Global Aviation Magazine - Issue 21

I S S UE21-DEC 2013/J AN2014

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T he bi gs t or yoft he s how was J onat hon ‘ F l apj ack’ Whal ey per f or mi ngf orwhati si nt ended t obet hef i nalt i mei npubl i ci n hi s Hawker Hunt er , Mi s s Demeanour . T he ai r cr af ti s now up f or s al e,and whi l e J onat honhasnocur r entpl ans t o di s pl ayheragai n,he does have hi seye on one ort wo ot herpot ent i al mount s !

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Compl et i ng t he act i on on t he gr ound wer e Paul S t ender ’ s i ncr edi bl e ( and s l i ght l y bar ki ng! ) I ndy Boys I nc j et power eds choolbus ,anda dr i vi ng demons t at i on by t wo Mer cedesS L Scar s .

Wor l ds por thast hecont r actt o s t age t he s how f ort wo f ur t her year s ,and,on t hi sevi dence, f ort hos eofusi nEur ope,i tl ooks l i keagr eatwayt ocat chs ome much needed wi nt ers uns hi ne whi l e wi t nes s i ng a cr acki ng ai r s how t oboot !

F ornow,t hatj us tl eavesmet o wi s h you al l a ver y mer r y Chr i s t mas and a happy, heal t hy and pr os per ous2014!

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T heL ockheedC141St ar l i f t erwast hef i r s tj ett obes peci f i cal l yd Dec1963,andwentont os er vet heUS AFf orover40year s ,gai n t hehi s t or yoft hi smuchmi s s edai r l i f t er .

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he US AFbecame ani ndependentpar tof t he t he USmi l i t ar yon18S ep 1947.Att hat t i me,mos tofi t st r ans por tai r cr af tcame undert he cont r olofAi rT r ans por tCommand ( AT C) ;t heUSNavyal s ooper at edt heNavalAi r T r ans por tS er vi ce ( NAT S ) ,per f or mi ng a s i mi l ar r ol e.I n or dert oi ncr eas et he ef f i ci encyoft he s er vi ces , t hes e t wo or gani s at i ons wer e combi ned i nJ une 1948t of or mt he Mi l i t ar yAi r T r ans por tS er vi ce( MAT S ) .

T he1950swer eat i meofr api ddevel opmenti n ai r cr af tt echnol ogy,wi t h new t ypesent er i ng s er vi ce ever y year ,and s ome ai r cr af thavi ng onl y a br i ef s er vi ce car eer bef or e bei ng s uper s eded by newer , mor e advanced machi nes .Byt heendoft hatdecade,t heUS AF was abl e t o boas t ar guabl y t he mos t t echnol ogi cal l y advanced and capabl e ai r f or cei nt hewor l d.

S t r at egi c Ai r Command ( S AC) was mai nl y compos ed ofj etbomber ss uch ast he B47 S t r at oj et and B52 S t r at of or t r es s , and t he f ut ur i s t i cB58Hus t l erwasont hecus pofent er i ng s er vi ce.S i mi l ar l y,T act i calAi rCommand ( T AC) wasi nt r oduci ng a whol er af tofnew j etf i ght er ai r cr af ti nt he f or m oft he f amous ' Cent ur y S er i es ' ;by 1959 al loft hes ej et shad ent er ed s er vi ce.

Mi l i t ar yAi rT r ans por tSer vi ce AtMAT S ,however ,i twasa di f f er ents t or y.T he s er vi ce s t i l l r el i ed on l umber i ng, r eci pr ocat i ngengi ned beas t s whi ch,f or t he mos tpar t ,dat edbackt ot he1940s .Ast heCol d Warbegant oes cal at e,wi t hi tcamet heneed f orUS f or cest or api dl y depl oy wor l dwi de,i n par t i cul art ocount erpot ent i al S ovi etaggr es s i on i nEur ope.T heagei ngMAT Sf l eetwass i mpl ynot capabl e ofpr ovi di ng t hi ss er vi ce;i nt er msof s peed and t echnol ogy,MAT S wasbei ng l ef t behi ndandbadl yneededt oent ert hej etage i nameani ngf ul way.

Above-Anear l yC141t ax i espas ta l i neofKC 1967,j us tt woyear si nt ot heS t ar l i f t er ' scar eer .T h bat ch ofdel i ver i est hatwas n' tconver t ed t o NC s er ved asa t r ans por tf ori t sent i r e car eer ,bei ng s t andar d,bef or ebei ngdes t r oyedi nagr oundr ef wi t ht heT ennes s eeANG

Bel ow -S een l andi ng atF r ankf ur ti n 1970,t hi s conver t ed t oa C141Band l as ts er ved wi t ht he s cr appedbyOct2004 ( bot hi magesL i nds ayPe

C97satRhei nMai nAi rBas e( F r ankf ur tAi r por t )i n T hi sai r cr af t( 612778)wast heonl yoneoft hef i r s t NC141A s t andar d and us ed f ort es tpur pos es .I t ng pr ogr es s i vel yupdat ed t o C141Band C141C ef uel l i ngi nci dentatMemphi si n2001,whi l s ts er vi ng

i sC141A oft he 437t h MAW ( 640618)wasl at er e62nd AW atMcChor d AF B.Ret i r ed i nApr2001, eacock)

T hef i r s tpur ej et st obedel i ver edt oMAT Swer ea bat chof48Boei ngC135S t r at ol i f t er s .T heC135 wasdevel oped f r om t he Boei ng 36780,whi ch was al s o t he bas i sf or t he s i mi l ar ( but not i dent i cal )Boei ng 707 j etai r l i ner .I ni t i alai r cr af t wer e del i ver ed i n 1957,and t he S t r at ol i f t er pr ovi ded a us ef ulcapabi l i t y,buti twasver y muchani nt er i m meas ur e,asi tcoul d notcar r y s omeoft hel ar geri t emsofcar go,s uchast hos e r equi r edbyt heUSAr my.

Af t eri ni t i al l y encount er i ng s ome bur eaucr at i c r es i s t ance,MAT S commander s wer e abl et o convi ncet heAi rF or ceoft heneed t oi nves ti n t he t r ans por tf l eet ,and i ns pr i ng 1960,S peci f i c Oper at i onal Requi r ement182wasr el eas ed.T hi s det ai l ed a need f ora new ai r l i f t ercapabl e of per f or mi ng s t r at egi c and t act i calmi s s i ons .T he s t r at egi c mi s s i on r equi r ed t he new ai r cr af tt o car r y60, 000l bs( 27, 000kg)ofpayl oad overa r ange of3, 500 nm.T act i caloper at i onswoul d r equi r e aer i al del i ver y of equi pment and par at r ooper s .

Des i gns wer e r eques t ed and s ubmi s s i ons r ecei ved f r om L ockheed,Gener alDynami cs and Boei ng.L ockheed' spr opos al ,whi ch was t er med t he Model 300, f eat ur ed a hi gh, s houl der mount ed wi ng and r eardoor s ,gi vi ng acces st oas paci ousf r ei ghtcompar t ment .I t waspower ed by f ourPr at tand Whi t ney T F 33 engi nes ,mount edi npodsundert hewi ngs .

I nMar ch1961,Pr es i dentJ ohnF .Kennedy' sf i r s t of f i ci al act af t er hi si naugur at i on was t o announce t he s el ect i on of t he L ockheed pr oductf ordevel opmentast heC141.Ani ni t i al or derwasf orf i veai r cr af t ,wi t havi ew t oof f er i ng t henew ai r cr af tont ot heci vi l i anmar ket ,aswel l ast of ul f i l t heUS AFr equi r ement .

Devel opmentwasr api d,es peci al l ybyt oday' s s t andar ds ,wi t ht hef i r s tai r cr af tbei ngr ol l ed out i nAugus t1963andf l yi ngf ort hef i r s tt i meon17 Decemberoft hes ameyear .T hei ni t i alai r cr af t wentt o Edwar dsAF Bf ort es t i ng t he f ol l owi ng year ,andi nOct ober1964t heC141t r ai ni nguni t at T i nkerAF B,OK,r ecei ved i t sf i r s t ai r cr af t , 638078,named' S pi r i tofOkl ahomaCi t y' .

T hef i r s tC141t obedel i ver ed t oanoper a chr i s t ened' T heGol denBear ' .I twasl at eras andt he60t hAMW.Onr et i r ementi twasr e dur i ng2009 ( PaulDunn)

Gol denBear r F i r s tdel i ver yt oanoper at i onaluni tcameon23 Apr i l1965,whenai r cr af ts er i al638088( dubbed ' Gol den Bear ' )wasdel i ver ed t ot he 44t h Ai r T r ans por tS quadr on oft he 1501s tAi rT r ans por t Wi ng at T r avi s AF B, Cal i f or ni a. Wi t h US i nvol vementi nt heVi et nam Wares cal at i ng,t he new ai r cr af ts oonbeganf l yi ngt r ans por tmi s s i ons t oS out hEas tAs i a,ar ol ewhi cht heS t ar l i f t erwas t oper f or m wi t hdi s t i nct i onf ort her emai nderof t heconf l i ct .

Vi et nam War ByAugus t1965,C141shad beendel i ver ed t o Char l es t on AF B and Dover AF B, wi t h ever i ncr eas i ng number sent er i ng s er vi ce.T owar ds t he end oft he year ,a numberofC141st ook par ti n Oper at i on Bl ue L i ght ,t he ai r l i f toft he Ar my' s3r d Br i gade,25t hI nf ant r yDi vi s i on,f r om Honol ul u, Hawai i ,t o Pl ei ku, S out h Vi et nam.

Al ongs i de C133 Car gomas t er s( pl us s ome C124sandC130s ) ,t heS t ar l i f t er smovednear l y 3, 000menand near l y5, 000t onsofcar go i nt o t hecombatz one.

I nt er es t i ngl y,bot ht heC133sandC124smade t wos t opsenr out et oVi et nam,s ot hatf uel coul d beupl i f t ed t ocutdownont ur nar ound t i mesi n t hecombatz one;t ypi cal l yt heai r cr af twer eon t he gr ound atPl ei ku f oronl y 25 mi nut esand engi nesr emai ned r unni ng t hr oughout .T he bi g di f f er encewasi nt hef l i ghtt i mes .I ncl udi ng t he i nt er medi at es t opover s ,t he t ur bopr op C133 made t he t r i pi n 30 hour s ,t he C141 r equi r ed onl y18.

Att he end of1965,an i mpr es s i ve t ot alof65 C141shad been del i ver ed t o MAT S .Wi t ht he dawni ngof1966,MAT Si t s el fceas edt oex i s t ,as t heUSNavyel ect edt owi t hdr aw i t ss uppor tf or t he s er vi ce.I ni t spl ace,came Mi l i t ar y Ai r l i f t Command ( MAC) ,whi ch as s umed t he cont r ol of t he US AF ' st r ans por t as s et s ,i ncl udi ng, of cour s e,t heC141f l eet .

T ypi caloft he ear l yC141si ns er vi ce,6502 s een l andi ng atRAFMi l denhal li n 1969,w met al col our scar r i edbyt heS t ar l i f t erf l eetu wasl at ers t r et ched t obecomea C141Ba t he97t hAMW atAl t usAF B.I twasr et i r edt o br okenupi nOct ober2005 ( L i nds ayPeaco

r at i onaluni twas638088,whi chwasas s i gned t ot he1501s tAi rT r ans por tWi ngatT r avi sAF B,CA and s s i gnedt ot her edes i gnat ed60t hMAW,andaf t ers er vi cewi t hot heruni t sf i ni s hedi t scar eerwi t hAMC r es t or edt oi t sear l i ergr ey/ whi t ecol ours chemeandpl acedondi s pl ayatT r avi sAF B,wher ei ti ss een

0220oft he 437t hMAW i s wear i ng t he or i gi nalbar e upondel i ver y.T hi sai r cr af t and f i ni s hed i t sdayswi t h oAMARC i nJ ul y2001and ock)

T he nat ur almet als cheme gave way t ot he f ami l i argr ey/ whi t e col our sofMi l i t ar yAi r l i f tCommand,t ypi f i ed byt hi sC141A s eenat Mi l denhal li n 1980;wi t ht he C141B conver s i on pr ogr amme wel l under waybyt hatt i me,unmodi f i edj et swer ebecomi ngs omewhat r ar e.Al s oas s i gnedt ot he437t hMAW,660167wasl at erconver t ed t o a C141Band s ubs equent l yupgr aded t o C141C s t andar d,l as t s er vi ng wi t ht he 452nd AW atMar chARB.I tmade i t sf i nalf l i ghti n Oct ober2003 and wasbr oken up atAMARG i nJ anuar y 2010 ( PaulF i l mer )

T he' not or i ous ' 640612!T hi sai r cr af twass uchacommonvi s i t ort oRAFMi l denhal l i n atF r ankf ur ti n1970,i twasl at ermodi f i edt oC141Bs t andar dandmadei t sl as tf l i gh

Mi l i t ar yAi r l i f tCommand

Of f ens i ve;t hi shel ped t of r ee up s ome oft he C130s f orai r dr ops and del i ver yt of or war d T he es t abl i s hmentofMAC came att he hei ght l ocat i ons . ofUS i nvol vementi nt he Vi et nam War ,and C141s( j oi ned i n1970byt hei rl ar gers i bl i ng t he Not abl y,dur i ngt heconf l i ctC141cr ewswor ked C5Gal ax y)bor emuchoft heai rt r ans por tl oad. har di ndevel opi ngt heconceptofaer omedi cal T hef l eetmai nl yoper at ed i nt hes t r at egi cai r l i f t evacuat i on.I nt hi sr ol e,t heS t ar l i f t erbecamean r ol e,br i ngi ng i n hi gh val ue car go f r om t he US ai r bor ne ambul ance,abl et o car r ys er i ous l y i nt ooneofs ever all ar geai r por t si nt het heat r e, i nj ur ed pat i ent sf r om Vi et nam t o hos pi t al si n f r om wher ei tcoul d be di s t r i but ed byt act i cal J apan,t he Phi l i ppi nesand t he US ,i mpr ovi ng t r ans por t ss uch as t he C130. However , on t hei rchances ofs ur vi valand al s or el eas i ng occas i on,C141sal s of l ew s ome i nt r at heat r e hos pi t alcapaci t y wi t hi nt he combatz one t o mi s s i ons ,s uch as dur i ng t he 1972 Eas t er deal wi t hf ur t hercas ual t i es .

i nt he1970s ,t hati tgai nedas omet hi ngofar eput at i onamongs tagr oupofl ocal ent hus i as t s .S eenher e htt oDavi s Mont hanAF Bi nF ebr uar y2000 ( L i nds ayPeacock)

Ant ar ct i cMi s s i on Whi l s tt hef ocusofmos toft heUSmi l i t ar yatt he t i me wasVi et nam,t he C141f l eetwasabl et o chal kup a not abl ef i r s ton 14November1966 whenCaptHowar dGeddesandhi scr ew f r om t he86t hMi l i t ar yAi r l i f tS quadr on( MAS )atT r avi s AF B, l anded t hei rS t ar l i f t er on t he i ce at McMur do S ound,Ant ar ct i ca.T hi swast he f i r s t t i me a j etai r cr af thad l anded i nt he Ant ar ct i c and wast he s t ar tofa l ong as s oci at i on wi t h Oper at i on Deep F r eez e, t he US Ant ar ct i c r es ear chpr ogr am.

Oper at i on Deep F r eez e cont i nued unt i ls hor t l y pr i ort ot heS t ar l i f t er ’ sr et i r ementi n2006 ( U. S.Ai r F or cephot obyMas t erSgt .Ki m M.Al l ai n)

Above -By 1970,C141Aswer e becomi ng a common s i ghti n Eur ope.

Rhei nMai nwasapopul ardes t i nat i onf orMAC t r ans por tai r cr af t ,s uppor t i ng USf or cesdepl oyedt oGer many.T hi sai r cr af t( 640625)wasl at erconver t ed t o C141B s t andar d,butwasa f ai r l y ear l y wi t hdr awal ,bei ng r et i r ed t o AMARC i n1997af t ers uf f er i ngamai nl andi nggearcr ack.I twasevent ual l y br okenupi n2004 ( L i nds ayPeacock)

Whenpr oduct i onendedi n1968,at ot al of285C141shadbeenbui l t .Al l butoneoft hes ewasdel i ver edt ot heUS AF ;t hes ol eex cept i onwast he 110t hai r cr af tbui l t ,whi chwasr et ai nedbyL ockheedasademons t r at i on ai r cr af t ,f ori nt ended ci vi l i an us e.F r om t he out s et ,L ockheed had des i gned t heai r cr af tt obeabl et obecer t i f i ed f orci vi loper at i onsand of f er ed i tt os ever alcar go compani es .T he demons t r at i on ai r cr af t ex t ens i vel yt our ed t heUSand t r avel l ed f ur t heraf i el dt oEur ope,Af r i ca, As i aandAus t r al as i a,buti nt heend,noor der swer ef or t hcomi ngandt he ai r cr af twass t ood downand s t or ed f ors ever alyear s ,awai t i ng a new oper at or .

T hes i gni ngoft hePar i sPeaceAccor dsi n1973br oughtaboutaceas ef i r e i nt he Vi et nam War .Aspar toft he negot i at i ons ,an agr eementwas r eached f ort he r et ur n ofAmer i can pr i s oner sofwar ,who had been capt ur edbyt heNor t hVi et names e.T hes epr i s oner swer er epat r i at edt o t heUSaspar tofOper at i onHomecomi ng,andt heC141wast hepr i mar y ai r cr af tus edt opi ckt hemenupf r om Hanoi ,i nNor t hVi et nam.

T hef i r s tr epat r i at i onmi s s i onwasf l ownon12F ebr uar y1973,andi nvol ved t hr eeC141AsandaC9A.T heai r cr af tl andedatGi aL am Ai r por tnear Hanoi ,t opi ckupt hei ni t i al gr oupoff or merPoWs .T hef i r s tC141t oar r i ve was660177,whi chl at erbecameknownasHanoiT ax ii nr ecogni t i onof i t shi s t or i cmi s s i on.

Eachai r cr af tcar r i ed40POWsont hej our neyt oCl ar kAF B,t hef i r s ts t opon t hei rr et ur nt ot heUS .Manyoft hes epr i s oner shads pents i xt oei ghtyear s i ncapt i vi t y,and t her ewer ej ubi l ants cenesamongs tt hes emenast he ai r cr af tgotai r bor ne,t aki ngt hem ont hef i r s tl egoft hei rj our neyhome.

Above - T hi s ( 667948) was Mi l denhal li n198 wi t ht he437t hM AF B. T he Bmo pr ogr amme w bet ween 1977a t he t i me t hi sph t he ent i r et r ans been conver t e wasr et i r ed i nM l at t er l ys er vedw atMcChor dAF B

s s mar t C141B s a vi s i t or t o 983,whi l s ts er vi ng MAW atMcGui r e odel s t r et chi ng was conduct ed and 1982,s o by hot o wast aken, ns por tf l eet had t ed. T hi s ai r cr af t May2002,havi ng wi t ht he62ndAW F B( PaulF i l mer )

Overt he nex tcoupl e ofmont hs ,a t ot alof17C141mi s s i onswer ef l own, br i ngi ng backa t ot alof567pr i s oner s .T he r epat r i at i onmi s s i onwasa huge s t or yi nt heUS ,andt heS t ar l i f t erwi l l bef or everas s oci at edwi t ht hes emi s s i ons t oNor t hVi et nam.

Dur i ng t he ai r l i f tt o and f r om Vi et nam,i tbecame appar entt hatt he C141 wasan ex cel l entai r cr af t ,buthad one dr awback.When f ul l yl oaded, es peci al l ywi t hbul kycar go,i twasf ound t hatt he ai r cr af twoul dr unoutof s pacef orcar gobef or ei twoul dr unoutofper f or mance.I not herwor ds ,t he ai r cr af twascapabl eofcar r yi ngagr eat erwei ghtofcar got hant hephys i cal di mens i onsofi t scar gohol dwoul dal l ow.

T heC141B I nor dert ocor r ectt hi s ,andal l ow t heai r cr af tt obeus edt oi t sf ul l pot ent i al ,a f us el ages t r et chwaspr opos ed.T hi si nvol vedt hei ns er t i onoft wo' pl ugs ' ,f or e and af toft he wi ng,r es ul t i ng i nani ncr eas ei nl engt hof23'4"( 7.

