The Airplane Thread

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by Llarry

The Airbus A340 is out of production as the market shifts to twin-engine aircraft for fuel economy. But there is just something about a four-engine plane -- fuel economy be damned!

The Airbus A340-600 is 75 meters (245 feet) long. Very impressive.

That one climbs like a fully loaded Craftsman tool box! Check out the Loop Departure (https://www.fly.faa.gov/Information/..._00237LOOP.pdf) off LAX. I had to double loop an AFR 340 to make LAX @ 10K and he still was low at Keggs! The bad part is it wasn't even summer!

[Llarry]

The Boeing 307 Stratoliner was the first U.S. pressurized airliner to enter service, though in limited numbers. It first flew in 1938 and the wings and tail were based on the B-17 bomber. Just 10 were built.

During World War II, the Army Air Forces converted and used the 307s as C-75 transports. After several years they were returned to civil service.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_307_Stratoliner

[Llarry]

An interesting shot of a B-52H from below. Landing gear up but flaps still down.

The B-52 is no beauty but it's looking pretty good from here.

[Llarry]

The U.S. military services have taken delivery of about 500 C-130J transports and specialized derivatives. The J model advanced Hercules has replaced earlier C-130 variants completely in the active Air Force and the Marine Corps and are closing in on the replacement of legacy C-130s in the Coast Guard. The Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard have mixed forces of old and new aircraft; the Navy is the only service still without any J models.

The basic C-130J transport is only about one-third of the total USAF force with just over 100 C-130J-30s in service. (the J-30 is a stretch version). Many Air Force J models are Special Operations aircraft including:
-- MC-130J SpecOps transport -- 50+ aircraft
-- HC-130J SpecOps refueling aircraft - just over 20
-- AC-130J SpecOps gunship - about 30 aircraft
--
The Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard are slowly transitioning to the new J models as production is funded. They also have some specialized models, including Reserve HC-130Js and the "hurricane hunter" WC-130J, of which 10 are operated only by the Reserves. A single Air National Guard unit flies EC-130J electronic jamming aircraft and the ANG also flies HC-130J refuelers. The ANG is also home to a single squadron of non-stretched C-130J transports; after that initial batch, all transport orders have been for the longer variant.

The Marine Corps has four full squadrons of KC-130J transport/ refuelers and is organizing a fifth squadron in Hawaii. It also has a couple of USMCR units receiving KC-130Js. The Marine KC-130J is the short version of the aircraft.

The Coast Guard is well along in replacing its older C-130s with new HC-130Js. Note that the Coast Guard HC-130J is not the same as the Air Force HC-130J; very confusing. The USCG wants 22 Js and has 17 so far.

Then there's the Navy, which has a requirement for 25 KC-130Js to equip five Naval Reserve squadrons, which have traditionally been transport units. Given that mission, I'd expect the Navy to want the stretched aircraft and not the Marine Corps shortie. The procurement of Navy aircraft is about to begin (if funding is approved), so we'll have to see what they come up with: Short? Long? Strictly transport or transport/refueler? Time will tell.

A future version for the Navy is a C-130J replacing the E-6B in the strategic communications role. Another designation issue would appear to be coming, as EC-130J is already in use. Again, time will tell.

[Llarry]

This little issue with two different Super Hercules aircraft being designated HC-130J reminds me that U.S. military aircraft designations are assigned by an office under the Secretary of the Air and Space Force. The services either just tell them they've got a new aircraft and need a designation or, more likely, request a desired designation. The process is clearly imperfect. We may see how imperfect once the (E?)C-130J derivative for the Navy comes down the pike.

And it's been a long time since I studied arithmetic in elementary school, but remind me again what number comes after 23 -- could it be 35? The next fighter after the YF-23 was the F-35. See what I mean? Imperfect.

The other interesting designation-related thing is what happens when an improved model of the C-130J emerges? Practically all the letters have already been used up for the C-130; I think maybe Y and Z are available.

[Llarry]

Corporate fat cats aren't the only ones who have cool rides. The Army, Air Force and Navy all own Gulfstreams, although they're not the latest and greatest. But if you're a high-ranking general or admiral, surely you're not going to be flying coach -- or C-130.

A Gulfstream G-IV or GT-V would do the trick. Comfy.

The paint jobs are interesting. Most, I think, have military markings but some are very low-key. Here are three military C-37s; the first one is an Air Force C-37A with clearly military markings, the second USAF C-37A might as well be a drug runner for all I call tell from looking at it, and the third one is a Navy C-37B that at least has stripes.

Our tax dollars at work!

[RobotDoctor]

Sorry about the poor quality. This was back around 2007 or 2008 over Denver.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by Llarry

The U.S. military services have taken delivery of about 500 C-130J transports and specialized derivatives. The J model advanced Hercules has replaced earlier C-130 variants completely in the active Air Force and the Marine Corps and are closing in on the replacement of legacy C-130s in the Coast Guard. The Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard have mixed forces of old and new aircraft; the Navy is the only service still without any J models.

To complete the current picture of the C-130 in U.S. miliary service, there are presently about 185 older pre-J C-130s in service. They are all based on the C-130H model, which entered service in 1964 and supplanted earlier C-130A, B and E models.

Here's a rundown of what's left in the legacy -130 fleet:
-- Contrary to what I posted above in the post on the C-130J, the USAF does have 7 older EC-130H Compass Call communications jammers still in service. (Photo) They are not long for this world, as the successor Gulfstream-based EC-37B is on the way.
-- The Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard still operate about 145 C-130Hs in airlift squadrons scattered around the USA. (Photo)
-- A single New York Air National Guard unit flies 10 LC-130H ski-equipped Hercules for missions to, from and within Antarctica. (Photo) These specialized -130s are the only older-generation -130s to my knowledge that do not have a successor in the works. Note that this LC-130H has been fitted with upgraded 8-blade propellors.
-- The U.S. Coast Guard still flies about 5 HC-130Hs for rescue and surveillance missions. They should be replaced by HC-130Js within a year or two.
-- The Navy flies about 30 older C-130Ts. About 5 of these are KC-130T tankers that support test activities at several stations, while 25 are C-130Ts and KC-130Ts of five squadrons of the Navy Reserve that provide about half of the organic Navy's airlift capability. (Photo of C-130T; the KC-130T differs in having another pair of underwing pods containing refueling hoses. The USNR may have the refueling pods removed.)

For those keeping count, about 500 C-130Js plus about 185 C-130Hs = an amazing total of 685 C-130s in U.S. military service.

[Lady Jane]

Another pic of the Skibird.

"Master Sgt. Christopher Dumond, a flight engineer in the 109th Airlift Wing’s 139th Airlift Squdron, conducts preflight maintenance checks on an LC-130H Ski Equipped aircraft; outiftted with newly overhauled NP2000 T56-15A (3.5 modified) engines. The flight tests the capabilites of the new engines."

[Llarry]

The U.S. Air Force has been working on hypersonic air-to-surface missiles for some years now. They thought they had something with the AGM-183A ARRW, but the missile performed poorly and the program was cancelled some months ago. Some sources say that a few leftover missiles may be retained in the inventory for possible use -- probably launched from the B-52.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGM-183_ARRW

Now they're started a replacement program, the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) which is still in its early stages. It looks like the Air Force wants this one to be a bit better-suited to smaller aircraft such as the F-15E.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypers...Cruise_Missile

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

That one climbs like a fully loaded Craftsman tool box!

I would just like to say that this is one of the best lines in this thread.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

Another pic of the Skibird.

Yet another, this one with the skis retracted.

[Llarry]

The Lockheed F-117A stealth fighter was retired some 15 years ago, yet continues to be seen around Nevada. It's used to represent a stealth threat, I suppose. I imagine very few are still flying.

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by Llarry

The Lockheed F-117A stealth fighter was retired some 15 years ago

Certainly a topic for the you might be old thread.....

[M-technik-3]

Stewart did this in 08

[M-technik-3]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

Certainly a topic for the you might be old thread.....

Buddy does work with them as civilan and a variety of other airframes. Wished I had clearance to chat on somethings he gets to do but you know the drill.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

Certainly a topic for the you might be old thread.....

Speaking of old, the venerable (antique?) "Huey" is long gone from the military services except for the U.S. Air Force, where two versions continue to soldier on a couple of (human) generations later. The TH-1H is the Air Force's helicopter trainer and the twin-engine UH-1N continues to be used to support ballistic missile sites and for utility and test work at a couple of different locations.

(Although the Marine Corps uses the UH-1Y, that helicopter is a greatly redesigned/improved version with four-blade rotor; it looks quite similar but is an entirely different aircraft.)

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

Buddy does work with them as civilan and a variety of other airframes. Wished I had clearance to chat on somethings he gets to do but you know the drill.

I'm just saying that I remember the days before the stealth fighter existed, and now it has been retired for 15 years.....

[Lady Jane]

Phenom 300 or Legacy 600? Since yesterday, conflicting reports were being circulated regarding the plane crash.

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

Phenom 300 or Legacy 600? Since yesterday, conflicting reports were being circulated regarding the plane crash.

Which one has passenger cabin windows that open wide enough for someone to "accidentally", oh, never mind.....

[billnchristy]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

Certainly a topic for the you might be old thread.....

My boss asked me today when I left my ship and I said 01....oh lord that was 22 years ago...

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

Phenom 300 or Legacy 600? Since yesterday, conflicting reports were being circulated regarding the plane crash.


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as of now... no one has even confirmed a body lol