All these cool flyby videos had me wanting more. I did many flybys like is shown on the first link. People think of C-130s as slow and lumbering, but they are as fast as WWII fighters. The second video shows some good maneuverability and crew coordination. This plane can be a real handful when aggressively maneuvering. Enjoy!!!


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lmd8kyG6uh0


http://m.military.com/video/ai...-demo/1336078645001/

..and this from a 60 yr. old design.

Keith

Yes, sometimes they get stuff right. Almost every listing of the top 10 greatest aircraft includes the C-130. I was disappointed that I didn't get a fighter out of pilot training, but it was beyond cool engaging in defensive maneuvering against fighters, successfully, at low level in a Herk.

I think the second/longer video is a J-model. 60 yr old airframe with state of the art engines and avionics. They keep trying to replace the C-130, but every time they wind up with something way more expensive with only slightly better performance in some areas and compromises in others.

quote:

Originally posted by Hog Killer:
..and this from a 60 yr. old design.

Keith

Still building them aren't they ? Been buzzed a couple of times out hunting. The Canadian forces like to practice their low altitude search and rescue techniques around here.

Grizz

Thank you so much for those links. What a capable ship!

The C -130 was my home for almost 3 years during the Viet Nam war. I was a crew chief on A- models for 18 months in Okinawa, and a crew chief on E-models for 15 months in Taiwan. I spent most of every month in Viet Nam or Thailand. During my time I was over there, I also flew as a crew member on Blind Bat C-130's for 90 days / 40 missions over North Viet Nam, Laos, & Cambodia. These were flare mission s over the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
I never will forget every mission I flew with the C-130 and the very capable flight crews that flew them under all kinds of conditions under fire most of the time. By the way, C-130 pilots have balls!!!
Ken Carlson
Any other Hercules guys out there?

Wow "A" models! The "E", which is all I got to fly, was probably the doggiest. "B"s ran hard as did "H"s. The J is incredible.

The A models , in my opinion were the true 4x4's in aviation. I'm not sure, but I think their 3-bladed prop could get us in and out of the jungle faster than the E's. But right after my 18 months at Naha ,E models became my home. We went in and out of the same places as the A's, and in more comfort. The E was like a luxury car in comparison.
Of course, now most all of the A's, E's & now the H's are in the bone yard. Probably the B's also.
Every one of the C-130's in bone yard got there under their own power. My E model flew from 1962 to 2009. I am sure there are many as old still flying in other countries.
Would you like to still be flying them?
Thanks for listening,
Ken

It would be fun to fly a J model. I do wish I was still active duty...