11m) .T he modi f i ed ai r cr af twasdes i gnat ed C141B,and t he vas tmaj or i t y oft he s ur vi vi ngMAC f l eet( at ot alof270ai r cr af t )wer et husmodi f i ed.T heBmodel wasal s of i t t edwi t har ecept acl ef ori nf l i ghtr ef uel l i ng.

T heconver s i onpr oces s t ookpl acebet ween1977and1982,andt hei ncr eas edcapaci t yoft hef l eet hasof t enbeencompar edt obuyi ngat ot al of90new ai r cr af t !

T heNC141A

T hef i r s tS t ar l i f t er . . .

1997,t owar dst he r es ear chi ngnew i twasr et i r ed i nF CommandMus eu

T he s mal lnumberofai r cr af twhi ch di d notr ecei ve t he f us el age s t r et ch t ended t o be as s i gned t ot es tr ol es , wher et he ex t r a capaci t y was notr equi r ed.S ever al NC141Aswer eas s i gnedt oAi rF or ceS ys t emsCommand f oravar i et yoft es tpr ogr ammes ,i ncl udi ngt es t sofr adar s ys t ems ,war ni ngr ecei ver sandgener al avi oni cswor k.

I n addi t i on,t he f or merL 300 demons t r at orr et ai ned i t s or i gi nalpr opor t i ons ,havi ngf oundanew r ol ewi t hNAS A. I n 1972,L ockheed pas s ed t he ai r cr af tt ot he agency, whi chneededaj ett r ans por tai r cr af ti nwhi cht oi ns t al la l ar ge t el es cope.T he ai r cr af twasmodi f i ed dur i ng 1973, andent er eds er vi cet hef ol l owi ngyear ,becomi ngknown ast heKui perAi r bor neObs er vat or y( KAO) .

T heKAO s er vedNAS Af orover20year s ,unt i l bei ngr et i r ed i n1995.Abl et of l yabovemuchoft hewat ervapouri n t heat mos pher e,i twasus ed i nmanyr es ear chpr oj ect s , and made s ever aldi s cover i esi n ourgal ax y,aswel las s t udyi ng i nf r ar ed emi s s i onsf r om deepers pace.I twas bas ed atNAS A' sAmesRes ear chCent eratNASMof f et t F i el d,wher et heai r cr af ti snow pr es er ved.Asof2007,i t s wor k has been cont i nued by S OF I A ( S t r at os pher i c Obs er vat or yF orI nf r ar edAs t r onomy) ,amodi f i ed747S P.

Ri ght-NC141A ai r cr af tbui l tas demons t r at or-i s i t st r ans f ert o NA s er vi ce as t he Obs er vat or y( NA

L ef t- NC141A s econd S t ar l i f t er s penti t sent i r ec f l eet .I t sl as tas s t he t es t i ng of a cont r ol s ys t em,an Edwar dsAF B wi t T es tS quadr on. ni cknamed ' Des e r ar evi s i t ort oRAF F et e 98.T he ai r s May1998;byAug ai r cr af t had b AMARC, and i t dur i ngF ebr uar y2

r . . .NC141A612775s pentt hewhol eofi t scar eerast es tai r f r ameandi ss eenher eatEdwar dsAF Bi nApr i l t he end ofi t scar eer .One ofi t sf i nalr ol esi nvol ved t owi ng an F 106,aspar tofa NAS A pr ogr amme waysofl aunchi ngas pacecr af t .Oneofonl yf ourUS AFai r cr af tt onotbes t r et chedt oC141Bs t andar d, F ebr uar y1998and made i t sf i nalf l i ghtt o DoverAF B,wher ei ti snow pr es er ved att he Ai rMobi l i t y eum ( T om Gi bbons )

A NAS A 716 -t he st he ci vi l i an L 300 i ss eeni nf l i ghtaf t er AS A wher ei ts aw e Kui per Ai r bor ne ASA)

612776 was t he rt o be bui l t ,and car eeri nt he t es t s s i gnmenti nvol ved an el ect r i c f l i ght andi twasbas edat i t ht he 418t hF l i ght .T he ai r cr af t was s er tRat 'and wasa AFMi l denhal lf orAi r i r s how washel di n ugus tt hatyeart he been r et i r ed t o i t was s cr apped 2004 ( PaulDunn)

. . . andt hel as t .S eenar r i vi ngatRAFF ai r f or df orI AT87,670166wast hef i nal C141del i ver edt ot heUS A t oCI NCMAC f ormuchofi t scar eer ,i twasal waysver ywel l t ur nedoutandi ndeedaf ai r l yl ow t i meai r f r r et ai ned t he ol dergr ey/ whi t es cheme l ong af t ert he maj or i t y oft he f l eetadopt ed camouf l ag i nt r oduct i onoft heC17,i tl os ti t sVI Pr ol eandbecamear egul art r ans por tai r cr af t ,s eei ngouti t scar e 445t hAW atWr i ght Pat t er s onAF B.I twasoneoft hef i nal ai r cr af ti ns er vi ce,andi nf actmadet hef i na f l i ght ,wheni twasf l ownt oS cot tAF B,I L ,f orpr es er vat i onon7Apr i l 2006 ( L i nds ayPeacock)

' T r i pl eDeuce' ( 650222)oft he437t hMAW i ss eenon di s pl ayatRAFMi l denhal ldur i ng Ai rF et e' 82.L at er conver t edt oC141C s t andar d,t heai r cr af tl as ts aw s er vi cewi t ht he164t hAW,T ennes s eeANG,maki ng i t sf i nalf l i ghti nJ anuar y2003,bef or e bei ng br oken up at Davi s Mont han AF B i n December 2009 ( PaulF i l mer )

Chr i s t ened ' Ci t yofChar l es t on' ,640624w C141as s i gned t ot he437t hMAW.I nJ u ai r cr af tcr as hedont akeof ff r om NASS i g af t eranuncont ai nedf ai l ur eofengi ne#3 debr i sent er i ng t he car go hol d and s t a Ei ghtcr ew member sandonepas s enge ( PaulF i l mer )

S AF .As s i gned r f r ame,whi ch ge.Wi t ht he r eerwi t ht he al C141' l i ne'

4wast hef i r s t J ul y1984,t he i gonel l a,I t al y #3r es ul t edi n t ar t i ng a f i r e. erwer eki l l ed

670021 wast he onl y C141 t or ecei ve t hi st wot one gr ey col ours cheme.I t appear st o have been a t r i al ,wi t ht he mor ef ami l i arEur opean One s cheme adopt ed f ort he f l eets hor t l yaf t er war ds .T hi sai r cr af twasl at erconver t ed t oa C141Bands ubs equent l yaC141C,s er vi ngwi t ht he164t hAW,T ennes s eeANG.I t wasr et i r edi nApr2004andbr okenupi n2010 ( L i nds ayPeacockCol l ect i on)

T heEur opeanOnecamouf l ageadopt edi nt hemi d1980swasequal l yef f ect i veov t akennearPopeAF Bi nJ une1990 ( L i nds ayPeacock)

overt hegr eener yofNor t hCar ol i na,ass eeni nt hi si mage T hr oughout t he 1980s , MAC' s C141Bs wer e a r egul ar s i ght i n Eur ope and es peci al l yi nt he UK, wher eRAFMi l denhal l wasar egul ar des t i nat i ont hr oughoutt heai r cr af t ' s car eer ;f ormanyyear sone oft he eat i ngf aci l i t i eswi t hi nt hebas ewas known ast he S t ar l i f t erBur gerBar !

Wi t hr enewedf ocusonaEur opean conf r ont at i onwi t ht he US S R,MAC' s t r ans por tf l eetbegan t or ecei ve a t oned down camouf l age s cheme known as ' Eur opean One' , t o r epl ace t he pr evi ous gr ey/ whi t e s cheme.

Dur i ng t he 1980s ,t he C141 f l eet al s o s uppor t ed US mi l i t ar y oper at i ons t hr oughout t he wor l d, not abl y i n Gr enada ( Oper at i on Ur gentF ur y)and al s oi nL ebanon.

Cr ewsal s o del i ver ed humani t ar i an ai d wor l dwi de and as s i s t ed i n di s as t err el i efef f or t s .One s l i ght l y unor t hodoxmi s s i onwasdes i gnat ed Oper at i onS out her nHayl i f t ;i n1986, C141sand C130sdel i ver ed over 500t onsofdonat edhayt of ar msi n t he s out h eas t er n US whi ch wer e s uf f er i ng f r om dr oughtcondi t i ons .

T he ai r l i f t s aved t he l i ves of t hous andsofcat t l eandal s ohel ped t o pr ot ect t he l i vel i hood of t he f ar mer s .

T he l at e 1980s s aw a t haw i n r el at i onsbet weenEas tandWes t ,as t he Col d Warbegan t o dr aw t oa cl os e.I twass omet hi ngofas ur pr i s e t her ef or et hatMAC woul ds uddenl y be cal l ed upon t o per f or m t he mi s s i on whi ch i thad r ehear s ed f or t he l as tcoupl e ofdecades :t he r api d depl oyment of l ar ge quant i t i esoft r oopsandequi pment t oa f r i endl y nat i on over s eas ,i n or dert ocount eraggr es s i onf r om a bel l i ger ent nei ghbour . However , i ns t ead of t he ant i ci pat ed des t i nat i onbei ngEur ope,i twast he much l es sf ami l i ars ur r oundi ngsof t heMi ddl eEas t .

ManyEur opeanOneC141swer edevoi dofuni tmar AF Bi nJ une1990 ( L i nds ayPeacock)

Gul fWar1 On 2Augus t1990,I r aqif or cescr os s ed t he bor der i nt o Kuwai t , qui ckl y over r unni ng t he s mal l er count r y and gai ni ngcont r ol .Wi t hKuwai tconquer ed, t he I r aqiAr my mas s ed on t he bor der wi t h S audi Ar abi a, t hr eat eni ng t o cont i nue i t s mar ch and capt ur et he S audioi lf i el ds ,whi chwoul dbr i ngmuch of t he wor l d' s oi ls uppl y under I r aqi cont r ol .F ol l owi ngar eques tf orhel pf r om Ki ngF ahdofS audi Ar abi a,t heUSqui ckl y di s pat ched ai r ,l and and s ea f or cest o def end t he Ki ngdom f r om I r aqi aggr es s i on. T he mul t i nat i onal mi s s i on was t er med Oper at i on Des er tS hi el d, andt heC141woul donceagai nbet he wor khor s eoft hecampai gn.

Dur i ng Des er tS hi el d,and t he combat oper at i ons whi ch f ol l owed ( Des er t S t or m) ,t he C141 f l eetf l ew over8, 500 mi s s i ons , car r yi ng a wi de var i et y of car goand pas s enger si nt obas esi nt he Mi ddl e Eas t .Al t hough t he C130 f l eet was mor e numer ous , and t he C5 Gal ax yabl et ocar r yagr eat erl oad,t he cont r i but i on of t he S t ar l i f t er t o t he s ucces s f ulout come oft he oper at i on wasvi t al .

I ns omeways ,Des er tS t or m del ayedt he pos t Col d War r eor gani s at i on of t he US AF ,butoncei thadconcl uded,t her e wer es ome bi g changesaf oot .I n1992, T AC,S AC andMAC wer edi s es t abl i s hed and r epl aced by Ai r Combat Command ( ACC) and Ai r Mobi l i t y Command ( AMC) .T he l at t eri nher i t ed MAC' st r ans por tf l eet ,and al s os omeof t he f or mer S AC t anker s ;l ogi cal l y,mos t oft he C141f l eetbecame as s i gned t o AMC, al t hough i ncr eas i ng number s wer e al s o al l ocat ed t ot he Ai rNat i onal Guar d( ANG) and Ai rF or ce Res er ve ( AF RESunt i l 1997,t henAi rF or ceRes er ve Command,AF RC) .

C141swer er egul ar l yt obes eenatRAFMi l denhal l ' sa wast o be s een atAi rF et e 97;byt he f ol l owi ng y oper at i ons )s t andar d.I tl at ermoved t ot he305t hA 2002.S cr appedi nOct ober2005 ( J ohnHi ggi ns )

ar ki ngs ,s uchast hi sai r cr af t ,s eendepar t i ngPope

' sannual Ai rF et e.T hi sai r cr af t( 659401,437t hAW) yeari thad been modi f i ed t oS OL LI I( s peci al AMW atMcGui r e,whi chr et i r ed i t sS OL LI Ij et si n

Above - A t ypi cals cene i nt he ear l y1990sat RAFMi l denhal l ,f eat ur i ngaC141Bi nt her at her dr ab ' Eur opean One'col our s ,onl yr el i eved by t hegr eent ai l bandoft he62ndAW atMcChor d AF B,WA ( PaulDunn)

Above - A C141B f r om t he 305t h AMW at McGui r e AF B vacat es t he r unway at RAF Mi l denhal ldur i ng Oper at i on Al l i ed F or ce,t he NAT Oi nt er vent i on i n Kos ovo.T hi sai r cr af ts aw outi t scar eerwi t ht he305t hAMW andwasone oft hel as tai r cr af ti ns er vi cewi t ht heact i vedut y US AF ,bef or e bei ng r et i r ed i nS ept ember2004 and br oken up at AMARG i n May 2009 ( PaulDunn)

Above-T hi sC141Bwasas s i gned t ot he172nd AW,Mi s s i s s i ppiANG,and s eenatMi l denhal li n 1995.I tl at erbecameaC141C ands aw outi t s dayswi t ht hes ameuni t ,bef or ebei ngr et i r edi n December2002.I tr emai ned i ns t or age f ort he nex ts even year s bef or e bei ng br oken up ( J ohnHi ggi ns )

S eenl andi ngatR t he459t hAW,bas 2003.I tl i nger edi n

T hi sC141C car r i est hemar ki ngsoft he164t hAW,T ennes s eeANG,andi s s eendepar t i ng depar t i ng RAFF ai r f or d af t erRI AT1998.T he ai r cr af twas r et i r edt oAMARC dur i ng2003ands cr appedi nApr i l 2009 ( PaulDunn)

Byt hemi d1990s ,t heai r cr af twhi chhadbeendevel opedt or epl acet he C141wasbegi nni ng t o become avai l abl et of r ont l i ne s quadr ons ;t he C17Gl obemas t erI I Ipr ovedi t s el fawor t hys ucces s ort ot heS t ar l i f t erand abl et ocar r youtawi dervar i et yoft act i cal mi s s i ons ,i ncl udi ngl andi ngon unpr epar edai r s t r i ps .T her ewas ,however ,s t i l lapl acef ort heC141,and t he ai r cr af t wer e heavi l y ut i l i s ed dur i ng oper at i ons i n t he f or mer Yugos l avi at hr oughoutt he1990s .

Dur i ng t hi sper i od,t wo f ur t hermodi f i cat i onswer emadet os omeoft he f l eet .A s mal lnumberofC141Bsr ecei ved t he S peci alOper at i onsL ow L evelI I( S OL LI I )updat e,addi ng a ni ghtt i me l owf l yi ng capabi l i t y, enhanced navi gat i on equi pment and i mpr oved def ens i ve count er meas ur es .Modi f i ed ai r cr af tcoul d be i dent i f i ed bya F L I Rt ur r et undert henos e,wi t hcount er meas ur espodsei t hers i de.T heS OL LI I ai r cr af t r emai ned wi t h AMC,and bas ed atChar l es t on AF B,butwor ked i n cooper at i onwi t hAi rF or ceS peci al Oper at i onsCommand( AF S OC) .

T heS OL LI Imodi f i t hePi maAi randS Whent he437t hr e

RAFMi l denhal l i nApr i l 2003,t hi sai r cr af thadonl ymont hsl ef tt ogount i l r et i r ement .S eenwi t hi t sf i nal uni t , as edatAndr ewsAF B,650216wasaC141C,whi chmadei t sf i nal f l i ghtt oDavi s Mont hanAF Bi nOct ober i ns t or ageunt i l F ebr uar y2010,wheni twasf i nal l ys cr apped ( L i nds ayPeacock)

i f i cat i ons( al bei twi t hF L I Rt ur r etr emoved)canbes eenont henos eoft hi sC141Bwhi chi spr es er vedat dS paceMus eum,Ar i z ona.T heS OL LI I ai r cr af twer eor i gi nal l yas s i gnedt ot he437t hAW atChar l es t onAF B. r ecei vedC17s ,t hemodi f i edai r cr af tpas s edt ot he305t hAMW atMcGui r eAF B( Kar lDr age)

T he f i nalupdat e package was t he C141C upgr ade. T hi s was an avi oni cs i mpr ovement whi chof f er ed enhanced navi gat i oncapabi l i t i es and a gl as scockpi t .A t ot alof63ai r cr af twer e modi f i edt ot hi ss t andar dandmos toft hes ewent on t os er ve f ort he r emai nderoft he ai r cr af t ' s car eer .

Asmor eC17sr eachedf r ont l i nes quadr ons ,mor e C141swer epas s ed t ot heANG and AF RC,and f ur t herai r cr af twer er et i r ed f ors t or age att he Aer os pace Mai nt enance and Regener at i on Cent er( AMARC)atDavi s Mont hanAF B,AZ .

Mai n -S een get t i ng s mar t l yai r bor ne f r om RAF Mi l denhal l i nApr i l 1999,660158s pentmuchofi t s car eerwi t ht he62ndAW atMcChor dAF B.I tl ef t s er vi ce i nJ anuar y 2002,and was event ual l y br okenupatAMARG i n2010 ( L i nds ayPeacock) L ef t-Des pi t ei t st i r ed appear ance i nt hi sApr i l 2003s hot ,669750( a C141C)wentont os er ve wi t ht he 445t h AW f oranot hert wo year s ,unt i l cl os et ot heendoft her oadf ort heC141f l eet .

F i nalf l i ghti nMay2005,br okenup atAMARG i n November2009 ( L i nds ayPeacock)

L ef t-Anot herr at hers habbyl ooki ng C141C,t hi sai r cr af tf r om t he459t hAW at t endedRI AT2002atRAFF ai r f or d,i nt het wi l i ght ofi t scar eer( J ohnHi ggi ns ) F arl ef t-S een depar t i ng RAFF ai r f or d af t erRI AT2004,640620 wasdes t i ned t o be t he l as tC141 t o at t end t he ai r s how.I t became t he l as tC141 t o ar r i ve atAMARC,when i twas del i ver ed t her ef ors t or age and r ecl amat i on on 16J an 2006; s cr appeddur i ngMay2009 ( J ohnHi ggi ns )

T he t er r or i s t at t acks on New Yor k and Was hi ngt on on 11 S ept ember2001 i ni t i at ed a new r oundofcombatoper at i ons ,wi t hUSf or ces l aunchi ng Oper at i on Endur i ng F r eedom ( Af ghani s t an2001t odat e)andOper at i onI r aqi F r eedom ( 20032011) .Al t houghbynow ent er i ng t he f i nalphas e ofi t s car eer ,t he C141 s t i l l pr ovedaus ef ul ai r cr af tands uppor t edUSf or ces i nbot hoper at i ons .I r oni cal l y,gi vent heai r cr af t ' s pr evi ousus ei nr et ur ni ng Amer i can PoWsf r om Vi et nam ast he HanoiT ax i ,i nJ anuar y2002 a C141once agai n made t he newswor l dwi de, del i ver i ng t he f i r s tbat ch ofcapt ur ed ' enemy combat ant s 't o t he det ent i on cent r e at Guant anamoBay. ByS ept ember2004,t he C141had l ef ts er vi ce wi t h act i ve dut y US AF uni t s and was s ol el y conf i nedt oAF RC andt heANG.T wel vemont hs l at er ,onl yoneuni twasl ef tf l yi ngt heai r cr af t ,t he 445t h AW atWr i ghtPat t er s on AF B( AF RC) .T he uni twaskeptver y bus yi ni t sf i nalmont hsof s er vi ce,i ncl udi ngbr i ngi nghumani t ar i anr el i eft o peopl eaf f ect edbyHur r i caneKat r i na.

Oneoft hef i nalgr oupofai r cr af ti ns er vi cewas 660177, t he l egendar y Hanoi T ax i .I n t he mi d1990s ,i thad been r ecogni s ed t hatt hi s ai r cr af twasnot abl east hef i r s tC141t ol andi n Nor t hVi et nam t or epat r i at eUSPoWs .F r om t hen on,t heai r cr af twasear mar kedf orpr es er vat i on when i t s car eerwas over ,and t he ai r cr af t car r i ed s ever als peci alt ouches and ar t wor k i nt er nal l yt or ecogni s ei t sher i t age.I n2002i twas r epai nt ed i nt oa' r et r o'col ours cheme ofgr ey and whi t e,t or epr es entt he col our si twor e dur i ngOper at i onHomecomi ng,andt heai r cr af t wor et hi ss chemeunt i l r et i r ement .

F i t t i ngl y,on 6May2006,HanoiT ax imade t he f i nal C141f l i ght ,maki ngt hes hor tt r ans i tf r om i t s home bas et ot he r unway at t he Nat i onal Mus eum oft heUS AF ,wher ei tnow s t andsasa monumentt oi t s own accompl i s hment s and t hos e ofal lt he C141f l eetovert he 41year si t s er ved.

Mai n -Cockpi tofHanoiT ax i ,i l l us t r at i ng t he di gi t aldi s pl aysf i t t ed t ot he upgr aded C141C ver s i on ( cour t es y ofJ ohn Ros s i no,L ockheed Mar t i nCodeOne)

T heC141" Hanoi T ax i "f i nal f l i ghtcr ew.T heai r t ot he Nat i onalMus eum oft he Uni t ed S t ( U. S.Ai rF or cephot obyJ ef fF i s her )

ai r cr af tmadei t sf i nal f l i ght S t at esAi rF or ce i n 2006

HanoiT ax it ouchesdown att he Nat i onalMus eum oft he Uni t ed S t at es Ai rF or ce on 6 May 2006, t he f i nal C141 l andi ng ( U. S.Ai rF or cephot obyJ ef fF i s her )

Hanoi T ax i wasoneoft hel uckyones ;t hevas tmaj or i t yoft heC141f l eet ended up pas s i ng t o AMARC ( known asAMARG af t erMay2007)f or s t or ageand event ualdi s pos al .S t ar l i f t er shad beenar r i vi ng f ors t or age f ors ome year sbyt hi spoi nt ,and t her e wer e cons i der abl e number sof ai r cr af twhi chhad beenpr epar ed f orl ongt er m des er ts t or age.Ast he f l eetdr ew downhowever ,l at erar r i val sr ecei vedonl ymi ni mal t r eat ment bef or ebei ngpar kedi nt hedes er t .

Above & l ef t-T s t or age atAMAR r et i r edai r cr af thad and wer e not d mi ni mal pr es er va ar r i valatDavi s M s ome ai r cr af tl i ng whi l e,t he maj or i t andr emovedby2

T opl ef t-HanoiT a wi t hi t sf i nalr es t i n Mus eum oft he U ( U. S.Ai rF or cepho

T wo vi ewsofC141si n RG dur i ng 2008.Ast he adr unoutofai r f r amel i f e des t i ned t o f l y agai n, vat i on was appl i ed on Mont han AF B.Al t hough i nger ed i ns t or age f ora r i t yhad been br oken up y2010 ( Kar lDr age)

T ax ir ol l soutaf t erl andi ng, s t i ng pl ace,t he Nat i onal US AF ,i nt he backgr ound hot obyJ ef fF i s her )

As mal l numberofC141spas s edt omus eum col l ect i ons ,butt hebul kof t he f l eetwasr api dl y' pr oces s ed'and s cr apped.I n or dert o br eakup s uch a l ar ge ai r cr af t ,cont r act or s us ed t he s ame cr ane mount ed ' gui l l ot i ne'mos tf amous l yus ed t odi s memberB52si naccor dancewi t h t heS T ARTt r eat y.

T oday,onl yas mal l numberofC141sar el ef ti nonepi ece.Happi l ymos t oft hes ear ewel l car edf ori nmus eumsar oundt heUS ,wi t hmanyf or mer S t ar l i f t erbas eshavi ngai r cr af tondi s pl ay,f i t t i ngf oranai r cr af twhi chwas hel di n hi gh es t eem by t hos e who f l ew i t ,and al s of ort hos e who benef i t t edf r om i t ss peci al i s ts er vi cesovert heyear s .

Wi t ht hankst oMi keNovack,f or merC141pi l otandf ounderoft he excel l entwebs i t e c141heaven. i nf o.T hanksal s ot o Char l es" Pat " Gi l mor e,whos ememor i esoff l yi ngt heC141f ol l ow t hi sar t i cl e.

F l yi ngt heSt ar l

T heC141S t ar l i f t erwasver yhi ghl yr egar dedbyt hos ewhof P." Pat "Gi l mor ef l ew t heai r cr af tf ornear l yt went yyear s , dut yUS AFandAi rF or ceRes er ve,event ual l yamas s i ngal m t ype.Her ehes har ess omememor i esf r om hi scar eer .

U. S.Ai rF or ceph

r l i f t er

f l ew i t .Maj Char l es s ,i nbot ht heact i ve l mos t6, 000hour son

hot obySt af fSgt .J er r yMor r i s on

Iwents t r ai ghtf r om f l yi ngT 38sat UPTt ot hemi ght yC141i n1972.

I n gr ound s chool I f ound i t s s ys t ems over l y compl i cat ed ( I l at erl ear ned i nt he ai r l i nest hat EVERY L ockheed ai r cr af t had over l ycompl i cat eds ys t ems )but I" l ear ned good" and pas s ed gr ound s choolwi t hf l yi ng col or s ( puni nt ended)and f i ni s hed t he s i mul at or phas e wi t h no pr obl ems ( Iact ual l yS PUN t he s i mul at ori nf i nal appr oachwhen Iwass i t t i ng i nt hepi l ot ' ss eatf or mypar t ner ' scopi l otcheckr i de becaus e Iwasl ocked ont o hi m wor ki ng an emer gency pr ocedur e and l et t he ai r s peed bl eed down s of art hatwe s t al l ed out . . .

I us ed myT 37t r ai ni ng t o det er mi ne whi ch waywe wer e s pi nni ng, ki cked i n oppos i t e r udder and s l ammedt henos eovert ogai nai r s peedandf l yout oft he di ve wi t h hundr edsoff eett os par e on t he r adaral t i met er .T hes i m checkpi l ots ai dIhadt obe t hef i r s tand l as tpi l ott oeverr ecoverf r om a s pi ni n C141t r ai ni ng! Al s o,s i nce Iwas n' tbei ng checked outi nt hel ef ts eatIpas s edt hecheckr i de! ) Myf i r s ti mpr es s i on dur i ng t he f l yi ng phas e atAl t us wast hati twasHUGEand i tf l ew l i ke a beached whal e.I nt heT 38youmadea60ยบbankt ur nandyou wer eonheadi ngwi t hi na f ew s econds .I nt he141 youhadt ol eadyour30ยบmaxbankt ur n,wai taday ort wo,and youevent ual l yr ol l ed outonyournew headi ng.Al s o,t heT 38l andi ngdi dn' tr equi r eaf l ar e.

T heC141l andi ngdi d.I t ' sawonderanyoft hemai n geart i r esonAl t us ' sC141ss ur vi vedmyt r ai ni ngt i me t her e.Ihadapr obl em f l ar i ngt heC141f orqui t ea whi l eaf t erIgoti nt ot heai r cr af t .

T he ai r cr af twas ver yf or gi vi ng f ora 325, 000 l b. behemot h. I twasver ys t abl e and i fyou kepti t t r i mmed up r i ght you coul d act ual l yf l ya f i nal appr oach t ol andi ng us i ng el evat ort r i m onl y( we had a f l i ght ex ami ner i n t he 14t h MAS who demons t r at ed t hi son ever yl ocalt r ai ni ng f l i ght . . .

I us edhi st echni quewheneverIf l ew PARsandgott o t he poi nt wher e Icoul d f l y a near l y hands of f appr oachever yt i me) .

T h p I f

T hecockpi twasdes i gnedf orcr ew i nt er act i onandgoodt eamwor k. . . al lt henavi gat orandengi neer hadt odowast ur ni nt hei rs eat sandt heycoul ds eeever yt hi ngt hepi l ot swer edoi ng.Anyhel pt he pi l ot scoul dgetf r om t hes eval uabl ecr ew member swasappr eci at edwhenwewer ei nt i ghts i t uat i ons .

I fyouknew whatt heai r cr af tcoul dandcoul dn' tdoyoucoul ddoj us taboutanyt hi ngwi t hi t .

Oper at i onNew L i f e Oper at i onNew L i f ewast heevacuat i onofar ound100, 000r ef ugeesf r om S out hVi et nam att he endoft heVi et nam War .Mos twer egi venas yl um i nt heUS .

T hi sphot owast akenatCl ar kAB,PIj us tbef or ewehoppedaboar dt hi sMcGui r ebas ed141t o f l yours econdmi s s i ont oT anS onNhutAB,S ai gon,S .Vi et nam on27Apr i l 1975dur i ngOper at i on New L i f e.Yes ,wewer eal li s s uedbel t sandhol s t er swi t hr evol ver sf ort hemi s s i on,butwedi dn' t weart hem i nS ai gon.I nt hepi ct ur ewewor et hem and cl owned f ort hecamer a aswewer e ' goi ngt owar ' .

I wasonmys econd" buddyr i de"asanew ai r cr af tcommanderatt het i meandmycopi l ot ,t he f el l ow cl owni ngwi t hhi sf l i ghtcapas kew and hol di ngt heM16r i f l e( whi chhebor r owed f r om oneofouraccompanyi ngS ecur i t yPol i ceguar dsf ort hephot o) ,wasact ual l yanot herai r cr af t commander ,Capt .J ohnMcAl eer ,whof l ew asmycopi l otont het r i p.

I gues sal l wentwel l ,becaus ewes ur vi vedt womi s s i onsi nt oS ai gonandevacuat ed588peopl e ( of f i ci al l y. . . unof f i ci al l y,i twaspr obabl ywel l over600)outofS out hVi et nam t oGuam.

As mar tC141A f r om t he63r dMAW atN MAW att het i met hi sphot owast aken.T h i nDecember1997.S cr appedatDavi s Mo One par t i cul ari ns t ance waswhen we wer e appr oachi ng Cl ar k AB, Phi l i ppi nes f r om t he s out h,comi ngf r om abas ei nT hai l and,andwe l os t cont act wi t h Mani l a Cont r ol . As we appr oached 200mi l esoutf r om Cl ar kAB and wes t i l lcoul dn' tcont actMani l af orourenr out e des cent , wecont act edCl ar kAppr oachCont r ol and t ol d t hem we needed t o des cend i mmedi at el youtofoural t i t udeof37, 000f eeti f we wer e goi ng t o be abl et ol and atCl ar k.

Us i ng Cl ar kAppr oach asan i nt er medi ar y,we f i nal l yr ecei vedourdes centcl ear ancel es st han 100 mi l es s out h ofCl ar k( at37, 000 f eetwe neededt obegi nourdes centatl eas t125mi l es outf ora nor mals t r ai ght i n appr oach)and I i mmedi at el y chopped t he powert o al lf our engi nes( ex ceptt o keep number s2and 3at 1, 500 pph f uelf l ow f orai r cr af tpr es s ur i z at i on) and popped t he s peed br akes f ul lout t o i ncr eas e ourdes centr at e( we wer es howi ng mor et han6, 000f pm i nourdes cent ) ,andwhen wer eached 20, 000f eet ,t hemax i mum al t i t ude f orf l apdepl oyment ,Is l owedt o200knot s( max f l ap and l andi ng gearex t ens i on s peed)and s el ect ed f l apsappr oachand geardown,t hen s l owed t o 185knot s( maxf l apsl andi ng s peed) and l ower ed t he f l aps al lt he way. We des cended at 185 knot si n a f ul ll andi ng conf i gur at i on f r om 20, 000 f eett oas t r ai ght i n l andi ngonRunway04atCl ar kandIs t i l lhadt o add power t o t he engi nes j us t bef or e we cr os s ed t her unwayt hr es hol d!T HAT ' swhatyou coul d do wi t ht he C141i fyouknew herl i mi t s , bl es sherhear t !

T he C141wasa s t r ong and agi l e ai r pl ane. I t wasbui l tl i ke a t ankand coul dt ake a l otof puni s hment . L ook out t he s i de wi ndows i n t ur bul ence and you woul d s ee t he wi ngs f l appi ng l i ke a bi r d' s . . . t hos e wi ngs wer e des i gnedt of l exandovert he' L i f t er ' s40year sof s er vi ce t heyf l ex ed a l otand onl yf ai l ed once ( t heMcGui r eRes er veai r cr af tl os ti nt heex t r eme t hunder s t or m overEngl and) .T he ai r cr af twas al s oover power ed f ors uchahugeai r cr af twi t h a bet t ert han1: 4powert owei ghtr at i o( 80, 000 l b.combi ned t hr us tf r om i t sf ourengi nes t o poweri t s325, 000l b.maxt akeof fwei ght ) ,whi ch wasunhear d off ora t r ans por tai r cr af tatt he t i mei twasdes i gned.

Wi t hl i ghtl oads and r el at i vel yl i ghtt ake o wei ght syou coul d act ual l yt empor ar i l yz oo cl i mb i tat10, 000 f pm t hr ough 10, 000 f eet , maneuverI accompl i s hedanumberoft i meso S peci alWeaponsmi s s i onswhenweneeded cl i mb hi gh ver yqui ckl yt o avoi d mount ai no t er r ai nors ur r oundi ngconf l i ct i ngt r af f i c.

Onceyoul ear nedt heai r cr af t ' sf l yi ngenvel op you coul d do t hi ngswi t hi tt hatyou wer e s uppos edt odoi nas wept wi ngai r cr af t . . . l i kes i ti fyou wer et oo hi gh ort oo f as ton f i n appr oach. F orabouta yeari nt he l at e 1970 El mendor fAF B,AK' smai nRunway05wasbei n r es ur f acedandwehadt of l yi t sl engt hat1, 0

Nor t onAF Bondi s pl ayatRAFMi l denhal li nMay1977.PatGi l mor ewasas s i gnedt ot he14t hMAS ,63r d hi sai r cr af tl at erf l ew wi t ht he62ndAW atMcChor dAF Bbef or ebei ngr et i r edf r om s er vi cer el at i vel year l y, Mont hanAF Bi nAug2003 ( L i nds ayPeacock)

of f om t ,a son dt o ous

l ope r en' t s l i p f i nal 70s , ei ng , 000

f eet ,t hen t ur n downwi nd cr os s i ng Runway33 and make a vi s ual appr oach t o Runway 33. . . pr obl em was ,we wer e al s os uppos ed t o avoi dover f l yi ngt heF tRi char ds onBas eHos pi t al , s ot hatmadeourdownwi ndsf orRunway33ver y t i ght .Mor et hanonceIhadt ochoppoweron al lf ourengi nest ol os ehei ghtand ki ckbot t om r udderus i ng oppos i t e ai l er on i nt he 30ยบbank t ur nt o keep me al i gned wi t ht he ex t ended cent er l i ne ofRunway33,and mor et hanonce my copi l ot s comment ed t hat i t was t heor et i cal l yi mpos s i bl et os l i pas wept wi ng ai r cr af tandnots t al loutoft hes ky,butt he141 s l i ppedl i ket het r ooperi twas .

Af uelcr os s f eed i s s ue get sdeal twi t h by t he f l i ghtengi neer s atEnewet ak ( vi aPatGi l mor e)

T ypi cal ofaC141B s er vi ce car eer ,f i n ( J ohnHi ggi ns )

I t sweaknes s eswer ef ew,andi t ' shar dt ot hi nkofone,buti fIHAVEt ot hi nk ofone i twoul d be t hatt he s t r et ched Bmodel ,wi t h an ex t r a 10f eetof f us el agebehi ndt hewi ngs ,hadat endencyt os cr apet het ai li fyouf l ar ed t oohi ghovert her unwayandal l owedt henos et ogett oohi gh.Wecoul d getawaywi t hahi ghf l ar eont hes hor t erAmodel butwel ear nedt of l yt he Bmodel ont ot her unwaywi t hami ni mum off l ar e.

Al l myf l yi ngex per i encesi nmynear l y6, 000hour sont heC141wer egood, ex ceptf ort he t wo t i mes( ondi f f er entf l i ght s )t hatIhad t os hutdownan engi nef orei t herl ow oi l pr es s ur eoraf uel f i l t erbypas swar ni ngl i ght ,andt he one t i me Ihad t os hutdown mai n hydr aul i csdue a br oken Bnutwhi ch caus edmi s t i ngi nt hecar gocompar t ment .T heS t ar l i f t erwasaver yr el i abl e ai r pl anewi t hf ew mai nt enancepr obl emsf ors uchal ar gemachi ne.

T heC141f l eett r avel l edwor l dwi deandoper at edi nal l weat hercondi t i ons , i ncl udi ng s uppor t i ng Ant ar ct i cr es ear chwi t hmi s s i onst o McMur do S ound.

T hi si mage,however ,or i gi nat esf r om s l i ght l ycl os ert ohome;a s nowyRAF Mi l denhal l( PaulF i l mer )

T op l ef t-T hi sC14 on t he s t r engt ho whenphot ogr aph J une 1979.I n 1987 i nvol ved i na s er i o l andi ng atI waku r es ul t edi ns ever ed wi ng. I t l at er r epl acement wi n C141whi ch was i nci dent at T r avi s bei ng upgr ade s t andar di twento t he end ofS t ar l i f l at t er l ys er ved wi t T ennes s ee ANG, Mar ch 2004 an December2009 ( L

1Bi nt hel at e1980s / ear l y1990s ,650261depar t sRAFMi l denhal l i nMay1992.T hi sai r cr af thadaf ai r l yl ong f i ni s hi ng wi t ht he 445t h AW atWr i ghtPat t er s on AF B.Ret i r ed May 2005,s cr apped December2009

141A ( 670029)was oft he 63r d MAW hedatMi l denhal l i n 87,t hi sai r cr af twas r i ousmi s hap whi l s t uni ,J apan,whi ch damaget oi t sr i ght er r ecei ved a i ng f r om anot her si nvol ved i na t ax i vi s AF B, and af t er ed t o C141C ont of l yal mos tt o r l i f t eroper at i ons .I t i t ht he 164t h AW, , bei ng r et i r ed i n nd s cr apped i n ( L i nds ayPeacock)

S eent ur ni ngont her unwayatRAFCot t es mor edur i ngRI AT2001,660175was s er vi ng wi t ht he 62nd AW.ByJ anuar yt he f ol l owi ng year ,t he ai r cr af thad beenr et i r edt oAMARC,andi twass cr appedi nOct ober2005 ( J ohnHi ggi ns )

T hecr ew ex per i encewasal s ogood,ex ceptf or MAC' s pol i cy ofal l owi ng mul t i pl e nonot i ce checkr i deswhi l e you wer e outf l yi ng i nt he s ys t em.I tgots obadt hat ,ononet endayt r i p ar ound t he Paci f i c,Iencount er ed f ourf l i ght ex ami nerpi l ot sand r ecei ved f ournonot i ce checkr i desi nf ourdays ! On a ni nehourl eg youcoul dex pectni nehour sofobs er vat i onpl us ni ne hour sofor alex ams ! Iwoul dt el lt he s econdandt hi r df l i ghtex ami ner st hatI hadj us t r ecei ved a checkr i de on mypr evi ousl eg but t hatdi dn' tmat t er . . . t heyhadt hei ror der s ,whi ch al l owed t hem t or i de anyai r cr af ti nt he MAC s ys t em,andt heywer eboundanddet er mi ned t o gi ve a checkr i de t o ever ycr ew t heyf l ew wi t h.

T hi spol i cywasl at erchanged,s oi fyou wer e j umpedas econdort hi r dt i mei nt hes ys t em al l you had t o do was s how t he new f l i ght ex ami nert hecopyofyourf l i ghtor der ss i gned by t he pr evi ousf l i ghtex ami ner ,buts ome of t hem gave you a checkr i de,anyway! Wi t h enough ex per i ence i nt he ai r cr af t ,t hough,i t gott ot he poi ntwher e you coul d act ual l y s t ump t hef l i ghtex ami nerwi t hs omeques t i ons ofyourown,and i fyou embar r as s ed hi m enough he' dt ake a br eak and l eave you al one.

L at er ,dur i ngmyyear sasavol unt eeratt heHi l l Aer os paceMus eum atHi l l AF B,UTI wor kedwi t h t he l oadmas t erwho wr ot et he L oadmas t er Manualf ort he C141i n 1965. He devel oped t hel oadl i mi t at i onsanddr ew upt hecent erof gr avi t y char t sf or t he ai r cr af t , and al s o par t i ci pat ed and wr ot et he bookon t he f i r s t ai r dr op and par achut edr op mi s s i ons .Hes ai d t he new 463L pal l et s ys t em on t he C141 r evol ut i oni z edt hel oadmas t er ' sj obandmadei t s oeas yt hatevenHEcoul d doi t !Iar r i ved on t he C141 i n 1972 and we wer es t i l lhavi ng pr es s ur e doori s s ues ;ever y now and t hen a pr es s ur e doorwoul d buckl e and we' dl os e pr es s ur i z at i on,whi chr es ul t edi nar api ddes cent t o 10, 000f eet . Event ual l y,onl ya compl et el y r edes i gned,r i bbed pr es s ur e doors ol ved t he pr obl em,butwe al lwonder ed why i tt ook MAC,L ockheed and t he Ai rF or ce s ol ong t o f i gur ei tout !

Above-T hes uns t r uggl est obr eakt hr ought hecl o 437t hMAW r es t sbet weenmi s s i onsi nNovember1 C141Bwi t ht he305t hAMW,andwasanot herea 1997,br okenupF ebr uar y2005.

Bel ow -Al s ophot ogr aphedatRAFMi l denhal l ,an conver t ed t oa C141Bwhent hi sphot owast ake 62nd AW,bei ng r et i r ed i nApr i l2002and s cr appe i magesPaulF i l mer )

cl oudsoverRAFMi l denhal l ,wi t haC141A f r om t he r1979.T hi sai r cr af t( 640613)f i ni s hedi t scar eerasa ar l ywi t hdr awal .F i nalf l i ght( t oAMARC)November

nds er vi ngwi t ht he437t hMAW,650267hadbeen keni n1981.T heai r cr af tf i ni s hed i t scar eerwi t ht he ped atDavi s Mont hanAF Bi nOct ober2005 ( Bot h

If l ew t he C141 f or191/ 2 year sand f l ew i n manyunus uals i t uat i onsand depl oyment st oo numer oust oment i on.T heonest hats t andout i nmymi nd,t hough,ar e al lmyf l i ght si nt oT an S onNhut ,Cam RanhBayandDaNang,S out h Vi et nam dur i ng WW Vi et nam and f l yi ng pur pos el ys t eep f i nal si nt ot hes e ai r por t st o avoi d l ong, ex t ended, l owl evel f i nal appr oachest hats etusup ast ar get sf ort he t r i gger happy VC under neat h our f i nal appr oach pat hs ,aswel lasOper at i on Ni ckel Gr as s( I s r ael iAi r l i f ti nOct ober1973) ,Oper at i on New L i f e( evacuat i onofci vi l i ansoutofT anS on Nhuti n Apr i l1975) ,Oper at i onsDes er tS hi el d andDes er tS t or m( t heF i r s tGul fWari n199091) andever yt hi ngi nbet ween.

I f l ew aMedevacmi s s i oni nt oPer t h,Aus t r al i at o evacuat ea s ai l orwho had beencutup i na barf i ghtback t ot he hos pi t alatCl ar k AB, Phi l i ppi nes( hedi edenr out ebackt oCl ar kbut t he at t endi ng doc r evi ved hi m. . . he s ai d i t woul d have been t oo much paper wor k, ot her wi s e! ) ;If l ew a Medevac mi s s i on f r om T ai wan t o Hi ckam AF B, HI car r yi ng t he commander of t he Nat i onal i s t Chi nes e Ai r F or ce,who had r ecei ved a br okenbacki na hel i copt eracci dent ,i na S t r ykerF r ame and whocoul dt akeNO r oughai rorr oughl andi ngs ( heneverknew wehad event ouched down, myl andi ng wass os moot h! ) ;Icar r i ed nucl ear weapon war heads on S peci al Weapons mi s s i onst oS AC bas esal lovert heCont i nent al Uni t ed S t at esand ner ve gascont ai ner sf r om Dugway Pr ovi ng Gr ounds , UT t o J ohns t on I s l and.

Above -S t andi ng i nf r ontoft he " pas s enger t er mi nal "atEnewet aki nt heMar s hal lI s l andsi n 1978 ( vi aPatGi l mor e)

Dur i nghi st i measar es er vi s t ,PatGi l mor ef l ew wi t ht he730t hMAS ,445t hMAW.T he ownai r cr af t ,butbor r owedt hos eoft he63r d.WhenNor t onAF Bcl os ed,t heas s et s wasl at err ef or medatWr i ghtPat t er s onaspar tofAF RC,equi ppedwi t hi t sownC1 J ul y2004 ( J ohnHi ggi ns )

If l ew NAS As uppor tmi s s i onsand Oper at i on Deep F r eez e mi s s i onsi nt o Aus t r al i a and New Z eal and,r es pect i vel y( nevermade i tdown t o " T he I ce"i n Ant ar ct i ca,t hough)and on one NAS A mi s s i on t o Aus t r al i at he cont ai nerwe pi cked up atAl i ceS pr i ngswass os ens i t i veand s ot op s ecr ett hatwe had t of l yi ti mmedi at el y f r om Al i ce di r ect l yt o Hi ckam AF B,wher e we wer emetbyar medguar dst hats ur r oundedt he ai r cr af t af t er we par ked and r emai ned guar di ng t he ai r cr af tunt i laf t eri twasr ef uel ed ( ourf l i ghtpl anwasbr oughtoutt ousf r om Bas e Oper at i onsbyt heS uper vi s orofF l yi ng,Is i gnedi t

andhandedi tbackt ohi ms ohecoul df i l ei tf or us )andwecont i nuedonourwayaf t erl es st han one houront he gr ound t oT r avi sAF B,CA ( we wer eanaugment ed cr ew wi t ha 24hourcr ew dut ydayandwer emetbyar epl acementcr ew at T r avi s who f l ew i t" eas t "t o i t s ul t i mat e des t i nat i on) .

I l andedata" s ecr et "ai rbas ei nt hedar kofni ght wi t h no l i ght s" s omewher ei nt he Mi ddl e Eas t " dur i ng Oper at i on Des er tS hi el dt hatIand my cr ew s t i l lcan' tt al kabout ;If l ew a UN Peace Commi s s i on del egat i on i nt o Cai r o Wes t ,Egypt

he445t hwasanas s oci at euni tbas edal ongs i det he63r dMAW atNor t onAF B;t he445t hdi dnothavei t s t soft he445t hwer emer gedwi t ht he452ndARW atMar chAF Bt of or mt he452ndAMW;t he445t hAW 141s .T he445t hwoul dl at erbet hef i nal oper at oroft heS t ar l i f t er .C141C 640620depar t sRAFF ai r f or di n

att he end oft he Yom Ki ppurWari n Oct ober 1973;If l ew di s as t err el i efmi s s i onst oManagua, Ni car aguai nDecember1972,t oMaj ur oI s l and, t o Enewet akI s l and,t o Car acas ,Venez uel a,t o Col umbi aandevent oMi ami .

Once, I even f l ew Pr es i dent Reagan' s communi cat i ons equi pment f r om S t .L oui s L amber tF i el d t o Andr ews AF B, MD on a Pr es i dent i alS uppor tMi s s i oni n1985t hatended up wi t hmynamef l as hi ng ont heboar d att he Pent agon becaus e ofa di s agr eementI ' d had wi t h one of hi s nonf l yi ng, avi at i oni l l i t er at e

l acki eswhot r i edt omakemyl oadmas t ercar r y s omet hi ng t hatwasi l l egalt o car r yi n a MAC ai r cr af tand who had or der ed me,i l l egal l y,t o or dermyl oadmas t ert oacceptt hei l l egali t em, whi chI r ef us edt odo. . . onl yt hef actt hataf r i end ofmi neatt hePent agon,whom I hadpr evi ous l y knownandf l ownwi t hatNor t on,i nt er venedf or me and s aved me f r om f ur t heri nvol vementi n t he mat t er , whi ch s hal l r emai n f or ever unment i oned.Mys quadr oncommandernever evenhear dabouti t !

WhenNor t onAF Bcl os ed i nt he ear l y1990s ,t he 445t hMAW ( AF RES )t r ans f er r ed t o mer gedwi t ht he452ndARW t of or mt he452ndAMW.T heuni toper at edt heC141 C17swer edel i ver ed.T hi sai r cr af t( 659414)wasoneoft hel as tt os er vewi t ht he452 i nApr i l 2005,andi ti ss eem her eatRAFF ai r f or di nJ ul y1998 ( J ohnHi ggi ns )

T hr us tr ever s esand s poi l er ss t i l ldepl oyed as638084r ol l soutonRAFMar ham' sr unwayi nOct ober1 s t r engt hoft he63r dMAW.T hi sj etf i ni s hedi t scar eerwi t ht he452ndAMW,bei ngr et i r edi nMar ch2004 November2009 ( L i nds ayPeacock)

t o Mar chAF Band 41unt i l2005,when 52nd,bei ngr et i r ed

1979,whi l e ont he 4andbr okenupi n

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Wi t hf avour abl e cl i mat i c condi t i ons ,Nat alof f er sex cel l entacces st o ex t ens i ve ar easoft he At l ant i c Ocean,combi ned wi t h ar easofl ow popul at i onandr angesi nt heRi oGr andedoNor t e,Par ai ba,Cear aand Per nambuco s t at esofBr az i lmaki ng i ta f avour ed l ocat i on f ors uch a l ar ges cal eex er ci s e.

S har i ngci vi l i anai r s pacewi t hNat al Ai r por tdoes ,however ,pr es entqui t ea chal l engef oroper at i ons .Ai rt r af f i cmanagementi shandl edbyt heT hi r d I nt egr at ed Cent r ef orAi rDef ence and Ai rT r af f i c Cont r olbas ed ont he coas tatReci f es ome450ki l omet r ess out hofNat al .

T heUni t edS t at esAi rF or ce’ sf as tj etcont r i but i ont oCRUZ EX

T he ear l i erCRUZ EX 2012 wasa pur el y gr oundbas ed ex er ci s e and f eat ur ed 13 count r i es par t i ci pat i ng i n compl ex command and cont r ol s i mul at i onss i mi l ari ns t r uct ur et o NAT O.F or2013t hes es i mul at i ons wer e puti nt o pr act i ce wi t ht he i nvol vementoff l yi ngas s et s .

I nt er es t i ngl yno ‘ Red’( aggr es s or ) or‘ Bl ue’( f r i endl y)t hr eat swer e def i ned wi t ht he ex er ci s e bei ng f ocus s ed ent i r el y on uni l at er al cooper at i on bet ween di f f er ent count r i es r at her t han pi t t i ng f or cesagai ns toneanot her .

T he pr i mar y obj ect i ves f or t he ex er ci s ei ncl uded of f ens i ve and def ens i ve mi s s i ons , i nt er f aci ng wi t h ai r bor ne det ect i on as s et s .

T hes e mi s s i ons al l owed f or a val uabl et act i calaer i almi s s i on ex per i ence and oper at i onal knowl edge ex change t o t ake pl acebet weencombatuni t s .

I nt er oper abi l i t yoft he combi ned f or ces of f er ed ' r eal t i me' ex per i ence f or ai r t r af f i c cont r ol l er s i n a combat envi r onment t oget her wi t h mul t i f or cecooper at i onf orCS AR oper at i onswi t hi nt hes amet hr eat s i t uat i on.

Onenew f eat ur ef orCRUZ EX2013 was t he i ncl us i on of ' s hot val i dat i on' .

Aer i al combat mi s s i ons wi t hi n s ect or swer e or ches t r at ed by a t eam off i ght erpi l ot soper at i ng f r om t he Cent r e ofAi rDef ence and Ai rT r af f i c Cont r olbas ed at Reci f e Ai r Bas e wher e t hey moni t or ed ai r cr af t movement s wi t hi nar adarnet wor k.

X2013camei nt hes hapeofF 16sf r om t he121s tF S ,113t hWg,Di s t r i ctofCol umbi aANG ( St eveComber )

Af t ereachmi s s i on,al lpi l ot swho f l ew met t odebr i efandeval uat et hes ucces soft he s or t i ewi t ht heus eofdat af r om t hegr ound, onboar d ai r cr af t s ys t ems and GPS .

T act i cal anal ys i soft hecombatmi s s i onson a mi nut ebymi nut ebas i sal l owed pi l ot st o under s t and s i mul at ed mi s s i l e l aunch s ucces sr at es .

I ncont r as tt oear l i eredi t i onsofCRUZ EX,t hi s year ’ smi s s i onsmi x ed f i x ed wi ng,pr opel l er and r ot ar y as s et s .T hey wer e not onl y pi t ched agai ns t one anot her but al s o of f er ed pr ot ect i on agai ns t mi x ed as s et s oper at i ng at di f f er ent al t i t udes and ai r s peeds .T hes ecompl exoper at i onsof f er ed each s quadr on an oppor t uni t y t o under s t and how di f f er entuni t s oper at e, i ncl udi ng when wor ki ng wi t h hel i copt er s and t r ans por t ai r cr af t per f or mi ng par at r oopdr ops .

C130 Her cul esf r om Canada and Br az i l per f or med l i ve dr ops wi t hf i ght eres cor t bei ng pr ovi ded by mi x ed f or ces and i ncl udeds i mul at edant i ai r cr af tf l akt hr eat s , wi t hbot hchaf fand f l ar e ut i l i s ed t o avoi d s uch t hr eat s . T he moder ni s ed C130s , f eat ur i ngRWR( RadarWar ni ngRecei ver s )& MAWS( Mi s s i l eAppr oachWar ni ngS ys t em) , per f or med s har p manoeuvr es t o evade s i mul at ed gr ound and ai r l aunched mi s s i l e t hr eat s .

Keyt oCRUZ EX2013,t woBr az i l i anAi rF or ce E99s( amodi f i edEmbr aerEMB145) ,oft he 2ndGuar di anS quadr onoft he6t hAvi at i on Gr oup - and oper at i ng f r om Reci f e pr ovi ded s ur vei l l ance, command and cont r olcommuni cat i onsvi a dat al i nkwi t h t he Cent er f or Mi l i t ar y Oper at i ons i n par t i cul ardet ect i ngai rt r af f i ct hr eat satl ow al t i t ude.

Mas sl aunchest ookpl ace ever ymor ni ng f r om Nat al ,t oget herwi t ht ankeras s et s , whi ch wer e bas ed at Reci f e f or j oi nt mul t i l at er al oper at i ons .Af t er noonmi s s i ons

Above-Oneoft woCanadi anAi rF or ceCC130J s Nat al r unway.

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f ocus ed ex cl us i vel yonai r t oai ri nt er cept i on mi s s i ons .

Reci f e Ai rBas e( BARF )came i nt o bei ng i n J ul y1941i nr es pons et ot het hr eatofi nvas i on f r om nor t her nAf r i ca. Aswi t hBANT( Nat al ) , BARF s har esf aci l i t i eswi t h a ver y moder n i nt er nat i onal ai r por t , whi ch has been updat edaheadoft heWor l dCupi n2014!

J st aki ngpar ti nt heex er ci s er ot at esawayf r om t he known by t he F AB ast he E99. Bot hi mages

An i nt er es t i ng mi xofai r cr af thasoper at ed wi t ht he 6t h Avi at i on Regi mentdown t he year si ncl udi ngV65BCor s ai r s ,NA72s ,B18s , A28A Huds ons and Cur t i s s P36As . PC1 Vent ur asj oi ned BARF i n 1944 wi t ht he 1s t Medi um BomberGr oup oper at i ng convoy es cor t and ant i s ubmar i ne pat r ol dut i es .

F ol l owi ngs omeF ABr es t r uct ur i ng,Reci f es aw t he ar r i valofB17Gsby1951.By1953t hes e ai r cr af t had been t r ans f er r ed f r om t he F our Engi ne T r ai ni ng Cent r et ot he 1s t / 6t h Avi at i on Gr oup,l at t er l y per f or mi ng s ear ch and r es cue mi s s i ons ;a f i ne,beaut i f uland r ar eex ampl ecanbef oundout s i det hemai n ent r ancet oReci f eAi rBas e.

T oday BARF hos t st he 2nd Ai r l i f tS quadr on wi t h C95Bandei r ant e,C97Br as i l i a & C98 Ces s naGr andCar avant ypesaswel l asR95 Bandei r ant e and t he r ar e and el us i ve R35 L ear j et s ,whi chper f or m cl andes t i nedut i es .

Aswi t h pr evi ousCRUZ EX ex er ci s es ,Reci f e hos t edt heai r r ef uel l i ngas s et sf or2013wi t ha Chi l ean KC135, US KC135, Col ombi an KC767andt woF ABKC130spr es ent .

F AB KC130 pi l ot L t J oyce de S ouz a Concei caobecamet hef i r s tf emal epi l ott o par t i ci pat e i n CRUZ EX, havi ng al r eady become t he f i r s twomant of l yt he C130i n t heBr az i l i anAi rF or cei n2012.

Col ombi an Ai r F or ce A37 Dr agonf l i es per f or med t he f i r s ti nf l i ght r ef uel l i ng of CRUZ EX2013wi t ht woF ABKC130soft he1s t S quadr on,1s tT r ans por tGr oup.

Wi t ht heBr az i l i anAi rF or ce' si nt ent i ont or epl acei t sKC130swi t hKC767si n t he nearf ut ur e,t he ex er ci s e pr es ent ed t he per f ectoppor t uni t yf orF AB pi l ot st o gai ns ome ex per i ence ofKC767oper at i ons . Cr ew member s f r om t he2ndS quadr onoft he2ndT r ans por tGr oupf l ew i nt heCol ombi an t ankeronever ymi s s i oni nwhi chi tpar t i ci pat ed.

S eques t r at i ondi d nots t op t he USs endi ng ani mmacul at e –bot hi ns i de and out-KC135f r om t he Ar i z ona ANG t o par t i ci pat ei nt he ex er ci s e.

Bot hChi l eanand US AFF 16st ookonf ueleachdayf r om r ot at i ng US AF cr ew member s ,oper at i ng out s i de t he us ualt heat r esofoper at i onsand ex changi ngknowl edgewi t hmember sf r om ot herpar t i ci pat i ngai rf or ces whower eonboar d.

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and t he new. On l ombi an Ai rF or ce’ s st ot ax iout ,whi l e i rF or ce’ s KC135E eReci f er amp.

t hebeaut i f ul ex F AB t r es s ,pr es er ved on i na s t r i ki ng S AR . I t car r i es t he 1º / 6 GAv, whi ch ef r om 1953.

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t heUS A,Chi l e,Br az i l f l ys i debys i de at ofKC130spr epar e i s s i on.

r eadSt eveComber

CRUZEX2013Par t i ci pant s F or çaAér eaBr as i l ei r a F 5EM/ F 5F M

A t ot al of 14 F or ça Aér ea Br as i l ei r a F 5EMs / F 5F Mst ookpar ti nCRUZ EX2013andi ti s bel i eved t hey wer ef r om 1° GAvCa bas ed at S ant aCr uz Bar t ol omeudeGus mão( S BS C) .

Above -T he s l enderl i nesoft he F 5 ar e ver y evi dentast hi sF 5EM get sai r bor ne.

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Above -S un s hel t er spr ovi de a l i t t l er es pi t ef or s omeoft heCRUZ EX2013gr oundcr ews .

Above-T hes heernumberofai r cr af tpr es entf or t he ex er ci s e meantt hatnotal lpar t i ci pant s coul dbegi vent hei rowns uns hel t er s .

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Above-T hes uns et sonanot herdayofCRUZ EX 2013aci vi t i es .T heci vi l i ant owercanbes eeni n t hi ss hot .

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F or çaAér eaBr as i l ei r a AMXI nt er nat i onal A1

T he F AB had s even A1A/ A1Bs ,t wo A1Msand t hr ee AMXR( RA1s ) pr es entatCRUZ EX2013.T heMmodel sar er ecent l yupgr adedai r f r ames t hatar eex pect edt os ees er vi ceunt i l 2032.

I ti sbel i eved t hatt he ai r cr af twer ef r om 10° GAvbas ed atS ant a Mar i a ( S BS M) .

T he AMX wasdev vent ur e bet ween and Aer macch Embr aer .

A r ange of f i t s ver s at i l e pl at f or m gr oundat t ack, r econnai s s ance el ect r oni ccount er

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et ween 1986 and 00 wer e bui l t ,wi t h 115 r emai ni ng i n 0wi t ht heF ABand nAi rF or ce.

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F or çaAér eaBr as i l ei r a Das s aul tMi r ageF 2000B/ C

Bas edatAnápol i s( S BAN)wi t h1ºGr upodeDef es aAér ea( 1° GDA) ‘ J aguar s ’ ,CRUZ EX2013r epr es ent ed t he l as tex er ci s ef ort he t ype wi t ht heBr az i l i anAi rF or ce.

T he f i r s tof12ex F r enchAi rF or ce ai r cr af t( t ens i ngl es eat‘ C’and t wo t wi ns t i ck‘ B’model s )wer e del i ver ed i nS ept ember2006,but t he mai nt enance cont r actt os uppor tt he t ype wi l lend on 26 Decemberoft hi syear .

Oneofj us tt woF 2000Bst os er vewi t ht heF ABr ecover st oNat al ABi namaz i ngl at eaf t er noonl i ght .

T he F 2000 hass er ved F AB pr i dur i ngi t sr at hers hor tcar eerwi t

r i mar i l yi nt he ai r def ence r ol e i t ht hes er vi ce.

AnF 2000C t akesat ax i wayex i tasanF 2000Br ol l soutont he r unway.F ourofF AB’ s12F 2000swer epr es entatCRUZ EX2013.

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T heBl ackhawkhasal wayss t r uckmeasbei ngagoodl ooki nghel i copt erbuteve s uper bcamouf l ages cheme.

T he F AB hasa doz en AH2S abr e hel i copt er sati t sdi s pos aland us est hem f orai rpol i ci ng,bor d count er nar cot i csoper at i ons .

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F or çaAér eaBr as i l ei r a Mi l AH2S abr e( Mi 35M)

T hr eeex ampl esofF AB’ sAH2S abr et ookpar ti nCRUZ EX2013f r om 2° / 8° GAv ‘ Pot i ’bas edatPor t oVel hoGov.J or geT ei x er adeOl i vei r a( S BPV) .

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T heH60Lonl yj oi nedt heF ABr anksi n2011andi ti snotcl earf r om whi chuni t t het hr eeai r cr af tpr es enther ehai l ed.

F arl es si nt er es t i ngcol our sont hi sF ABH60L .

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Awi dear r ayofF ABt r ans por tai r cr af twer es een dur i ng CRUZ EX 2013,a s el ect i on ofi magesof whi chcanbef oundher e.

Eachbas ehasatl eas toneC98as s i gnedt oi t , and manybas esar ehomet oaddi t i onalt ypes t oo.

Above-Anot herC130H,t hi st i mebel ongi ngt o 1° / 1° GT T ,al s obas edatDosAf ons os( S BAF ) .

Above -A br i ghtor ange dus tcl oud i scas t s kywar dsbyt hi sC130H bel ongi ng t o 2° / 1° GT T f r om Dos Af ons os Campo del i o J ar di m de Mat t os( S BAF ) .

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Above -T he Ces s na C208Car avan s er vest he F ABast he C98,and t hi sex ampl ei sbas ed at Nat al ,t owher ei ti ss eenr ecover i ng.

Above -T hi sC105A car r i est he mar ki ngsof 1° / 9° GAv ‘ Ar ar a’ bas ed at Manaus Pont a Pel ada( S BMN) .

Above -T hi sC95CM Bandei r ant e hai l sf r om 1° / 5° GAv bas ed atF or t al ez aPi nt o Mar t i nsI nt l ( S BF Z ) .S eenher el andi ngatNat al .

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L ef t-A s i ngl es ea s ubs t ant i al pi eceo t her earcockpi t .

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t het wos eatA29Bs uch down on t he f t era CRUZ EX 2013

hus i as t i cwavef r om oft hi sA29B.

s entf i ve A29st o heyar et houghtt o 3° / 3° GAvbas edat ( S BCG) .

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F or çaAér eaBr as i l ei r a Embr aerA29S uperT ucano

T he F ABoper at ess ome 99A29s ,66ofwhi char e oft he t wos eatA29B var i ant .

L i ke manyoft he ai r cr af ti nS out h Amer i can mi l i t ar ys er vi ce,t he A29i s of t enempl oyedi nbor derpat r ol andcount er nar cot i cmi s s i ons .

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T he F ACh oper at esa t ot alof34 F 16AM and F 16BM ai r cr af t ,ands i xoft hes ef r om Gr upode Avi aci ón Nº 7f r om Ant of agas t a/ Cer r o Mor eno ( S CF A)wer epr es entatCRUZ EX2013.

Above-Beaut i f ul l i ghtast hi sF 16AM r ecover st o Nat al wi t hi t sbr akechut ef ul l yi nf l at ed.

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Above-Gr oundcr ew member sputt heF 16st o bedaf t ert heaf t er noonwaveofCRUZ EXmi s s i on r ecover i es .

Above-T hebl uer udderandwhi t es t arr eal l ys et of ft heF AChF 16s .

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I nt er es t i ngl y,t he A37sal lcar r i ed mi s s i on mar ksf orant i dr ugs muggl i ng oper at i ons .Eachhads hotatl eas tt hr eeai r cr af tdown.Pi l ot snotwi s hi ng t obei dent i f i eds ai dt heai r cr af tar ei nt er cept ed,cont act eds ever al t i mes byr adi o,t hencl os evi s ualcont acti smade,manoeuvr esar et henmade t opus ht henoncompl i antai r cr af tt ol and.I ft hepi l otf ai l st oact ,war ni ng r oundswi l lbe f i r ed,t he t ar geti swar ned t hati twi l lbe s hotdown,and, ul t i mat el y,i ft her ei snocompl i ance,t hati spr eci s el ywhathappens .T he L GBmar ki ngsi ndi cat emi s s i onsagai ns tgr oundbas eddr ugscar t el t ar get s .

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Whi l enonat i onali ns i gni asar ecar r i ed,t heF AES uperT ucanosl ookver ys mar tt h par tt ot hei rt hr eet onedi gi t al camouf l agecol our s chemes .

At ot alof18S uperT ucanoss er vewi t ht heF AE,s pl i tbet weenEs c.decombat e2311" Dr agones "andE 2313" Hal cones " ;t hel at t erbei ngt heuni tpr es entatCRUZ EX.

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F uer z aAér eaUr uguaya Ces s naOA37BDr agonf l y Es cuadr ónAér eoN° 2Caz a

T wooft het hr eeai r cr af tpr es entatNat alf ort heex er ci s epr epar et opul loutof t hei rpar ki ngs pot s .T heF AUr et ai ns12ex ampl esoft heA37i ns er vi cef r om 16 del i ver ed.T hef i r s tbat chofei ght ,r ecei vedi n1976,wer eA37Bvar i ant s ,whi l e ei ghtOA37Bsf ol l owedi n1988/ 89.

Ur uguaywast he onl ynat i on ot her t han Br az i lt o s end t wo di f f er ent at t ackai r cr af tt ypest oCRUZ EX2013.

T het hr eeOA37Bshai l edf r om EA2C bas edatDur az no( S UDU) .

T heOA37’ sr angei sex t endedbyt heus eofnol es st hans i xex t er nalf uelt anks .

I nt hi sf i tt her edoes n’ tappeart obea hugeamountofgr ound cl ear ancef or t hos epl acedont hei nboar dpyl ons .I tdoesmakef orqui t eamenaci ngl ook, however !

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T op r i ght - T hi s r epr es ent st hr ee f i f F AUPucar acomp s i xai r cr af twer ed f i ver emai nact i ve.

Ri ght-T he Pucar s hapei nt hef l ar ea whi t es mokeeman mai n under car r i a meett er r af i r ma.

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ar a makesa ni ce andas mal l puf fof nat esf r om t hepor t i age as t he t yr es .

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Above-T heAMBV’ s( orF AVasi twast hen)F 16s ar e Bl ock15ai r cr af tand wer e del i ver ed new bet ween1983and1985.

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T hi syears aw t hePor t ugues eAi rF or ces endr epr es ent at i vest oobs er ve oper at i onsovera t hr eedayper i od dur i ng t he s econd weekt o as s es s t hepos s i bi l i t yofat t endi ngaf ut ur eevent .

S peaki ngt henat i vel anguage,Por t ugues e,t heBr az i l i anex er ci s ewoul d pr ovi de val uabl e s i mul at ed of f ens i ve and def ens i ve oper at i onal ex per i ence f ort he F or ça Aér ea Por t ugues a( F AP) . Per hapst he nex t i t er at i on( notunt i l 2016)wi l l s eeF APas s et sai r bor newi t hS out hAmer i can ai rf or cesf ort hef i r s tt i me.

Mi l es t oness ett hi syeari ncl uded a r ecor d numberofmi l i t ar yper s onnel ( 3, 000)and ai r cr af ti n at t endance ( 92 f r om ei ghtcount r i es ) ,us i ng i n ex ces soft hr eemi l l i onl i t r esofAvgaseachday.

Addi t i onal l y,CRUZ EX2013s aw t hef i r s ti nvol vementofCanadi anf or ces and F ABAH2at t ackhel i copt er s ,whi chwer econduct i ng S peci alOps mi s s i ons ,and bor ewi t nes st ot hel as ti nvol vementofF ABMi r age2000s bef or et hei rr et i r ementf r om s er vi ce;i ncr edi bl yt heywi l lber epl acedby upgr adedF 5s .

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Hel i mot i oni sahel i copt eroper at orbas edi nJ ol i et ,I l l i noi s .As i gni f i c RobEdgcumbevi s i t edf orGl obalAvi at i onMagaz i net of i ndoutm how youendupi nt hatl i neofwor k.

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HELI MOTI ON

I mage-Vi aHel i mot i on

T heT wi nS t ars i t sout s i det heHel i mot

W

hen you t hi nk of a bus i nes s t hat i s pr edomi nant l y f ocus ed on t he f i l mi ng i ndus t r y,you mi ghtas s ume t hatt hi s was al wayst he goal . However ,t he r out et hatbought Hel i mot i on t o wher ei ti st odayi sone ofevol ut i on.

F or medi n2003,t heor i gi nsoft hebus i nes swer easan of f s hootofacons t r uct i onbus i nes st hathadacqui r ed ahel i copt erandwant edt omakei tpayf ori t s el fas much as pos s i bl e. T hat hel i copt er was an Aer os pat i al e( now Eur ocopt er )T wi ns t ar .Wheni twas acqui r ed,i tr equi r edat wel veyearover haul s oi twas pos s i bl et or ebui l di tt ot hes peci f i cat i onr equi r edf or ex ecut i veandut i l i t ywor k.

Mi chaelF r anckwasbr oughti nt or un t he bus i nes s and he cont i nuesi nt hatr ol et oday. He des cr i bes hi ms el fas t he guy t hatdoes any j obs t hatar e r equi r ed. Pi l ot ,r ef uel l i ng,booki ngs ,s weepi ng t he hangarf l oor–i ti sal l hi sr es pons i bi l i t y.Whi l et hei ni t i al f ocuswason ex ecut i ve t r aveland a s ubs t ant i al por t i on oft he bus i nes sr emai nsi nt hatf i el d,t he company hasdevel oped a s i gni f i cantbus i nes si n s uppor t i ng f i l mi ng wor k and t hat now pr ovi des appr ox i mat el y75% oft hewor kt hati sdone.

T hef actt hatex ecut i vewor ki snota bi ggerpar tof t he oper at i on i sone oft he qui r ksoft he Chi cago ar ea.Mi chaelex pl ai nst hat ,becaus eChi cagoi sa bi g ci t yt hati snotcl os et o anyt hi ng el s e,i thasnot devel oped a mar ketf orhel i copt ert r avels i mi l art o ot herl ar ge USci t i es . “F ort he s i z e oft he ci t yyou s houl dhave4050hel i copt er si nt hear eaand1015 compani esbutt her ei sbas i cal l y ours el fand one ot hercompany t hatwe have now mer ged wi t h. ” T hatcompanyi sS un Aer o whi ch i snow oper at i ng al ongs i deHel i mot i on.

T heT wi ns t ari swel ls ui t edt obot ht heex ecut i veand f i l m wor k. “A l otofcor por at e cus t omer sr equi r ea t wi n. ” Mi chael ex pl ai ns .“A T wi ns t ari sni cebecaus e i ti sat wi n,i tdoes n’ tcos tt hatmuchmor et ooper at e t han an As t arand i tgi vesyou t hatut i l i t yofbei ng abl et o us ei tf ormount i ng camer as . ” I n or dert o max i mi z et he ut i l i t y oft he hel i copt er ,i thasqui ck change i nt er i or s . “I tneeded t o be ni ce buti tal s o needst o be ut i l i t ar i an becaus e we do t he f i l mi ng and phot ogr aphy.Wehavet hr eedi f f er enti nt er i or s t hats wapout .Ever yt hi ngchangesouti naboutf i ve mi nut es . ”

T henewes tS hot overmounti nus ef o

ot i onhangarnearJ ol i et .

f orf i l mi ngoverChi cago.

Al l i magest hi ss pr eadRobEdgcumbe

T hepr oces sf orus i ng a hel i copt eri sa compl exone.T he f i r s ti s s uei sdet er mi ni ngt hatahel i copt eri sr equi r edatal l .

T heul t i mat ecus t omerwi l l bet heUni tPr oduct i onManager ora Pr oducer .T heywi l lr et ai na l ocat i onsmanagerand oncet hati sdone,t hei s s ueofanyaer i alwor kwi l lcome up. T her e ar e onl yabout710pi l ot sdoi ng about90% of t he wor k. T he pr oduct i oncompani esar e pr edomi nant l y bas ed i nL osAngel esand mos toft he aer i alpi l ot sar e bas ed outt her et oo. Bei ng bas ed i n Chi cago makes Hel i mot i onabi tofanout l i eri nt hebus i nes s .However ,wi t h t he devel opmentofr el at i ons hi pst hey have become a r egul aropt i on f orChi cago and Mi dwes twor kand now t heyar ewor ki ngf ur t heraf i el d.

I ft hel ocat i onsmanagerbr i ngsyouup asanopt i on,t he Uni tPr oduct i on Managerwi l lmake cont act .T hen t he pr oces sofwor ki ng outt he s hootr eal l ybegi ns . Mi chael r unst hr ought heways hoot sar epl anned.“T hi si swhatwe wantt odo.I si tdoabl e? Wewi l l godownt ownandmeet andwal kt odi f f er entpl aces .Wewi l ls aywecanf l yher e.

T hedi r ect ormi ghtnotl i kei t .Wegot oanot herbl ock.T he di r ect orr eal l yl i kest hi ss t r eet .Wecan’ tf l ydownt hi ss t r eet s af el yanddowhatyouwantt odo.Got oanot herbl ock andyeah,wel i ket hi ss t r eetandwecanf l ydowni ts af el y.

Younar r ow i tdownandf i gur eoutwhi chonei sper f ectf or whatwewantt odo. ” Once t he bas i cr equi r ement soft he s hoothave been wor ked out ,i ti st i me t o gett he neces s ar y appr oval s .

T hes e come i nt wo par t s .T he l ocalaut hor i t i esneed t o bl es st he pr oj ectand s o doest he F AA. Hel i mot i on ar e r es pons i bl ef ordeal i ngwi t ht heF AA whi l et hepr oduct i on companywi l ldealwi t ht hel ocalaut hor i t i es .I nChi cago, t hi swi l li ncl udet hef i l m of f i ce,t hes peci alevent sof f i ceas wel l ast hepol i ceandf i r edepar t ment s .

T heF AApl ani sawel l under s t oodpr oces s .“I s ubmi tapl an t ot hem.Ipr oduceamap,doaGoogl eEar t hf l i ghtoni t t hatl ooksr eal l ygood.I s how wher et her oadsar es hutof f , wher epedes t r i ansar es hutof f .T her ei sawhol ef or mt hat goest hr ought hepl anofact i vi t i est omakei ts af e,gr ound cr ew,emer gencyl andi ngar eas .T heF AA l ookst hatover ands endsi tt omeandt henI gi vet hatt ot heci t y.T henat ournex tmeet i ng,t heys eet hat .T hef i l m of f i cehast os ay i ti sokay,f i r e depar t menthast os ayi ti sokayand f i r e depar t menthast os ayi ti sokay. ” Wi t hF AA appr oval ,t he ot herappr oval sar emor es t r ai ght f or war dt oachi eve.

Mai n -T he i nt er i or of t he T wi nS t ar can be qui ckl y r econf i gur edf orex ecut i vet r ans por t .

Al l i magest hi ss pr eadRobEdgcumbe

Whenal loft hi si scompl et ed,adat ei ss etf ort hes hoott o t ake pl ace. Get t i ng ever yt hi ng agr eed wi t h al loft he i nt er es t edpar t i esi sus ual l yaboutat hr eeweekpr oces s .F or Hel i mot i on,a bi g benef i twhenunder t aki ng pr oj ect si st he l ow l evelwai vert hatt heyhavef r om t heF AA.Gai ni ngt hi s wai veri sapr oces sandt heni thast ober enewedever yt wo year s .Mos tci t i esr equi r ei tf ort hi st ypeofwor k.I ti sl ar gel y abouthavi ngaccount abi l i t y.T hehel i copt eracci dentt hat occur r edwhenf i l mi ngt heT wi l i ghtZ onemovi ehi ghl i ght ed t he l ack of account abi l i t y and t he cur r ent pr oces s es devel oped f r om t hat . “A l ot of s mal l er pr oduct i on compani esdon’ tknow abouti tandoper at ewi t houti t .T he bi ggeronesobvi ous l yknow abouti t .Youhavet ohavei t , you have a s af et y pl an and a s af et y br i ef i ng wi t h ever ybody i nvol ved on t he gr ound bef or ehand. ” S t r angel y, wi t h t he wai ver , Mi chael i s act ual l y mor e r es t r i ct ed i n whathe can do t han s omeone oper at i ng wi t houta wai ver .T heycanf l yt ol owerl i mi t s .However ,i f anyt hi ng happenson t hei rpr oduct i ons ,t her e wi l lbe no account abi l i t yf ort hewayt hes hootwasmanaged.T hi si s al laboutwhati sbei ngdonet omaket hes hoots af e.“T he F AAknowsandt heci t yknowst hati fI am doi ngi t ,i ti sbei ng dones af el yand canbedone.T heyknow whenIputt he pl ani nf r ontoft hem t hati ti sbei ngdones af el y. ” Oneoft hepecul i ar i t i esoft heUSr egul at or ys ys t em i st hat l ocal of f i ceshavej ur i s di ct i onofwhathappensi nt hei rar ea.

Chi cagoi scover edbyt heDuPageF l i ghtS t andar dsDi s t r i ct Of f i ce( F S DO) .T heyar ever yus ed t ot het ypeofact i vi t i es i nvol ved i nf i l mi ng and know Hel i mot i on and t he s af et y pl anni ngpr oces s esMi chaelus es .Whent r avel l i ngt oot her l ocat i ons ,i tcanbet hef i r s tt i met hel ocalF S DO hass eena l ow l evelwai ver .T heymi ghtbe happyf orMi chaelt o do what everhe i s pl anni ng buts omet i mes t hey wi l ladd r equi r ement soverandabovewhatt her ul esr equi r e.S i nce t heyhaveaut hor i t yi nt hei rar ea,youhavet owor kt ot hei r r ul esunl es syou wantt o es cal at et he f i ghtt o a nat i onal l evel !

One as pectofoper at i ng s af el yi sknowi ng when t os t op.

T hi scan be a r es ul tofs omet hi ng happeni ng dur i ng t he s hoott hatwas n’ tpl anned and s t oppi ngunt i lever yt hi ngi s t akencar eof .Al s o,i ti sdeci di ngt hatyouhaveenoughf or whatyouneed.A f i l ms hooti nvol vesa l otofpeopl eand equi pmentandcl os i ngof far easatcons i der abl eex pens e.

I ti snor mal i nt hef i l mi ngwor l dt omaket heus eoft heef f or t t hathasgone i nt os et t i ng up t o getmul t i pl et akesand coveral l pos s i bi l i t i es .

