ glass. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

New glass. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

With hail damage repaired, the crew of the C-130E used reflective tape to give it a new name; Hail Buster! USAF photo by Technical Sergeant C. A. Thompson.

September 2021: OLD HC-130 GETS NEW JOB AS GATE GUARD

Cold War Battle Damage:  S-A-C INTENTIONALLY MACHINE-GUNS A B-52, USING THE B-D-I-G!

Technology

Last Flight, and Salvation, of 1503

Video

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!

Technology

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

Video

U.S. Navy photo.

“There were people out taking measurements on a Hercules, and they said they were going to land a C-130 on an aircraft carrier. I didn’t believe them. Later my CO came around and said the same thing. I still didn’t believe it, but I raised my hand to volunteer anyway. I had no idea what I was getting in to.”-Aviation Machinist Mate First Class Brennan,  Transport Squadron One at the Naval Air Test Center, Naval Air Station Patuxent River

Image from U.S. Navy film.

In November 1963, a U.S. Navy KC-130F conducted its first, and last, Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) trials, making it the largest aircraft to ever operate on an aircraft carrier; the USS Forrestal CVA-59.

Image from U.S. Navy film.

The Super COD KC-130F, named “Look Ma, No Hook”‘, “…made 29 touch-and-go landings, 21 unarrested full-stop landings, and 21 unassisted takeoffs at gross weights of 85,000 pounds up to 121,000 pounds.”

Short video issued by Robins Air Force Base, I edited out the hokey music they put over the silent film:

USN photo.

The so-called Super COD testing concluded on 23NOV1963, one day after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

USN photo.

As a result of the successful testing, the U.S. Navy decided it was still too risky to use a Super COD aircraft.

USN photo.

Original ‘official’ news article about the KC-130F COD: November 1964 Naval Aviation News

According to Kenneth V. Killmeyer, “KC-130F Bureau Number 149798 was retired from service in March, 2005 and since May of 2005 is at the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida.”

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

RETRO DAYGLO, AND HOW NEON PAINT HELPS KEEP AIRPLANES FROM FALLING OUTTA THE SKY!

Kit Bashing, Technology

C-130J: Retro Dayglo, and how neon paint helps keep airplanes from falling outta the sky!

Video

Photo by Airman First Class Jayden Ford, 22SEP2020.

In September 2020, C-130s were painted in ‘heritage’ colors to represent some of the first aircraft flown by the U.S. Air Force’s 41st and 61st Airlift Squadrons.  The paint schemes included a camo tail, a pre-World War Two yellow tail, and a Cold War dayglo orange/red tail.

Photo by Airman First Class Jayden Ford, 22SEP2020.

The paint-job was handled by the 19th Maintenance Squadron on Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas.

Photo by Staff Sergeant Jeremy McGuffin, 08OCT2020.

On 08OCT2020, USAF and Arkansas National Guard C-130s showed off their new paint jobs, en masse.

Video report by Airman First Class Jayden Ford, explaining the history of the 41st and 61st Airlift Squadrons:

65th anniversary video by Master Sergeant Jason Armstrong:

Photo by Airman First Class Isaiah Miller, 08OCT2020.

USAF photo by Photo by Airman Joshua Maund, 04SEP2015.

Dayglo paint/oil is not only used to make things like vehicles stand-out, it’s also used to make defects in structural components stand-out.  It’s a type of non-destructive inspection (NDI).

U.S. Army photo by Ervey Martinez, 18SEP2020.

The ‘penetrant’ paint/oil soaks into any cracks revealing the defects.

Magnetic particle inspection using a black-light.

USAF photo by Master Sergeant Cecilio Ricardo.

This Airman is using a blacklight to inspect a bolt.

The term dayglo originates from the name of a paint company whose primary customers were retail advertisers, but that changed with a big boost from the U.S. Department of War (established 1789-1947) during World War Two, a military supply contract which lasted through the undeclared Cold War (and beyond).  Ironically during the Cold War decades, the company was not only getting business from the U.S. National Military Establishment (1947-1949) and U.S. Department of Defense (1949-present), but from the hippie-dippie peace movement by selling its neon paints to producers of peace posters and music industry advertising.  In 1969 the company first known as Fluor-S-Art, then as Switzer Brothers (in honor of the founders), changed its name to Day-Glo Paint Corporation.   In 1985, Day-Glo was sold to Nalco Chemical Company, and today it boasts of being the world’s largest producer of florescent colors.

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

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

Pandemic Overflight: HERKS FOR HEROES

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

Vehicle I-D: NORMANDY PAINTED C-130 HERCULES

Neon in Plastic:

BLACKLIGHT REVELL DEAL’S WHEELS

AMT WILLYS VAN RETRO ISSUE

MULTI-MAVERICK 

Technology

Once a Red Coat, now a Blue Angel

Video

The retired ‘Fat Albert’ C-130T, brought out for public Pandemic moral display. (Texas Air National Guard photo by Julie Briden-Garcia, 06MAY2020.

On 06MAY2020, the retired C-130T Fat Albert was brought out to help fight CoViD-19 at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas.  After 30-thousand hours of flying in support of the Blue Angels demo team, C-130T Fat Albert was retired to static display duty in 2019.

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist First Class Jess Gray, 28JUL2020.

The new C-130J Fat Albert on second functional check-flight over Cambridge, England, 28JUL2020.

USN photo by Mass Communication Specialist First Class Jess Gray, 28JUL2020.

The ‘new’ Blue Angels Fat Albert is actually an old British empire Royal Air Force C-130J, which underwent rebuild by Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group in United Kingdom.  A Forbes report says it cost U.S. taxpayers $29.7-million.  (which isn’t too bad, considering that in 2014 a new C-130J would cost between $67-million and $167-million depending on options)

Video by Marshall Aerospace, dressing the bare-metal C-130J in its new Blue Angels uniform:

USN photo by Mass Communication Specialist First Class Jess Gray, 06AUG2020.

On 06AUG2020, C-130J Fat Albert arrived on Fort Worth Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Texas.

Video, by Petty Officer Second Class Cody Hendrix, C-130J Fat Albert flying over algae bloom off the Atlantic coast of Florida, 17AUG2020:

USN photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Cody Hendrix, 17AUG2020.

USN photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Cody Hendrix, 17AUG2020.

Nobody is on the beach, what is this, CoViD-19 lockdown?

Photo by AAron B. Hutchins, 1989.

This is a photo I took of a C-130T Fat Albert at the Vandenberg AFB air show in California, Spring 1989.  Notice that it is not painted blue and white.

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

 

C-130T, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, 04MAR2014.  Photo by Staff Sergeant Oscar L Olive the Fourth.

C-130T promotional video by Staff Sergeant Oscar L Olive the Fourth: