Tag Archives: lockheed

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!

Technology

NASA Viking, no not the Mars landers! Or, last flight of a Viking.

Image January 27, 2021 Hutchins AAron

In July 2021, NASA retired the last operational S-3B Viking. It’s home is now the San Diego Air & Space Museum-El Cajon Gillespie Field Annex. This ended 20 years of NASA service for an aircraft that had already completed a career with the U.S. Navy.

NASA photo dated 2001.

In January 2009, the U.S. Navy officially retired (from ‘fleet service’ aboard aircraft carriers, with final USN retirement in 2016) its Lockheed S-3B Viking aircraft. In 2001, one lucky Viking got a new life with the National Aeronautics Space Administration.

Glenn Research Center, Ohio, NASA photo dated 2001.

Even before the USN began retiring their Vikings NASA was already prepping to use it, in 2006 awarding Boeing a contract to rebuild the Viking.

NASA photo dated 2006, Glenn Research Center, Ohio.

NASA Airborne Science Program’s N601NA Viking before getting its new NASA clothing, still wearing its worn-out U.S. Navy uniform.

NASA photo dated 2007, Glenn Research Center, Ohio.

This NASA image, of Viking N601NA with its new NASA uniform, is from 2007.

NASA photo dated 2007, Glenn Research Center, Ohio.

NASA began using the Viking, to supplement their other aircraft, to fly aircraft SatCom (satellite communication) relay viability missions over Illinois.

NASA photo dated 2007, Glenn Research Center, Ohio.

Photo by Louis DePaemelaere.

N601NA stopping in Grand Junction, Colorado, for fuel. N601NA was taking part in icing research.

NASA photo dated 2008.

A 1/3 scale model section of S-3B Viking wing inside NASA’s icing tunnel.

In 2010, NASA’s Viking began airborne environmental science missions (like the growing problem of algae blooms in The Great Lakes) and aeronautics research.

Final approach to the runway at Air Force Plant 42, NASA Dryden’s Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, California, October 2010. The large cargo pod has been modified by NASA to carry electronic sensing devices for various missions.

S-3B Viking taking off from Cleveland Hopkins Airport, Illinois.

In the hanger at Glenn Research Center.

In 2014, USN’s VX-30 hosted N601NA, as the NASA crew visited the Bloodhounds for simulator training.

U.S. Navy photo, 18DEC2015.

The last flight of two U.S. Navy Air Test & Evaluation Squadron 30 (VX-30 Bloodhounds) S-3B Vikings over Point Mugu, California, 18DEC2015.

U.S. Navy photo, 18DEC2015.

According to the information that came with these U.S. Navy photos, in January 2016 one of these Air Test & Evaluation Squadron 30’s Vikings was sent to be mummified in ‘the boneyard’, while the other got a new life working for NASA. However, I can’t find anything from NASA confirming they took possession of another Viking. I’ve even seen some blogs that claim NASA has three Vikings which, again, I haven’t found anything from NASA backing that up. Current NASA information indicates there was only one Viking in their possession, N601NA, operating out of Glenn Research Center in Ohio.

WINGLETS, OR ONCE AGAIN NASA SAVES THE PRIVATE SECTOR!

Vehicle I-D: NASA DC-8 climate warrior

Bare Metal: NASA trucks save the trucking industry

NASA’S Russian TUPOLEV 144 SST

Vehicle I-D: NASA CANBERRAS, B-57B ‘HUSH KIT’ & WB-57F RIVET CHIP/SLICE

Technology

Cold War & Beyond: Remembering the Starlifter

Video September 12, 2020 Hutchins AAron

Lockheed’s fast transport C-141 was designed according to Cold War requirements in 1960, and first flew in 1963. It was the world’s first turbofan powered military transport aircraft: “The C-141 has a noble record of achievement in its support of the U.S. military. Participating in every military operation from Vietnam to Iraqi Freedom, StarLifter crews have also performed humanitarian relief flights to nearly 70 countries on six continents. Most recently, the StarLifter served those affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The aircraft has served NASA, conducted Antarctic resupply flights for nearly three decades and has been a key asset for flight research serving science for two decades.”-Ross Reynolds, Lockheed Martin vice president of Air Mobility

California based C-141A ‘Golden Bear’ on Elmendorf Air Force Base (AFB), Alaska, shortly after April 1965 when the Starlifter became operational. This photo was probably made during Golden Bear’s promotional flight around the Pacific Rim, which was in May 1965. The Golden Bear was based on Travis AFB, California, and after 1977 it was upgraded to the stretched ‘B’ version. Golden Bear made its last flight in March 1996, after which it was abandoned on the flight-line. Since 2005, and after restoration, Golden Bear has been serving on ‘Gate Guard duty’ on Travis AFB. (more below)

U.S. Air Force photo, July 1966.

USAF photo from July 1966, Military Air Transport Service (MATS) C-141A (short) on Tan Son Nhut Airbase, Viet Nam.

Quick silent film, by somebody with last name of Anderson, of iconic comedian Bob Hope arriving in Korea, via a C-141A, for one of his famous USO Christmas shows, 27DEC1970:

C-141As loaded with former prisoners of war (PoW), leaving Viet Nam for the United States, March 1973.

Silent U.S. Army film, by somebody with the last name of Fraser, showing soldiers with The Big Red One (1st Infantry Division) boarding C-141As outbound for wargame ReForGer (Return of Forces to Germany) in West Germany, October 1973 (with some film of USAF cargo ops tacked on at the end, obviously filmed during warmer months):

Silent U.S. Navy film, by Todd Thompson, showing the arrival of a C-141A on U.S. Naval Air Station Cubi Point, Philippines, to pick-up refugees from Viet Nam and fly them to the United States, 29APR1975:

It was quickly realized that the C-141A had enough power to transport far more than what could be crammed into its slim cargo hold. It was decided to stretch the fuselage by 23 feet, creating the YC-141B.

Comparison of C-141A to YC-141B. The ‘B’ version also got inflight refueling apparatus.

Photo via author’s collection.

From the Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) Photo Shop, YC-141B aerial refueling test over the Mojave Desert, California, Spring 1977.

Photo via author’s collection.

Production C-141Bs were actually stretched C-141As. According to historians at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, stretching 270 C-141As to C-141B standard was cheaper than buying 90 new build C-141Bs!

Photo via author’s collection.

The stretching of 270 C-141As took place from 1977 to 1982, first deliveries began in 1979.

Photo via author’s collection.

In this photo you can see the unpainted fuselage ‘plug’ used to extend the C-141As into C-141Bs, as well as the aerial refueling sections.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Robert C. Marshall, July 1980.

C-141A still in use, Norton AFB, California, July 1980.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Bob Fehringer, 31OCT1980.

Fans of the movie The Thing, yes there is a McMurdo Station, and C-141As went there, in 1980, as part of Operation Deep Freeze.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Rose Reynolds.

Sometime in the early to mid 1980s, a C-141B leaves Travis AFB, California.

Unknown photographer, 26OCT1983.

During the U.S. invasion of Grenada (aka Operation Urgent Fury) in October 1983, C-141s not only brought in ground troops, but took out U.S. citizens who were taking college courses on the island.

Photo by Robert C. Keffer, 25OCT1983.

Also in October 1983, the U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, was blown-up by a suicide bomber driving a truck full of explosives. C-141s also acted as flying hospitals, flying wounded Marines back to Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany.

NASA (National Aeronautics Space Administration) modified a C-141A into an airborne space observation vehicle in 1975. It was known as KAO (Kuiper Airborne Observatory) and ceased operations in 1995.

Whatever happened to the N(for NASA)C-141A #12777 ‘The Gambler’, a test aircraft for experimental ECM equipment destined for the B-1B and B-2 bombers? (click here and find out the ugly truth)

In 1986, climate problems caused a hay shortage for farmers in the Southeastern U.S. C-141s were used to transport 170 tons of hay from the Mid-Western states, in just one day of Operation Haylift. This video shows President Ronald Reagan kicking-off the first day of Op Haylift, 24JUL1986:

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Theodore J. Koniares, May/June 1987.

Oops, a C-141B ran off the runway on Marine Corp Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, sometime in Summer(?) 1987.

February 1991, Operation Desert Storm. U.S. military personnel pass by a Military Airlift Command (MAC) C-141B (C-5 Galaxy in the background) somewhere (“undisclosed location”) on the Arabian Peninsula. According to McChord Air Museum, Washington, during Operations Desert Shield-Desert Storm USAF C-141s were landing every 10 minutes, 24 hours a day, for 7 months in Saudi Arabia.

Video from March Field Air Museum, C-141B airdrop over California:

January 1993, photo via Sergeant Corey Idleburg.

Operation Restore Hope; President George H.W. Bush (center, wearing Marine Corps cap) in front of C-141 Starlifter in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Operation Restore Hope gave birth to the phrase Black Hawk Down (also inspiring the Ridley Scott movie of the same name).

Photo by Marcus Castro, 24MAY1993.

In May 1993, a USAF F-16 crash landed and then plowed into a parked C-141B, on Pope AFB, North Carolina. C-141 Lifetime Mishap Summary has data and photos of dozens of accidents, crashes and ‘mishaps’ involving C-141s.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Theodore J. Koniares, 22JUN1994.

Two M113 Personnel Carriers are loaded into a C-141B, on Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, for deployment to Uganda for United Nations ‘peacekeeping’ duty, 22JUN1994.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Val Gempis, 03AUG1994.

C-141B delivers humanitarian aid to Rwanda refugees in Zaire, August 1994.

In 1996, NC-141A #12776, based on Edwards AFB, became the ‘Electric Starlifter’ with fly-by-wire controls. In the 1990s, 63 C-141Bs were upgraded to C-141Cs with the latest in digital equipment.

NASA photo by Tom Tschida, 20DEC1997.

In December 1997 a C-141A was used by NASA to tow a QF-106 to high altitude before release, to test the feasibility of similar launching of future space vehicles. It was called Project Eclipse. C-141A #12775 is now at the Air Mobility Command Museum.

NC-141A #12779 with ‘universal radar nose’, wasting away on the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum’s South Base flightline, in California.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Lance Cheung, 22SEP2000.

Upgraded ‘glass cockpit’ of a C-141C, September 2000, during a ‘Project Trans-Am’ mission.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Ken Bergmann, 12OCT2001.

A Tennessee Air National Guard C-141 gets loaded with war gear on U.S. Naval Air Station Sigonella, in NATO Italy, for the start of the undeclared War on Terror (Operation Enduring Freedom), October 2001.

USAF photo by Master Sergeant Lance Cheung, 22SEP2005.

Hurricane Rita final hours of an air evacuation from the Southeast Texas Regional Airport, onboard a Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Starlifter.

USAF photo by Master Sergeant Lance Cheung, 22SEP2005.

The YC-141B recently underwent intensive restoration in Georgia. Click here to see the effort and results.

Video report by Airman First Class Kahdija Slaughter, January 2015. Preserving the Starlifter Gate Guard at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina:

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Bryan Hull, 06AUG2016.

Kelsey Schmidt, Miss Washington 2016, rechristens ‘gate guard’ Tacoma Starlifter, (#65-0277) on Heritage Hill, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (click here to see Sandra Marth, Miss Washington 1966, christen Tacoma Starlifter the first time). Tacoma Starlifter first arrived on Lewis-McChord in August 1966 and took part in 1973’s Operation Homecoming, bringing Prisoners of War (PoW) back home to the U.S. from Viet Nam. The last C-141 stationed on Lewis-McChord was retired in April 2002.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Zachary Martyn, 07APR2017.

Airman conduct weekly inspections of ‘gate guards’, like The Garden State Starlifter, on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.

Video report by Staff Sergeant John Ayre, April 2015, 50th anniversary of Golden Bear:

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Liliana Moreno, 30MAR2018.

‘War on Terror’ veteran Brandon Jones and his service dog, Apache, pose in front of Golden Bear on Travis Air Force Base, California.

Video report by Kenneth Wright, October 2018. History of the C-141 from the viewpoint of the personnel of the 349th Air Mobility Wing (formerly Military Airlift Wing), U.S. Air Force Reserve on Travis AFB, California:

In September 2004 the last of the U.S. Air Force active duty C-141s retired, with Guard and Reserve C-141s operating until May 2006. The Lockheed C141 Starlifter was retired in favor of the upgraded Lockheed C-5 Galaxy. Starlifters were also replaced with the Boeing C-17 Globmaster-3.

Most C-141s were reportedly scrapped at AMARG (Aerospace Maintenance Regeneration Group) in Arizona. At least they took some pics of C-141 nose art.

Kit Bashing: WORLD’S LARGEST C-141B STARLIFTER MODEL?

Vehicle I-D: KAWASAKI C-2

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

Technology

Once a Red Coat, now a Blue Angel

Video September 6, 2020 Hutchins AAron

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.

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:

Influenza, Technology

Pandemic OverFlight: C-130 Herks for Heroes

Video May 18, 2020 Hutchins AAron

Salute to Heroes, Operation American Resolve, America Strong, or whatever is the latest Defense Department name for it, apparently massive flights of military aircraft flying over metro areas makes people feel more secure about fighting the “invisible enemy” of a Pandemic.

Video of USAF Reserve’s 908th Airlift Wing over Alabama, 12MAY2020:

Reflection of Little Rock Air Force Base C-130J in the windows of a Arkansas hospital, 08MAY2020.

California Air National Guard’s 115th Airlift Squadron over the Mojave Desert near Palmdale, 14MAY2020.

Video, USAF Reserve’s 302nd Airlift Wing C-130 flyover of Colorado, 06MAY2020:

Video, Connecticut Air National Guard’s 103rd Airlift Wing flyovers 14MAY2020:

Video, Georgia Air National Guard 165th Airlift Wing’s C-130H3 flying over a hospital, 15MAY2020:

Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing, 01MAY2020.

403rd Wing’s 815th Airlift Squadron over Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, 28APR2020.

Video, Hurricane Hunter WC-130J flies over Huntington Ingalls Shipyard, Pascagoula, Mississippi, as ships’ horns blow, 05MAY2020:

Montana Air National Guard’s 120th Airlift Wing above Pablo, 06MAY2020.

Video, Nevada Air National Guard’s ‘High Rollers’ C-130 CoViD-19 morale overflight, 28APR2020:

Video, 27th Special Operations overflight of Portales, New Mexico, 11MAY2020:

Video of New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing HC-130J Combat King-2 over Long Island, 15MAY2020:

New York Air National Guard LC-130 (Ski-Bird) assigned to the 109th Airlift Wing flies over the state capitol, 12MAY2020.

A C-130H out of Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, conducting a second round of pandemic overflights on 07MAY2020. Not only did Ohio aircraft fly over Ohio, but also locations in Pennsylvania.

Two Ohio Air National Guard 179th Airlift Wing C-130Hs also flew pandemic overflights, 15MAY2020.

Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, this Blue Angels C-130 was temporarily brought out of retirement to give moral support, 06MAY2020, unfortunately it was not flown.

Video, West Virginia Air National Guard’s 130th Airlift Wing decided to kill two birds with one stone by conducting Aeromedical Evacuation training at the same time:

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

DOES THE ‘C’ IN C-130 STAND FOR COVID?

RECORD SETTING PANDEMIC AIRBRIDGE CONTINUES

Technology

Atlantic hurricane season begins early, again,1st WC-130J Hurricane Hunter launched!

Video May 17, 2020 Hutchins AAron

“Mother Nature doesn’t operate on a calendar, so this is a reminder to always be prepared.”-Colonel Jeffrey A. Van Dootingh, 403rd Wing USAF Reserve

U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Christopher Carranza, 16MAY2020.

Despite the Atlantic Hurricane Season not officially starting until June, on 16MAY2020 the U.S. Air Force Reserve launched its hurricane tracking WC-130J aircraft based at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Christopher Carranza, 16MAY2020.

The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron is concerned about a possible developing tropical depression or storm near the Bahamas (on 16MAY2020 it was called Invest 90L).

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Christopher Carranza, 16MAY2020.

Short video of first WC-130J launch of 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season:

On 17MAY2020, Invest 90L became Tropical Storm Arthur. This is the sixth year in a row that a Tropical Storm developed in May.

USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Christopher Carranza, 16MAY2020.

During ‘invest’ flights the WC-130Js fly at low altitudes (500 to 1,500 feet, 152 to 457 meters) to determine if there is a closed circulation. Once a system becomes a storm the WC-130Js fly at higher altitudes (5,000 to 10,000 feet, 1524 to 3048 meters), and fly through the eye of the storm several times during a mission. Dropsondes are launched from the aircraft into the storm, which then communicate with the National Hurricane Center via satellite link. (What’s a storm tracking Dropsonde?)

WC-130J & WP-3D: HUNTING DORIAN

WC-130J SUPER HERCULES TRACKS HURRICANE HARVEY

AIRBORNE HURRICANE HUNTERS, WHEN DID IT ALL START?

Influenza, Technology

Does the ‘C’ in C-130 stand for CoViD?

Video April 7, 2020 Hutchins AAron

“FEMA notified the Coast Guard of the need March 27, and we worked collectively for a whole of government response to expedite the timely delivery.”-Captain Craig O’Brien, U.S. Coast Guard 14th District

Video, HC-130 load-up at Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii, 31MAR2020:

Under Federal Emergency Management Agency direction, a U.S. Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules flew CoViD-19 medical supplies to the U.S. territory of American Somoa.

Time lapse video of C-130 landing on Pago Pago International Airport, American Samoa, 01APR2020:

American Samoa is a collection of five islands in the South Pacific, approximately 2-thousand-6-hundred miles southwest of Hawaii. Many of the 64-thousand residents work for the U.S. military.

“Military aircraft are a workhorse throughout the world, and in the Coast Guard, we frequently use our HC-130 Hercules planes to deliver necessary supplies and equipment. This is especially true in the Pacific, where we seek to overcome vast distances and challenging timelines.”-Commander James Morrow

Video of cargo followed by HC-130 take-off:

HC-130J: FLORIDA GETS A NEW COMBAT KING IN TIME FOR HURRICANE SEASON

Operation CoViD-19: FEMA’S EMERGENCY AIRLIFT REVEALED!

Technology

Indian Hercules appears in North Dakota

Video April 4, 2020 Hutchins AAron

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Elora J. Martinez, 13JAN2018.

In January 2018 an Indian Air Force C-130J Super Hercules landed at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Elora J. Martinez, 13JAN2018.

Video by Airman First Class Oriana Beard (for some reason sent with no audio):

The Indian Hercules’ next stop was McChord AFB, Washington, for exercise Vajra Prahar.

SINGAPORE’S INVASION OF IDAHO’S MOUNTAIN HOME AFB!

SKI-BIRD AND THE HIMARS

Technology

Ski Bird and the HIMARS

Video March 8, 2020 Hutchins AAron

“We need to make sure we have the training and capability to deal with conflict or competition in the Arctic. With more and more shipping and cruise ships happening in the Arctic, we can supplement search and rescue capabilities if needed. We also have the ability to sustain forward operating locations, refueling points and extend the military range into the Arctic Circle.”-Captain Eric Chan, New York Air National Guard, totally referencing the fact that climate change has greatly increased Russia’s activity in the Arctic

In October 2019 an upgraded LC-130H Ski Bird was loaded with a HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) for the first time. This was in preparation for Arctic Edge-20, held from 24FEB2020 to 06MAR2020 in Alaska.

Allen Army Airfield, Alaska.

New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing flew their LC-130H, with upgraded Rolls-Royce T56 series 3.5 turbines and NP2000 props, to Alaska to link up with U.S. Marine Corps’ 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment.

There they up-loaded a M142 HIMARS and transported it to an Arctic firing range.

A few fun videos for your entertainment:

Vehicle I-D: LC-130 À LA SKIS

Kit Bashing, Technology

Vehicle I-D: LC-130H à La skis, can I get skis for my model C-130 kit?

Video February 14, 2020 Hutchins AAron

A New York Air National Guard Crew Chief inspects the landing gear on a ‘Skibird’ LC-130H Hercules on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, 06MAR2020. U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Scott Fremming.

Video report from October 2019, first time LC-130H-upgrade is loaded with HIMARS:

A New York Air National Guard LC-130H arrives at the Paris Air Show, 16JUN2019.

This LC-130H has been updated with the NP2000 propellers, Paris Air Show, 19JUN2019.

Not all Skibird’s operate in snowy conditions. This upgraded LC-130H is ferrying New York Army National Guard Soldiers to Puerto Rico. New York Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Alexander Rector, 11APR2019.

New York Air Guard’s SkiBird helping Canadians build ‘SkiWay’ landing strip in the Arctic, 11APR2019.

New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing offloads cargo in Greenland, on 26APR2019.

Video, Senior Master Sergeant explains the craziness of airfield ops in Antarctica:

Video from March 2019, explaining what a LC-130 Crew Chief does:

New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing’s LC-130, McMurdo Station, Antarctica 15JAN2019.

New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing LC-130 (upgraded with evil British empire Rolls-Royce T56 series 3.5/NP2000 props), McMurdo Station, Antarctica, 17DEC2018.

Grass field take-off? No, it’s the camera angle. NY National Guard’s LC-130 takes off for Antarctica, 06SEP2018.

LC-130(F-H?) in Antarctica, 23JUL2017.

The Common Science Support Pod, or IcePod, houses a variety of instruments to meausure changes in the Antarctic ice sheet.

Some ‘scientist’ from Colombia University explaining how the IcePod works. To find out more go here: https://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/pi/icepod/

New York Air National Guard LC-130H Hercules-Skibird takes-off near the Canadian Task Force base camp on Little Cornwallis Island, Nunavut, during Operation NUNALIVUT, 10APR2016.
Canadian Armed Forces photo by Corporal Parks.

New York Air National Guard LC-130H Hercules-Skibird arrives on Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. Canadian Armed Forces photo by Petty Officer Second Class Belinda Jeromchuk, 10APR2016.

2016 video report on Canadian Forces Operation Nunalivut, note the wing flex on the older LC-130H as it lands:

Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, 27JUN2016.

January 2014, Pegasus Field, Antarctica, problems with landing gear being rectified.

Leaving Antarctica, 02FEB2011.

McMurdo Station, Antarctica, 2007.

Rocket assisted take-off from Greenland, 2003. For some reason it’s officially called Jet Assisted Take Off (JATO) even though it’s actually rockets. With the new Rolls-Royce T56 series 3.5 turbine/NP2000 props JATO is no longer needed.