T hecamer amount sar eabl et opoi nti nal mos tanydi r ect i on ( RobEdgcumbe)

S i ncet hef l yi ngi sof t enofahi gherr i s knat ur e,you don’ twantt o do i tmor et han neces s ar y. “We havedonet hi sei ghtorni net i mes .Doyouhave i t ? Ar ewej us tdoi ngi tagai nt odoi t ?” T hi si st he ques t i ont hathast obeas keds omet i mes .“Doyou havei t ?T henl et ’ ss t op. ”T hi si s n’ tj us tamat t erof managi ng t he r i s k. I ti sal s o aboutkeepi ng t he l ocalpopul at i onhappy.Mi chaeli skeenl yawar e ofhow t oomuchdi s r upt i oncancaus epr obl ems f orf ut ur e pr oj ect s .I fyoucanmi ni mi s et he l ocal i mpact ,you i mpr ove t he chances of get t i ng appr oval sf ort he nex ts hoot . Chi cago i sa ci t y t hati sver ycooper at i ve wheni tcomest o aer i al s hoot i ng. T he ci t yappr eci at eswhatt he movi e bus i nes s br i ngs and accommodat es a l ot of unus ualr eques t s .Ot hermaj orci t i esar eunwi l l i ng t o accommodat e much ofwhati sdone. I ti s i mpor t antt opr ot ectt hatcapabi l i t y.

Whencar r yi ngoutf i l mi ngwor k,aer i al scont r i but e f armor et ot hef i ni s hedpr oductt hanmos twoul d appr eci at e.Whet heri ti smovi esorcommer ci al s , aer i alf i l mi ngi sabi gpar toft hepr oduct i on.Wi t h t he bi gs peci alef f ect smovi es ,t hi si spar t i cul ar l y t r ue.“Peopl er eal l ydon’ tr eal i z ehow muchi ss hot wi t h a hel i copt er . Obvi ous l ya l oti sdone wi t h gr eens cr eenbutt hebackgr oundi sal ldonewi t h a hel i copt er . Hal ft he movi e i nvol ves a hel i copt er . ” Whi l e f i l mi ng act i on s equences mi ght be an obvi ous r equi r ement ,a l ot ofwor k goes i nt o f i l mi ng “pl at es ” . F oral loft he s peci alef f ect s s equences ,t heact i onwi l li nvol vea char act eror i t em i nt he f or egr ound. T hi swi l lbe f i l med on a s t age orcomput ergener at ed. However ,t he wor l di nwhi chi thast obepl acedi sal lf i l medl i ve andt hecent r ali t emsover l ai di npos t pr oduct i on.

F i l mi ng pl at esf ora s equencet akesa l otoft i me.

T hes e pl at eshave t o be cons i s t entwhi ch i swhy t he r epeat abi l i t yoff l yi ng ment i oned bef or ei ss o i mpor t ant . A s hotmi ghti nvol ve a char act er movi ng t hr ougha s ceneand bei ng vi ewed f r om s ever al angl es .Eachoft hebackgr oundsf ort hos e angl eshast o be f i l med and t heyal lhave t o be al i gned whi ch i swher et he hel i copt ercomesi n.

Whi l e wat chi ng t he f i l m,you s houl d neverbe awar e ofanyoft hi s . A hi ghend pr oduct i onwi l l ens ur eyouwon’ t .

T he move t o di gi t alf i l mi ng al l owsa s mal compar i s ont ot heear l i erS pacecam ( bel ow Bot hi magesvi aHel i mot i on

al l ermountast he S hot over( above)s howsi n w)

T hes e s equences ar e pr evi s ual i s ed us i ng comput erani mat i on. When s et t i ng up t he s cene,Mi chaelwi l lbeabl et ovi ew t hef i ni s hed s equence as i t i s pl anned us i ng t hes e ani mat i ons . Wi t ht he camer a oper at or ,he wi l l t henknow whateachpar toft hes cenehast o l ookl i keandknow whatt odowhent heyar eup andf l yi ng.

T he t echnol ogy of t he camer a mount s t hems el ves i s a cons t ant l y evol vi ng one.

Dependi ng on t he r equi r ed out put ,di f f er ent t ypesofmount swi l lbe us ed. T heyar e al ways r ent edf ort hes hoot .Hel i mot i ondoes n’ towna camer a mountand does n’ tus ual l yr entt hem l eavi ng t hatt ot he pr oduct i oncompany. T he capabi l i t i esoft hemount sr el at et ot het ypeof camer ar equi r ed. A s i mpl ermounti sa T yl er mount .T hi smi ghtcos t$23ka dayt or ent .A Ci nef l exmountf oran HD camer ai sgoi ng t o cos tmor e atappr ox i mat el y$10ka day. T he newes tpr oducton t he mar keti st he S hot over mountwhi ch,i ncl udi ng cr ew wi l ls etyouback $1520kaday.T hi si snotacheapbus i nes s !

S omeoft her ent alhous esar eowner / oper at or s and t hey come asa package. Ot her sar e pur el yr ent albus i nes s es . T he t op camer a oper at or sknow how t ooper at eal loft hemaj or s ys t ems and can s wi t ch bet ween t hem as r equi r ed. T he mountt ot he hel i copt erhasa f or malS uppl ement alT ype Cer t i f i cat e. T hi si s t r uef oral loft hemount s . Ci nef l exmount sar e avai l abl ef orot hert ypes but t he hi gh end mount sar eal mos tal l f ort heAs t ar / T wi ns t ar .T hi s i st her eas onwhyt hes et ypesar es opopul arf or f i l mi ngwor k.

T hemountcanbeont henos eoft heai r cr af tor on t he s i de. S i de mount scan be us ef ulwhen t hes hotneedst opanbackwar dsandyoudon’ t wantt heai r f r amei nt heway.However , Mi chael f i ndst hat7580%oft het i me,t hemounti sont he nos e. He can al waysadj us tt he angl e oft he hel i copt erwhenr equi r ed. Onl yi fa r ear war ds vi ew i sr equi r ed ats peed doest he s i de mount become benef i ci al . Ot her wi s e,t he s i des l i p capabi l i t i esoft he hel i copt erwi l lus ual l ys uf f i ce f ors hoot i ngangl er equi r ement s .

T hevar i et yofmo T wi nS t ar .Al l i mag

Bal l as thast obeaddedt ot her earoft heai r cr af tt ocount ert hewei ghtof t hemountatt henos e.T hel es sbal l as tt hebet t erand t her earcent r eof gr avi t yoft heT wi ns t arcompar edt ot heAs t ari sahel pi nt hi s .L es sbal l as t meansl owerwei ghtand bet t erper f or mance. T hi si sj us taswi l ls i nce,as Mi chaelnot es“T heyus ual l ywantt odos omet hi ngwei r dt hatr equi r esl ot s ofpower ! ” F or t unat el y,t echnol ogy i sas s i s t i ng wi t ht hi s .T he S hot over mounti sdes i gned t o handl et he l at es tdi gi t alci nema camer asand i s cons equent l ys mal l erandl i ght er .I nf act ,i tcannotcar r yaf i l m camer a.As Mi chael poi nt sout ,“T heyhavet akent hebett hatf i l mi sgoi ngaway. ”T hi s mi ghthappenass oonast henex t34year si nhi sopi ni on.

ount sandt heus eoft her earbal l as tt omai nt ai ncent r eofgr avi t ycanbes eeni nt hes evi ewsoft he agest hi ss pr ead RobEdgcumbe

I tcer t ai nl yi mpr ovest hef l ex i bi l i t yofoper at i ng.Whens hoot i ng wi t hf i l m,1, 000’off i l m woul dbecar r i ed.T hi sus ual l yequat edt o about45mi nut esoff l i ghtt i mebef or et heyneededt ol andand r el oad.Wi t hdi gi t alr ecor di ng,t her ei snol i mi tont hecapaci t y.

Cons equent l y,i ti s pos s i bl e t o f ocus on get t i ng t he s hot .

Pr evi ous l y,mul t i pl el andi ngswoul dber equi r edt or el oadandf or eachonei twoul dbeneces s ar yt ocl os edownt hes t r eet s .Now i ti spos s i bl et or unt hes hotaf ew t i mes ,per hapspaus et ol ett he t r af f i cbel ett hr ough,t hencl os edownt her oadsagai nandf i ni s h of f ,al l i nonef l i ght .T hepr oduct i vi t yi senhancedandi ti mpr oves s af et ybycut t i ngdownont heamountoff l yi ng.

Whi l et hecamer aoper at orhasamoni t ors howi ngt hecamer a vi ew,Mi chaelal s ohasonei nt hecockpi t .Hehast odevel opa s canpat t er nt hatal l owshi mt os eeout s i deandf l yt hehel i copt er butal s o check whatt he camer ai ss eei ng and t r eatt he hel i copt erasi fi ti st hecamer a.T hecamer aoper at orknowst he l i mi t soft heai r cr af ts o,whi l ehei sal waysl ooki ngatt hemoni t or , heknowswhent hecamer al i mi t sar ebei ngr eachedandwhen t hehel i copt erwi l l needt opos i t i ont oavoi das hotl ooki ngwei r d.

Mi chaelal s ounder s t andst hi ss ot oget hert heycancombi net o move t he camer ai ns pace and on t he mounti n a wayt hat appear snat ur al t ot hevi ewer .

Ri ght-Whi l e Hel i mot i on hasa s chedul e,t her ei st i me when T wi nS t ar i s at r es t back at ( RobEdgcumbe)

Bel ow -Mi chaels omet i mesha pl ayar ol ei nt hes cenesandhe s hown i n camouf l age ahead s hot( vi aHel i mot i on)

a bus y nt he bas e

hast o her ei s d ofa

YvesRos s yi saboar dt hehel i copt err eadyt o per f or m asJ et man atOs hkos h Ai r vent ur e ( vi aHel i mot i on)

F i l mi ngpr oj ect sar eof t enunus ualbuts omear e al i t t l e mor e di f f er ents t i l l . Ar ecentpr oj ect i nvol ved YvesRos s y,t he J et man. T he J et man was s chedul e t o appear dur i ng t he Ex per i ment al Ai r cr af t As s oci at i on annual gat her i ng, Ai r vent ur e, hel d at Os hkos h Wi s cons i n. Wi t hJ et manf l yi ng att he s how,he needed a hel i copt ert ol aunch f r om and a f i l mi ngpl at f or m.Hel i mot i onhadt hej obt ocar r y outbot hr ol es .T hi spr ovi dedagoodoppor t uni t y t o make us e ofone oft hei rmor er ecent l y addedcapabi l i t i es .At r ai l erhasbeenacqui r ed t hatal l owst he hel i copt ert o be s hi pped by r oad.I tcar r i esacompl et es uppor tpackaget o s us t ai nt heai r cr af ti nt hef i el dandal s opr ovi dea bas e ofoper at i ons . I ti s al s o a bi l l boar di f r equi r ed.

T hi spr ovi dedagr eatbas ef orYvest os t or eand mai nt ai nhi sequi pment .I twasal s owr appedi n l ar ge gr aphi c vi nyl sand ended up bei ng a popul arpl acef orAi r vent ur evi s i t or st ot aket hei r pi ct ur e. T he oper at i on i t s el fwasnotwi t hout di f f i cul t i es . None oft hes e wer et echni cal–al l wer e admi ni s t r at i ve. F AA appr ovalf or t he pr oj ectwasnots t r ai ght f or war d and i nvol ved many di f f er ent el ement s -t he wi ng,Yves ’ s appr oval s ,t hewayi nwhi chhewascar r i ed on t he hel i copt eret c.-and ul t i mat el yi nvol ved s ever al di f f er entF AAof f i ces .T hef i nal appr oval s onl yj us tcamei nbef or et hes how and,wi t hbad weat hernothel pi ng;t he demons t r at i on f l i ght wasonl yunder t aken on t he F r i daybef or et he s how s t ar t ed.

Remot el ocat i onscanpr ovi des omever ys ceni ci mages( vi aHel i mot i on)

F i l mi ng can i nvol ve al ls or t sofs ubj ect sol d and new! ( vi aHel i mot i on)

T hes uppor tt r ai l ermakesagr eatadver tf ors peci al pr oj ect s( RobEdgcumbe)

S t untwor ki sj us tanot herpar tofmovi emaki ng ( vi aHel i mot i on)

However ,once e wel l .Anear l yf l i g t he EAA B17,S e i t s el f .Hel aunche up wi t ht he B17 F or mi ng up i st h come i n. Pr i orw maki ng t ur ns . J maki ngt ur nst of havegott odi ve

T he f l yi ng wasve qui t ehi ghand a moved on,t hey t wo dayst he F A woul d dr op hi m coupl e ofpas s es af t erdr oppi ngh whenyouar ef l y engi ne i ti sani m

T heT wi nS t ari s n’ tt heonl ypl at f or mt hatcanbeus edast hi sJ et Rangerpr oves( vi aHel i mot i on)

ever yt hi ng wasappr oved,i tal lwor ked l i ghti nvol vedf i l mi ngYvesi nf or mat i onwi t h S ent i ment alJ our ney,awayf r om Os hkos h hedf r om t hehel i copt erandt henf or med 17whi l e Mi chaelf i l med t he whol et hi ng. t he har des tpar t . “We wat ch t he B17 we have s etup a pat h. He hast os t ar t J et man t hen dr opsoutand he s t ar t s f or m upont heB17.T henobvi ous l ywe edownandgetf or medup. ”

ver yi mpr es s i ve att he ai r s how buti twas awayf r om t hes pect at or s .Ast heweek yevol ved t heper f or mance.Ont hel as t AA al l owed t hem t of l yf or mat i on. T hey m of f ,f l y down and t hen j oi n up f ora est hr ought he ai r s how box .F i ndi ng hi m hi mi st hehar des tbi t .“T hebi gges tt hi ng f l yi ng f or mat i onwi t hhi mi si fhe l os esan i mmedi at er ol loppos i t et he engi ne. He

needs5070 yar dsf ort hati ni t i als nap r ol ls o don’ tbe t her e! ”T hes ucces soft hi swor ki shopef ul l ygoi ngt ol ead t oot hers i mi l arpr oj ect s .

Whatdoest he f ut ur e hol df orHel i mot i on? T he mer ger wi t hS unAer ohashel pedi ncement i ngt hei rwor ki nt he ex ecut i vechar t ers ect or .However ,f i l mi ngwi l lr emai na l eadi ng par toft he wor kl oad. Wi t ht he abi l i t yt o go f ur t heraf i el d,mor eoppor t uni t i esar eavai l abl enow t hat t he r el at i ons hi ps have been devel oped wi t h t he pr oduct i oncompani es . Cons equent l y,t he f ut ur el ooks br i ght .T hes pl i tbet weenmovi esandcommer ci al svar i es bet weenyear sbutt hevol umess t aygood.AsMi chael s ays ,“I t ’ snotl i ke cor por at et r ans por tt hatcomesand goes .T her ear eal waysgoi ng t obemovi esmadeand t her ear eal waysgoi ngt obecommer ci al s . ” T heaut horwoul dl i ket ot hankMi chael F r anckf orhi shel p i nt hepr epar at i onoft hi sf eat ur e.

Movi ngout s i det hebui l di ng,t heai r cr af ti nt he col l ect i on ar e neat l ydi s pl ayed on concr et e padswi t hi n a wel l t ended and l ands caped gr as sar ea.Mar i neAvi at i onhasal waysbeen cl os el yl i nked wi t h US NavalAvi at i on,wi t h bot h s er vi ces s har i ng ai r cr af tt ypes and i ndeed of t en depl oyi ng t oget heraspar tof t he s ame car r i erai rwi ng.T hi swascer t ai nl y t r ue dur i ng t he WWI Iper i od,f r om whi ch t he ol des tt ypesi nt hecol l ect i onor i gi nat e.Bot hof t hes e ar e Gr umman des i gns ,but bui l t by Gener alMot or s .T he f i r s ti san F M2 Wi l dcat ( F 4F - r i ght ) whi ch has been pai nt ed t o r epr es entt heai r cr af tf l ownbyCaptJ oeF os s , t heCor ps ' hi ghes ts cor i ngf i ght erpi l otofWWI I .

T heot herdes i gnf r om t heGr ummans t abl ei s aT BM3EAvenger( f arr i ght ) ,whi chal s ocar r i es aWWI Icol ours cheme.

T heMar i neCor pswasheavi l yi nvol ved i nt he Kor eanWar ,and t hemus eum boas t ss ever al ai r cr af tdat i ngbackt ot hatper i od.Di s pl ayed t oget her ar e a pai r of bl ackpai nt ed ni ght f i ght er s ,bot hofwhi chcar r yt hemar ki ngs of VMF ( N) 513 ' Ni ght mar es ' .

T he ChanceVoughtF 4U5N ( r i ght )wasa r adar equi pped ver s i on oft he f amous WWI I er a Cor s ai r ,whi ch s aw s er vi ce i nt he ni ght ss ki es overKor ea.T he ex ampl e on di s pl ay l ooks gr eat ,compl et ewi t hunder wi ngr ocket sand ar adarpod.

Oneoft heai r cr af twhi chr epl acedt heCor s ai ri n t hatr ol e wast he Dougl asF 3D2S kykni ght( t hi s page,bot t om r i ght ) .T heS kykni ghtwasdes i gned f r om t hes t ar tasaheavy,r adarequi ppedni ght f i ght er .Al t houghi twasanungl amor ousai r cr af t , i twasi deal l ys ui t edt oi t sr ol e,andi nf act ,dur i ng t heKor eanWar ,s hotdownmor eenemyai r cr af t t hananyot hernavalai r cr af t .L at er ,i twasal s o us ed asan el ect r oni c war f ar e ai r cr af t ,s er vi ng t heMar i neCor psi nt hatr ol eunt i l t heear l yyear s oft heVi et nam War .

Ot herear l yj etf i ght er sondi s pl ayi ncl udeaNor t h Amer i can F J 4F ur y( oppos i t e page,t op r i ght ) and a Gr umman F 9F 2 Pant her ( t hi s page, bot t om l ef t ) ,wi t ht hePant herl ooki nges peci al l y s mar ti ni t sgl os s ybl uemar ki ngs .T hePant herwas l at erdevel oped i nt ot he s weptwi ng Cougar , whi chwasal s ooper at edbyt heMar i neCor psi n s ever alver s i ons .T he mus eum has a F 9F 8P ver s i on oft he Cougar( mai ni mage) ,a phot o r econnai s s ance ai r cr af t ,wi t hcamer asf i t t ed i n i t sbul bousnos es ect i on.

T he t echnol ogi caladvancesoft he l at e 1950s ar er epr es ent edbyaver ys mar tDougl asF 4D1 S kyr ay( t hi spage,bot t om l ef t ) .T heS kyr aywasa hi ghper f or mance i nt er cept ordel i ver ed t ot he NavyandMar i neCor psi nt hel at e1950s .I twas t he f i r s t car r i er bas ed ai r cr af t capabl e of ex ceedi ng Mach 1 i nl evelf l i ght ,and was gener al l ywel lr egar ded.However ,t echnol ogy waspr oceedi ng apace att he t i me,and t he S kyr ayhadaver ys hor ts er vi cecar eer ,wi t ht he l as tMar i neex ampl esbei ngr et i r edi n1964.

Ent er i ngs er vi cedur i ngt hes ameper i od,buthavi ngamuchl ongers er vi ce l i f e,t he VoughtF 8 Cr us aderwas a wel l known f i ght er ,whi ch s aw wi des pr eads er vi cei nt heVi et nam Warand,i nt hehandsofUSNavypi l ot s , s cor ed a numberofaer i alvi ct or i esoverNor t h Vi et names e Mi Gs .T he Cr us aderaddi t i onal l ys er ved t heMar i neCor ps ,whi chal s ous ed i tasan at t ackand cl os es uppor tai r cr af t .T hemus eum hast woF 8scur r ent l yon di s pl ay;t he f i r s ti sa s t r i ki ng F 8E f i ght eri nt he col our sofVMF ( AW) 312 ' Checker boar ds '( above and bot t om r i ght ) .T he ot her i s a phot o r econnai s s ancever s i on,t heRF 8E,whi chcar r i est hemar ki ngsofVMCJ 3 ( bel ow and t op r i ght ) .Al t hought he RF 8had a l ong car eerwi t ht he US Navy,t heMar i neCor psr epl acedi t sf r ontl i neai r cr af twi t hRF 4BPhant oms i nt hel at e1960s .

T he Mar i ne Cor ps was an ent hus i as t i c oper at oroft he Dougl as A4 S kyhawk,r ecei vi ngahos tofver s i onsoft hedi mi nut i veat t ackai r cr af t .T he S kyhawki sver ywel lr epr es ent ed att he mus eum,wi t h no l es st han f our ex ampl escur r ent l yondi s pl ay.T hes er angef r om anear l yA4C ( above), t hr ought heupgr adedA4F( bel ow)t ot heul t i mat eUSver s i on,t heA4M, gi vi ng t he vi s i t ora gr eat oppor t uni t yt os ee how t he ai r cr af t was devel opedandi mpr oveddur i ngi t s25yearpr oduct i onr un.

T he A4M ondi s pl ay( t op r i ght )wast he l as tS kyhawkt o be bui l t ,and t o commemor at et hati twasr ecent l yr epai nt ed i nt ot he col ours cheme i t car r i edondel i ver y.I tcar r i est hef l agsofal l t henat i onst ooper at et heA4 att hatpoi nt ,andl ooksabs ol ut el ys t unni ng.

Compl ement i ng s i ngl es eatS kyh s mar tT A4J ( r pr oduced as numberofT A4J F or war d Ai rC dur i ng t he Vi et mus eum' s ex am s mar t l yr es t or ed H&MS 11 ' Pl ayb Da Nang dur i n Cons i s t i ngent i r e t he s quadr on pr ovi di ngF or wa t hel at eryear so

ng t he l i neup of yhawksi sa ver y ( r i ght ) ; or i gi nal l y s a t r ai ner , a 4J ss aw s er vi ceas Cont r ol ai r cr af t i et nam War .T he mpl e has been di nt hecol our sof yboys ' ,bas ed at r i ng t he conf l i ct . i r el yofvol unt eer s , n s peci al i s ed i n ar dAi rCont r oli n oft hewar .

Anot hert ypewhi chhad a l ong and i l l us t r i ousas s oci at i onwi t hUS MC avi at i oni st heMcDonnel l Dougl asF 4Phant om I I .T he mus eum hasa pai rofF 4son di s pl ay;an F 4Si nt he col our sof VMF A134( above)and an RF 4Bcar r yi ng t he mar ki ngsofVMF P3( bel ow) .T he Mar i ne Cor ps oper at ed t he RF 4B f r om 1966 t o 1990;t he r epl acementcame i nt he f or m oft he AT ARS r econnai s s ances ys t em,f i t t ed i nt henos eoft heF / A18D Hor net ,t heai r cr af twhi chs ucceeded t hePhant om i nt heMar i neCor ps ' f i ght erat t acks quadr ons .

T hi sF 5Eonces er vedwi t ht heMar i neCor ps 'adver s ar yuni t ,VMF T 401' S ni per s ' .T heF / A18i nt he backgr oundal s ocar r i esanadver s ar ys chemebutwaspr evi ous l yal l ocat edt ot heHor nett r ai ni ng uni t ,VMF AT 101' S har ps hoot er s ' atMCASMi r amar .

T heF / A18Hor netr emai nsi nl ar ges cal es er vi cet ot hi sdayandmos toft her emai ni ngex ampl es i nus ear eoft heF / A18C/ D var i ant ,whi chhasl ar gel ys uper s ededear l i erver s i ons .T hemus eum hast wo ear l yF / A18Ason di s pl ay,bot h pai nt ed i n col our sofs quadr onsbas ed atMi r amar ; VMF AT 101' S har ps hoot er s ' andVMF A314' Whi t eKni ght s ' ( bel ow) .

One t ype whi ch wi l l be f or ever as s oci at edwi t ht heUS MC i st heAV8 Har r i er .I ndeed,wheni nt er vi ewedf or GAR i n 2010,l egendar yHar r i ert es t pi l otJ ohn F ar l ey r emar ked t hathe f el tt hatt he Mar i ne Cor ps' got 'and appr eci at ed t he ai r cr af tf r om t he s t ar t ,wher east heRAFt ookl ongert o wor kouthow t o gett he bes tf r om t he ai r cr af t .T he mus eum has an ear l y AV8C Har r i er( r i ght ) ;l i ke t he F 4U and F 3D,i tcar r i est he mar ki ngs ofVMA513' Ni ght mar es ' ,as quadr on whi chcont i nuedt ooper at et hel at er AV8B Har r i erI Iunt i ldi s bandi ng i n J ul y2013.

T he eas t er n end of t he campus hous est he mus eum' scol l ect i on of hel i copt er s .T he ear l i es t machi ne whi ch i s cur r ent l y on di s pl ay i sa S i kor s ky HRS 3 ( H19) Chi cks aw, whi ch i s pai nt ed t or epr es ent an ai r cr af tf r om HMR161,a s quadr on whi ch i snow des i gnat ed VMM161 andoper at est heMV22BOs pr eyas par t of MAG16 at Mi r amar .T he mus eum al s o has a S i kor s ky HUS ( UH34D) S eahor s e,i nt he f amous ' evi l eyes ' mar ki ngs of HMM163, anot heruni twhi ch i snow al s o an Os pr eys quadr onwi t hi nMAG16.

T he CH46E S ea Kni ghti sa Mar i ne Cor psl egend,whi chi sr eachi ngt he f i nal par tofi t sl onganddi s t i ngui s hed car eer .T he mus eum' s' Phr og' i s knownas' L adyAce09' ,andi nApr i l 1975, t ook par t i n Oper at i on F r equent Wi nd, t he mi s s i on t o evacuat et hel as tAmer i canci vi l i ans f r om S out hVi et nam.T heai r cr af thad t he di s t i nct i on of bei ng t he one whi ch car r i ed t he l as t US Ambas s ador t o S out h Vi et nam, Gr aham Mar t i n,f r om t her oofoft he USEmbas s yt os af et yont heUS SBl ue Ri dge.

Above -T he S i kor s kyHUS 1( UH34D)S eahor s es aw ex t ens i ve s er vi ce wi t ht he US MC asa ut i l i t yt r an Vi et nam War .

Bel ow -T heUH1N s er vedt heCor psf ormanyyear sbut hasnow beenal l butr epl acedbyt heupgr adedUH1Y. T hi sex ampl ef or mer l ys er ved wi t hHML A169atMCAS CampPendl et on.

Bel ow - T he AH1J S eaCobr a t wi nengi nedver s i onoft heAH1t obe Mar i neCor ps .I t ' swass uper s ededbyl t hel at es ti t er at i onbei ngt heAH1ZVi p

ans por tdur i ng t he

was t he i ni t i al bedel i ver edt ot he yl at ermodel s ,wi t h i per .

L ar ges thel i copt erondi s pl ayi sanear l ymodel S i kor s kyCH53AS eaS t al l i on ( above) ;l at erver s i onsoft heCH53ar es t i l lf l ownbyMAG16atMi r amar .

S i mi l ar l y,t he AH1W/ Zand UH1Y ar et he cur r ents t al war t soft he l i ght at t ackhel i copt erf l eet ;t he mus eum hasear l i erver s i onsofbot ht ypesi n t hef or m oft heUH1NHueyandAH1JS eaCobr a.

Bel ow-T hi sCH46Et ookpar ti nt heevacuat i onofS ai gon;i tai r l i f t edt hel as t USambas s adort oS out hVi et nam ( Gr aham Mar t i n)f r om t her oofoft heUS Embas s yt os af et yont heUS SBl ueRi dge.

Mos tunus ualai r cr af ti nt he col l ect i on i sa f or merI r aqiBel l214S TS uperT r ans por t erhel i copt er ( above) .T hi swasoneofanumbers uppl i edt oI r aqi nt he1980s .Dur i ngOper at i onDes er tS t or m,i t wascapt ur edi nt acti nKuwai tCi t ybyMar i nesf r om t heF i r s tMar i neDi vi s i on,andpr es ent edt ot he 3r d MAW i nr ecogni t i on oft he s uppor tgi ven t ot r oopsdur i ng t he war .I ti sone ofonl yt wo nonUS MC ai r cr af tondi s pl ay,t heot herbei ngaMi G15i nChi nes emar ki ngs( bel ow) .

I naddi t i ont ot heai r cr af tondi s pl ay,t her ear eal s ovehi cl esandai r f i el dequi pment ,i ncl udi ng f ur t herI r aqi equi pmentcapt ur eddur i ngDes er tS t or m.Al s onot abl ei saM927t r uckequi ppedt o l aunch t he RQ2B Pi oneer ( above) , an ex ampl e of an ear l i er gener at i on bat t l ef i el d r econnai s s anceUAV. Duet ol ackofs pace,s omeoft hemus eum' scol l ect i oni snotondi s pl ayt ot hegener alpubl i c; i n par t i cul art her e ar es ever all ar ge ai r cr af t( Dougl asR4D8( C117)S kyt r ai n,R5D ( C54) S kymas t er ,andF ai r chi l dR4Q Packet )l ocat edwi t hi nt hebas eatMCASMi r amar .T her ear eal s o s ever alai r cr af tcur r ent l yunderr es t or at i on,i ncl udi nga Nor t hAmer i canPBJ 1J( B25J )Mi t chel l bomber .

T he Nor t hAmer i canS NJ 5T ex anwast he ai r cr af tt hous andsofMar i nesl ear ned t of l yi n.T hi s ai r cr af tcar r i est hemar ki ngsofVMT 2,at r ai ni nguni toncebas edatMCASEl T or o.

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ve -T he Nor t hAmer i canOV10Br onco wasus ed byt he US MC asa f or war d ai rcont r olai r cr af tunt i l menti n1995.T heai r cr af tondi s pl aycar r i est hemar ki ngsofVMO2,whooper at edt heBr oncodur i ng r at i onDes er tS t or m.

-T hi ss i mpl ebutr es pect f ulmemor i ali sdedi cat ed t ot hemember soft he3r d MAW whol os tt hei rl i ves gOper at i onI r aqi F r eedom.

F l yi ng L eat her neck Avi at i on Mus eum i scl ear l y a ver y wel lor gani s ed and wel ls uppor t ed mus eum ct i on,wi t hmos toft heai r cr af tondi s pl ayr es t or edt oaver yhi ghs t andar d.I nt hel ongt er m,t hemus eum st omovet oapur pos ebui l ti ndoorf aci l i t ynear by,andf undr ai s i ngi songoi ngt os uppor tt hi sambi t i ous ct .Hopef ul l yt hi snew l ocat i onwi l lal l ow s omemor eoft hecol l ect i ont obedi s pl ayedt ot hepubl i c.

Gr umman A6I nt r uderequi pped t he US MC' sal l weat herat t ack s quadr onsf ormany year sunt i l cementbyt heF / A18D.T heai r cr af ts aw s er vi ceoverVi et nam,L ebanonandI r aqbef or er et i r ementi n .

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hi l s tmos tHer cul esoper at i onsdo noti nvol ve Nat ur al S ur f aceOper at i ons ,orNS Osast heyar e t er med, ai r cr ew r egul ar l y pr act i s e t hem t o mai nt ai ncur r encyandens ur et heyar eabl et odepl oyat amoment ` snot i ce.

Cr ewsmayr el i s ht hi soper at i onalr ol ebutt hi ss houl dnot di mi ni s ht he s cal e oft he chal l enge cr eat ed i nor dert o l andaHer cul ess af el yataT empor ar yL andi ngZ one( T L Z ) .

NS Oschal l enge ever yone i nvol ved,aswe di s cover ed when t al ki ng wi t h Her cul esai rand gr ound cr ew and member soft he T act i calAi rT r af f i c Cont r olUni t( T AT CU) whos epar t i cul arr ol ei ti st oar r i veatanaus t er es i t eear l y wi t hot heres s ent i als uppor ts er vi cest os ecur et he ar ea andl i t er al l ydot he‘ gr ound’wor kneces s ar yt os etupt he T L Z .T hei rs peci al i s twor ki shi ghl ypr es s ur ed and r equi r es t hem t os pendal otoft i mei nt hef i el di ns omeex t r eme envi r onment s .T heygowher evert heai r cr af tgo.

T L Zmi s s i ons : T he s ens esofai r cr ew ar e cer t ai nl y hei ght ened when under t aki ngaNS O,es peci al l yi nt heat r e.Paul S t evens on, a f or mer C130J pi l ot wi t h 30 S quadr on, who accumul at ed cl os et o 1500f l i ghthour si ncl udi ng many t our st oI r aqandAf ghani s t andur i nghi sf ouryear sont he ai r cr af t ,s umsupper f ect l ywhati ti sl i ke.

“F l yi ng appr oachest o a des er ts t r i p,us i ng NVGs( Ni ght Vi s i on Goggl es ) ,i na t hr eatenvi r onmenti st he mos t chal l engi ng and enj oyabl e par toft he j ob.T he des er t s t r i psi nt heat r e ar e of t en mar ked wi t h mi ni mall i ght i ng and t he s af et yf act or sf orl andi ng ar e gr eat l yr educed f r om t henor mal oper at i ngs t andar d.

“On i ni t i alappr oach af t ert he des centf r om hi gh l evel , t he HUD ( Headup Di s pl ay)and NAV/ RADAR pr ovi de ex cel l ents i t uat i onawar enes si npoi nt i ngoutt hel andi ng s t r i pagai ns tt hebackdr opofmount ai noust er r ai n.Once we vi s ual l y acqui r e t he L andi ng Z one, t he HUD s ymbol ogyi spl aced on t he t ouchdown poi ntand t he f i nalappr oachbecomesmor el i keaPl ays t at i onorXbox game.Weai mt ot oucht heai r cr af tdowni na500f tbox andnor mal l ybr i ngi tt oas t opi nt henex t1500f t .

Ver ys hor t f i nal t oagr avel s t r i pf ort

gf r om t hegr as ss t r i patDept f or dDownont heS al i s bur yPl ai nT r ai ni ngAr ea( S PT A)gi vesagoodi deaof edi s pl acedwhenanai r cr af toper at esf r om anons eal edr unway ( I anHar di ng)

rt hi sC130J ( Cr ownCopyr i ght )

T hi sC130Jl i nesupont hegr as sf ordepar t ur e( I anHar di ng)

“L andi ngt heai r cr af ti smor el i kef l yi ngi nas pot l andi ngcompet i t i onr at hert hant r yi ngt ogr eas e i tont opl eas et hepas s enger s .Weoper at et he ai r cr af tt o t he l i mi t us i ng f ul lr ever s e and max i mum br akes ,t her ef or ewemus thavet ot al f ai t hi nt heai r cr af tandi t scapabi l i t i es . ”

pr ovi de mi ni malpr ot ect i on and t her ef or e we l ookt ot ur nt he ai r cr af tar ound qui ckl ybef or e depar t i ng.

“Att hemai nbas es ,t heof f l oad/ onl oadi smuch t he s ame as f or any i nt er nat i onal ai r por t , however ,whenwef l yt oades er ts t r i p,t heAL M T he r oughs ur f acesi nAf ghani s t anof t encaus e ( Ai rL oadMas t er ) wi l ll ook t o t ur nt he l oad mi nordamage t ot he under s i de oft he ai r cr af t ar oundasqui ckl yaspos s i bl ewhi l s tont hedeck; on each l andi ng,i ncl udi ng s mal lhol es and wekeept heengi nest ur ni ngandcompl et et he dent si nt he under car r i age door s ,hence t he checksr eadyf oras wi f tegr es s . r eas ont heC130Jhasbeen‘ s t r i p pr epar ed’i n r ecentyear st ocoati twi t hapr ot ect i vel ayeron “F uel i sr ar el yani s s ue;wewoul dpr ef ert obeon ar eass us cept i bl et odamage. t hegr ound f orl es st hant enmi nut esi fpos s i bl e, however ,i f neces s ar y we woul d keep t he F l yi ng i nt o an aus t er el andi ng s t r i p atni ghti s engi nes r unni ng f oran hourr at hert han r i s k of t enes s ent i alt odel i vert r oopst ot hei rf or war d s hut t i ng t hem downand havi ng a f ai l ur e ona l ocat i on. F l tL tS t evens on cont i nues :“F or war d s ubs equentengi nes t ar t .

Oper at i ng Bas es ( F OBs ) by def i ni t i on onl y

Above-T hedar kgr eenar eai sevi denceofs omeoft hemeas ur est hathave beent akent opr epar et heRAF ’ sC130sf ors t r i poper at i ons( I anHar di ng) Bel ow -Abi gcl oudofdus ti st hr ownupast hi sC130Kt ouchesdownont he Dept f or dDowngr as ss t r i p( I anHar di ng) L ef t-T heHeadUp Di s pl ay( HUD)oft heC130Jhasbecomeani nval uabl e t ool f ors t r i poper at i ons( Kar lDr age)

I mageI anHar di ng

Oncel i nedupf o ar enotonanor m det er mi net hew t he Capt ai nma and t heCoPi l ot compact eddes br i ght nes st ogi v bevi eweddur i n

“Wi t hi ns even s e Rot at eS peed,w of ft he des er ts t s t eept er r ai nand

“T her ei sgener al l ynoAT C( ai rt r af f i ccont r ol )ass uch,butt her ei sar adi o oper at orcl ear i ng you t o ar r i ve and depar tt he s t r i p. Once r eadyt o depar twes i mpl ycal l ‘ r eady’t oconf i r m nooneel s ei sus i ngt hes t r i pand t henwet ax i overt hebumpyt er r ai nt ot het hr es hol d,maki ngs ur eweus e ever ybi toft akeof fdi s t anceavai l abl e.

“Ol d adagesl i ke ‘ r unwaybehi nd you’come i nt o yourhead whent he r unwayi ss hor t ,nar r ow andt her ear emount ai nsi nt hef l i ghtpat h.

“I ti si mpor t antt o have t houghtaboutwhatyou woul d do s houl dt he ai r cr af tcome underat t ack,however ,you mus tt hen s i del i ne t hes e t hought sandconcent r at eont het as koff l yi ng.Whenpl anni ngt odepar t f r om as t r i p,I am muchmor econcer nedabouts uchf act or sast hel engt h oft hes t r i pver s ust heai r cr af twei ghtandper f or mance. ”

“Whent hem pr oducear ea

“Apeekunde andl ooki ngt h

“Af t eras hor t nex tt as k” .

I mageKar lDr age

f ort akeof f ,youbecomeacut el yawar eoft hef actt hatyou or mal r unwayandwi t houtNVGsyouwoul dn’ tevenbeabl et o wi dt hoft hes t r i p,F l tL tS t evens ont el l sme.“Ont het akeof fr ol l , ai nt ai nst he cent r e oft he s t r i p wi t ht he nos e wheels t eer i ng l otf l i est heel evat orand ai l er onst oabs or bt hebumpsoft he es er t .T hegl as scockpi tdi s pl aysar et ur neddownt ot hei rl owes t i vemi ni mum di s t r act i on,buts t i l l al l ow al l engi nei ns t r ument st o i ngt het ake– of fr ol l .

I mageI anHar di ng

s econds ,t he ai r cr af ti swr es t l ed i nt ot he ai rf r om a T act i cal whi chi sappr ox25kt sbel ow nor mal .Oncet heai r cr af ti ss af el y s t r i p,t he nex tobj ect i ve i st o negot i at et he combi nat i on of ndvi l l agespos s i bl ycont ai ni ngenemyf or ces .

mooni sl ow i nt hes kyand wear ecl i mbi ng t ocr os st hemount ai ns ,t heNVGsar ewor ki ng har dt o r eas onabl epi ct ur ewi t hwhi chyoucanf l y.

der neat ht heNVGsconf i r mst hatever yt hi ngbel ow i scompl et el ybl ackex ceptf oraf ew vi l l agel i ght s t hr ought heNVGsagai nhel pspi ckoutt her i dgel i nei nt hemount ai nsahead.

r tt r ans i tatal t i t ude,wewi l lagai nbebackatbas et oof f l oadourpayl oadandt r oopsr eadyf ort he

NSO t r ai ni ngf r om anai r cr ew per s pect i ve “Puts i mpl y,anNS Oi sonet hatdoesnoti nvol ve as eal ed t ar mac r unway.F orusi t ’ sal labout del i ver i ngaHer cul est oas t r i panywher ei nt he wor l d,whet heri t ’ si n Af ghani s t an ora new l ocat i on.S t andar d oper at i ons i n Af ghani s t an pos t 2008,whena t ar mac r unwaywasbui l tat Bas t i on ar e notNS Os .However ,NS Os have been a qual i f i cat i on f orai r cr ew f r om t he s t ar t andt her ear es t i l lmanyuns eal eds t r i psar ound, whi ch ar eal otcheaper ,mor e ef f i ci entand f l ex i bl ei nt hes hor tt er mt omanuf act ur e.

“Af ghani s t an i s an endur i ng oper at i on and

t her ei sa gr eatdealofcooper at i onbet ween uni t sont hegr ound and t heHer cul esf l eet .We t al kal l t het i mewi t hour‘ cus t omer s ’andi fas t r i p can be pr epar ed qui ckl y and i t ’ ss af e t o oper at ei nt o,we wi l ldo ourbes tt o del i ver equi pment ,s uppl i esandper s onneldi r ect l yi nt o t hats t r i p, ” conf i r med Capt ai n Nei lI ngr am,a Her cul espi l otf r om 24S quadr on.

Qual i f i cat i on f or ai r cr ew under t aki ng NS Os ul t i mat el ydependson how t heyar r i ve on t he Her cul esand,ofcour s e,t hei rpr evi ousf l i ght ex per i ence.Once ai r cr ew have pas s ed t hei r T act i cal T r ai ni ngCour s ewi t ht heC130JT act i cal T r ai ni ng F l i ght ( J T T F )t hey can ex pect t o

under t ake NS Os af t er appr ox i mat el yt wel ve mont hsont heai r cr af t .

Capt ai nI ngr am cont i nued:“T he Her cul esi sa t act i calai r cr af twi t hahi ghwi ngandengi neal l des i gnedt ol i mi tF OD ( f or ei gnobj ectdamage) whenoper at i ngi nt oaT L Z . ” NS Oscar r yr i s ks ,butf r om a pi l ot ’ sper s pect i ve, t hes e have been gr eat l yr educed i nr ecent year s by t he avai l abi l i t y of NVGs and t he i nf or mat i on pr ovi ded by t he HUD and t he J cockpi t( Her cul esC4 and C5) ,whi ch i smor e pi l otf r i endl yt hant henow r et i r edKvar i ant .

“Ourpi l ot sar ewel l ver s edi nt heus eofNVGsas mos tofourf l yi ngi nt heat r ei sdoneatni ght .At t he s t ar tofyourNVG t r ai ni ng i t ` sl i ke l ooki ng t hr ought wot oi l etr ol l t ubes ! ”

I mageI anHar di ng

Pr epar at i on and coor di nat i on bet ween ai r cr ew and gr ound s peci al i s t s ,who r egul ar l ypr act i s e at var i ous l ocat i ons t hr oughout t he UK,ar e es s ent i alf orever y s ucces s f ul NS O. I ni t i al l y, ai r cr ew wi l l obt ai n al l avai l abl e i nf or mat i on on t he l andi ng z one ( L Z ) ,j us t as t hey woul d when oper at i ng i nt o an ai r f i el d. F or an uns eal ed s t r i p, s peci al i s t s known as T act i cal L andi ng Z one s af et y of f i cer s , as s i gnedt ot heT act i calAi rT r af f i c Cont r olUni t( T AT CU) f r om Br i z e Nor t on, wi l l under t ake gr ound r econnai s s ance and compl et ea ‘ L Zr econnai s s ance f or m’ ,whi ch i dent i f i esi nf or mat i on r el evantt o t he L Zpr of i l ei er unway as pect , el evat i on and s l opes ,s ur f ace t ype( gr as s ,s and,gr avel et c) ,any obs t acl es t o avoi d pl us t he f r equenci es f or t he gr ound agenci es . T hi s i nf or mat i on i s es s ent i aland hel pst he ai r cr ew det er mi ne how t hey appr oach t hes t r i p.

F r om her e, ai r cr ew bui l d t hei r s or t i e pr of i l e, whi ch i ncl udes t al ki ng wi t h T AT CU of f i cer s , i dent i f yi ng s af et y i s s ues , det er mi ni ng ‘ t i meont ar get ’ , al t i t ude at whi ch t hey wi l l oper at e,aswel lasgat her i ng al l avai l abl e met eor ol ogi cal i nf or mat i on.

“Oper at i ons i n hot and hi gh envi r onment st hr ow ups omever y unpr edi ct abl e weat her condi t i ons att i mes .We al ways need a cl oud bas et hatal l owsa s af e oper at i on; we need t o ens ur e we won` t hi t anyt hi ng when we des cend and depar t , ” Capt ai nI ngr am not ed.

T heRAFPembr eyS andsAi rWeaponsRangei sl ocat edt

Whi l et hepr i mar yf unct i onofPembr eyi st opr ovi depr act ot her‘ us er s ’ar eabl et ot akeadvant ageoft hef aci l i t i es ,

T headj oi ni ngbeachi soneoft hr eel ocat i onswher et he

t hr eemi l est ot henor t hwes tofBur r yPor ti nt hecount yofCar mar t hens hi r e,Wal es .

ct i cebombi ngs er vi cest ot heHawksofRAFVal l ey’ sNo.4F l yi ngT r ai ni ngS chool ,t her ear et i meswhen s ,s uchasT or nadoGR4sandevenF 15s .I ndeed,i ti sdes i gnat edasbei ngaNAT O as s et .

eRAFi sabl et oper f or m beachl andi ngs ,asevi dencedbyt hi sC130K,above ( PaulDops on)

T AT CU:I t ’ sal li naday’ swor k!

Havi ng bui l tt he s or t i e pr of i l e,ai r cr ew wi l l coor di nat e wi t h T AT CU of f i cer s , who wi l l ul t i mat el y det er mi ne whet hera f or t hcomi ng mi s s i on i ss af e bas ed on t hei ras s es s mentof condi t i onsont hegr oundandi nt heai r .

I nt he UK,a numberofs peci f i cs i t es ar e avai l abl et os uppor tt hi st r ai ni ngmos tnot abl y on t he gr as ss t r i psatDept f or d Down,Keevi l and Upavon,al ll ocat ed wi t hi nt he S al i s bur y Pl ai nT r ai ni ng Ar ea ‘ S PT A’-t he UK’ sl ar ges t dedi cat ed Ar myt r ai ni ng ar ea -whi l s tbeach l andi ngsar e pr act i s ed atPembr ey S andsi n Car mar t hens hi r e,Wal esandS aunt onS andsi n Nor t hDevon.

I npr i nci pl e,aT L Zcanbes etuponal mos tany s ur f aceasl ongasT AT CUof f i cer ss ayi ti ss af e t o do s o.T al ki ng wi t ht hem dur i ng a s er i esof NS Ot r ai ni ng s es s i onswi t nes s ed on Dept f or d Down,i ti scl eart hatgr ound condi t i onsvar y cons i der abl yand i ti si mper at i ve t hatai rand gr oundcr ewscons i deral lf act or spr i ort oand dur i ngt hemi s s i on.

Al ongwi t hs uppor tf i r eandmedi cal per s onnel , T AT CUof f i cer scheckedt hegr oundt oens ur ei t coul d s uppor t t he ai r cr af t l oad bef or e meas ur i ng outt he l andi ng ar ea and r unway eachdayaheadoft heHer cul es ’ar r i val .

I n t er ms of meas ur i ng t he l oad bear i ng capabi l i t i esoft hi sgr as ss t r i p,t het eam us eda penet r omet er ,whi ch i san i ns t r umentt hati s pus hed i nt o t he gr ound t o meas ur e t he f i r mnes soft he s oi l .T he t eam al s o ens ur ed t her e wer e no ot herhaz ar dson t he s t r i p,as wel las checki ng i twas notover l yr ut t ed, bef or e mar ki ng out t he r unway conf i nes , whi ch wer ei ndi cat ed byt he us e ofdaygl o panel sand meas ur ed 3, 000f eet( 914met r es ) i nl engt hand90f eet( 27.

4met r es )i nwi dt h.T hi s i sact ual l ys mal l ert han t he wi ngs pan ofa Her cul es , whi ch meas ur es 132 f eet ( 40.

38 met r es ) .T heact ualt ouchdownl andi ngar ea wi t hi nt hi swas500f eet( 152.

4met r es ) .

Above-Bef or et r ai ni ng oper at i onscant ake pl a s er vi cescovermus tbepr es ent ( I anHar di ng)

Bel ow -Awer ywetPembr eys ceneast hi sC130J

l ace onanynons eal ed r unway,f ul lemer gency

0Jpr epar est ot ouchdown ( PaulDops on)

Dur i ng mi s s i ons ,t he t eam pr ovi ded gr ound s uppor t ,whi ch i ncl uded cont i nual l y as s es s i ng t he weat hercondi t i onsand t r ans mi t t i ng t hi st o t he ai r cr ew.Cl ear l yoper at i onsona gr as ss t r i p l i ket hos eatDept f or dDowncanchanger api dl y i fi tr ai nsand hence t hey ar er es pons i bl ef or ens ur i ng s af et yi snotcompr omi s ed f r om t he gr ound.

T he chal l enge of l andi ng on t he s and at Pembr ey S andsi ss i mi l arbutnevert he s ame.

Cr ewsher e gener al l yhave t he r el at i ve ‘ l ux ur y’ ofa l ong s t r i p,whi ch ati t smax i mum of6, 400 f eet( 1, 950met r es )i sr oughl yt hes amel engt has t her unwaywasatRAFL yneham,al t hought hi si s s omet i mesr educedmar kedl y.

Capt ai n Nei lI ngr am t akes up t he s t or y: “Repl i cat i ng whatwe do outi nt he f i el di sa neces s ar ypar tofourt r ai ni ngandi ti si mpor t ant cr ews mai nt ai n cur r ency. Once t hey have gai ned NS O qual i f i cat i on, cr ews pr act i s e whenevert heyneedt os t aycur r ent .

“T he chal l enge i skeepi ng t r ai ni ng r eal i s t i c.F or ex ampl ewewoul dnotnor mal l y‘ goar ound’or ‘ t ouch and go’on an oper at i onalmi s s i on;we us ual l yl and,comet oaf ul l s t op,unl oadandgo.

S uch l andi ngss t r es st he engi nesand br akes , hence t he need f ors t r i p‘ pr ep’ ,whi ch may ent ai lchangi ng t yr e pr es s ur es t o pr ovi de a ‘ cus hi on’onl andi ng,at t achi ng membr anesor pr ot ect i vet apeonaer i al set ct or educes t one damage.T hi si s n` ta pr obl em on a beach but cer t ai nl yi sonanuns eal eds t r i pi nAf ghani s t an.

“Ourengi neer i ngt eamsathomeandi nt heat r e ar e t her ef or e es s ent i al t o mai nt ai ni ng t he i nt egr i t yoft heai r cr af t ” .

Dur i nganex t endedt r ai ni ngper i odonDept f or d Down,Her cul escr ewsconduct edmi s s i onsus i ng bot hKandJvar i antai r cr af t .Dai l ymi s s i onsover t he s t r i pl as t ed appr ox i mat el yone hourdur i ng whi chai r cr ew under t ookas er i esof‘ t ouchand go’and t act i call andi ngsf ol l owed by r api d depar t ur es ,whi chi l l us t r at edper f ect l ybot ht hei r s ki l land i nt he cas e oft he Ji t sr api d cl i mbi ng capabi l i t y.T he choi ce ofwhatt hey di d was ul t i mat el yt hei r s .

I ngr am cont i nued:“When pl anni ng f oran NS O we ar e ul t i mat el ycons i der i ng whet her we can l and and oper at es af el y wi t ht he l oad onboar d.Max i mum l oad wei ghti s59 t onnes( 40 f ort he ai r cr af t )and t he f i el d l engt hi scr i t i cal .Ourmi ni mum i s2, 400f eet .

We ar e ai mi ng t o hi ta ‘ box ’ whi ch i s appr ox i mat el y500f eetl ong whi chmaybe hi ghl i ght ed bydaygl opanel s ,butwemus t ens ur ewehaveenoughr oom t odecel er at e downands t oport akeof fi fneces s ar y.I fwe don` thi tt heboxt henwewi l l ‘ t hr ow i taway’ andgoar ound.

“T he boxi st he keyt ar getand atni ghtwe us eI R/ i l l umi nat i ondevi cest hats how up on ourNVGs .‘ Cul t ur al ’l i ght i ngcr eat edbyt own or s t r eet l i ght i ng can cr eat e pr obl ems t hr ough t he HUD, s o you have t o accor di ngl y adj us tl i ght i ng l evel si n t he cockpi t .

“We al wayspr act i s et echni quest o ens ur e we oper at e accor di ng t o MOS ‘ Mi l i t ar y Oper at i ng S t andar ds ’f or t he s t r i p. At Pembr ey f or ex ampl e, s t r i p l engt h i s n` t gener al l yani s s uebutwei ghti s .Wei ghti san i mpor t ant cons i der at i on and t hr es hol d s peed f orNS O T AC l andi ngs i s adj us t ed accor di ngl y. Gener al l y, s peed wi l l be l ower ed t or educe i ner t i a whenyouhi tt he s t r i p.

“Pembr eyi sal ongs t r i pandi t ’ s‘ s of t ’ ,s ot he t echni que i s a mor e s hal l ow, f l ar ed appr oach,t of i nes s et hel andi ngasmuchas pos s i bl e.S peed i sr educed by ar ound 10 knot s .

“You can` tdo t hi swhen you have a s hor t r unway,i nwhi chcas eyouhavet obemor e r ugged and hi tt hel andi ng boxhar d.T hi si s of t en s af er t han f i nes s i ng t hi ngs . F or depar t ur es ,our pr i mar y concer ni s wi nd s t r engt hand gr adi ent ;i t ` sbet t ert ol and up hi l land depar tdownhi l li nt ot he wi nd.I f t hes e ar ei nourf avourwe candepar ti na s hor t er di s t ance wi t h 1525 knot sl ower r ot at i onal s peed” .

Above-Her cul esC3XV221r ot at esawayf r om t heb

Bel ow -L ooki ngr at hermor et i r edt hani t sol i vedr ab cl i mbsawayf r om t hes t r i patDept f or dDown ( I anH

Above -T he C5 var i antoft he C130Ji sver y not i ceabl ys hor t ert han t he much ear l i erC3 model s ,l ef t( PaulDops on)

beachatPembr ey ( PaulDops on)

bcount er par tabove,XV301,anot herHer cul esC3 Har di ng)

Above -T hi sgr eyC5modelhasa numberof panel st hathave r ecei ved t he ‘ s t r i p pr epar ed’ modi f i cat i ons( I anHar di ng)

Above-T heor angepanel ss er vet oi ndi cat et he s t r i p boundar i esand i nt ended l andi ng z ones ( PaulDops on)

T heEngi neer i ngOper at i on T he Her cul esi st he onl y UK ai r cr af tcur r ent l y abl et of l yl ar ge quant i t i esoft r oops ,s uppl i es andequi pmenti nt ogr avelai r s t r i psanddel i ver ai rdr opst or emot edes er tr egi onsandF OBs .

S uch uni que capabi l i t i esens ur et he Her cul es f l eeti si ncons t antdemandf r om gr oundf or ces .

Pr es ent l y,t heJi sdel i ver i ngappr ox i mat el y2000 pas s enger sand300t onnesperweek,ofwhi ch 50t onnesar e ai rdr opsi nt or emot el ocat i ons andmanyoft hes emi s s i onsar eatni ght .

T he wor kl oad on ai r cr ew i st ough,butone s houl d s par e a t hought f or gr ound and mai nt enance per s onnel as s i gned t o 33 ( Engi neer i ng) S quadr on, whos e j ob i ti st o pr epar et heai r cr af t ,r er ol et hem asneces s ar y andunder t aker out i nemai nt enance.

I nt er msofpr epar i ng an ai r cr af tf ort heat r e, eachai r cr af ts pendsf r om 90daysonaver age i nt heat r e up t o a max i mum of120 days .90 daysequat est oappr ox i mat el y360f l yi nghour s , t hepr epar at i onf orwhi cht akesappr ox i mat el y f our t o f i ve days i ncl udi ng equi ppi ng t he ai r cr af tf ori t sr ol e.

T heat r e pr epar at i on al s o i ncl udes addi ng under bel l ypr ot ect i on( neopr enecover i ng)f or t heai r cr af tt opr ot ectaer i al sandpai nt wor k.I n t heat r e,al lai r cr af tgo t hr ough DOPs( Des er t Oper at i ng Pr ocedur es )ever y 30,60 and 90 dayst omai nt ai ns er vi ceabi l i t y.T hi si scr i t i calas t he J shave beenf l yi ng ar ound 130hour sper mont hi nt heat r e,compar ed wi t hj us t75hour s athome.

DOPsi ncl ude i ns pect i ons ,changi ng f i l t er set c.

Rol e f i t on t he ai r cr af t , bot h at MOB ( Mai nt enanceOper at i ngBas e)andi nt heat r e, i si mpor t antf ort hei rt as kand changi ng i tcan be a s i gni f i cant under t aki ng f or t he mor e compl ex r ol es ,i ncl udi ng bot h avi oni cs and car go equi pment ,s omet i mest aki ng up t o 12 hour st ocompl et e.

T hebacke

endofHer cul esC4Z H877ass eenatt het ype’ spr evi oushome,RAFL yneham,backi n2007 ( Kar lDr age)

On t hei rr et ur nt ot he UK,t heat r er ecover yt akesappr ox i mat el yt wo weeks and i ncl udes cl eani ng t he ai r cr af t ,engi nes and per f or mi ng r out i ne mai nt enance.Des pi t et he har s h envi r onment ,engi neer sar e of t en wor ki ng i n ex t r eme t emper at ur esup t o 50degr eescent i gr ade.

S er vi ceabi l i t yl evel sar e hi gh wi t h 75% achi eved on t he K pr i ort oi t s r et i r ementand80% ont heJ ,t es t amentt ot heengi neer si nvol ved.

Ex pect at i onl evel sar ehi gh,butt her ei snodoubtt hatt heenvi r onment andt henumberofmi s s i ons-s hor tr anget as kshavei ncr eas edl eadi ngt o mor et akeof fandl andi ngs-i spr ovi ngt oughont heai r f r ame.

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sf r om t ouchdown br ey( PaulDops on)

S er geantPhi lHar bour ,whos er es pons i bi l i t yi savi oni cs ,ex pl ai ned t he pr epar at i onneeded t opr ot ectt heai r cr af t .“F ors t r i p pr ep onavi oni cs weneedt opr ot ectt heaer i al sandt henavi gat i onall i ght sunder neat h.

Al lt he l oweraer i al s ,UHF / VHF and navi gat i onalaer i al sar e cover ed i ni t i al l ywi t h bl ackf oam a hal f i nch t hi ckand t hen wi t h bl ackbodge t ape,andt hel owernavi gat i onal l i ghti sr emovedorcover ed.

“Youcans eet hedamaget oai r cr af tr et ur ni ngaf t ers t r i pl andi ngs ,whi ch i ncl udesabr as i on t ol eadi ng edgesofaer i al s .I fpr ot ect i on was n` ti n pl acewewoul dbechangi ngt hem cons t ant l y” .

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“Gener al l ywel owert yr epr es s ur ebyar ound45ps i t os t op t heai r cr af ts i nki ngi nt ot hes andorwhat evers ur f acet hey ar el andi ngon.T hes amepr es s ur ei sappl i edf oroper at i ons i nt os t r i ps l i ke Pembr ey and Dept f or d,whi ch pr ovi de ex cel l entt r ai ni ng.

“Our‘ t heat r e pr ep’i ncl udesappl yi ng neopr ene r ubber coat i ngs ,whi ch hel pss t op s t onesbei ng f i r ed i nt ot he pr opel l er s and pr ovi des a pr ot ect i ve coat i ng t ot he ai r cr af ts ki n.Weal s ocoverbr akehos esand hydr aul i csi n r ubbert ubi ng,whi chi scheapbutver yef f ect i ve.

“F ol l owi ng s t r i pl andi ngswe al s o checki ns i de t he door s , t ax il i ght set c whi ch getbat t er ed by s t ones ,es peci al l y when ai r cr af tf i ni s h r ever s i ng. Ai r cr af t have s uf f er ed s hr apnelwoundsi nt he pas t ,s o met alpl at eshave been appl i edt os omeai r cr af t .

“Wi t h beach l andi ngs ,we have had pr obl emswher e ai r cr af thaven` tbeenabl et or et r actt hei runder car r i age due t o s and s ucked i nt o t he under car r i age door s .

Removi ngs andandwas hi ngai r cr af tt opr eventcor r os i on i scr i t i cal . “ Ul t i mat el y,we know whatt he j ob i s and i t ` s never s t andar d ops .I nt heat r e,guys ar e ei t her wor ki ng or s l eepi ng;i t ` samat t erofl i f eordeat h. ”

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