Global Aviation Magazine - Issue 23: April / May 2014

I SSUE23-APR/MAY 2014

Av i at i ont r ai ni ngands af et yar oundt hewor l d

CONT Red Fl ag 142 Rob Edgcumbe r epor t sf r om Nel l i s AF B, Nevada,ast he s econd oft he f amousRed F l ag s er i esofex er ci s esi nf i s calyear2014 t akespl ace.

S2ACR -The l ast passenger DC10 24 F ebr uar ys aw hi s t or y made as Bi man Bangl ades hAi r l i nesDC10S 2ACRmadet he l as teverpas s engerf l i ghtofa DC10. Kar l Dr agewasonboar d.

The 23rd Fl yi ng Trai ni ng Squadron Er i kRoel of st r avel st oF or tRucker ,Al abama, wher et he23r dF T Si sr es pons i bl ef ors our ci ng and t r ai ni ng US AF ’ snex tcadr e ofUH1N, HH60andCV22pi l ot s .

The Cat sti l lroars: No.1 SoTT Cl i veBennet tvi s i t sRAFCos f or d,homeofNo. 1S chool ofT echni cal T r ai ni ng,t ol ear nmor e aboutt he way gr ounded RAFai r cr af tar e cont i nui ngt obeempl oyed.

TENTS

I ssue 23 APR /M AY 2014

PaulDunn l aunchest he GAR Her cul esat60 cover age wi t h an ex t ens i vepi ecel ooki ngatt heai r cr af t ’ shi s t or yanddevel opment .

Bri ti sh Ai rw ays and Heathrow ’ s T5

AsBr i t i s h Ai r wayscel ebr at es40 year s , Dheer ajBhas i nt akesusona t ouroft he T er mi nal 5f aci l i t yatHeat hr ow Ai r por t .

Exerci se RealThaw 2014

J or geRui vor epor t sf r om t heannual Real T haw ex er ci s ehel di nPor t ugal .

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l i sAFB, RobEdgcumbereportsfrom Nel Nev ada, andt hef amousRedFl ags er i esof warg ameex er c i s esdes i g nedt oi mpr ov e c ombats ur v i v abi l i t yr at es . sGAM’ sedi t orandf orI s s ue23hewasl uc ky KarlDragei enoug ht ot akepar ti nt hel as tev erpas s eng erf l i g htofa Mc Donnel lDoug l asDC10 dur i ngt he Bi man Bang l ades h Ai r l i nesDC10Far ewel l T our .

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Deput yedi t or :Gar et h St r i nger

kRoel of smakeshi sGAM debutwi t ha Eri

pi ec ef r om hi sar c hi v esex ami ni ngt hewor k ofUSAF’ s23r dFl y i ngT r ai ni ngSquadr onat For tRuc ker , Al abama. s bac ki nI s s ue 23 wi t h PaulDunn i

anot herpi ec eex ami ni ngt hehi s t or yand dev el opment of a hug el y i mpor t ant ai r c r af t-t heL oc kheedC130,i nt hi si t s 60t hanni v er s ar yy ear . i v eBennet tal s omakeshi sGAM debut Cl

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Toadv er t i s ei nGl obalAvi at i onMagazi ne: Tel :+44( 0) 7912311379 Emai l :adv er t s @gl obal av i at i onmagaz i ne. c om

Tos ubs c r i bet oGl obalAvi at i onMagazi ne: www. gl obal av i at i onmagaz i ne. c om

© Gl obalAvi at i on Resour ce 2014.Al l r i ght s r es er v ed. Gl obal Avi at i on Resour ce' sphot ogr aphi candwr i t t enwor k i ss ubj ec tt oc opy r i ght and may not be r epr oduc ed i n any f or m wi t hout ex pr es s wr i t t enper mi s s i on.

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The GLOBA L A VI A TI ON RESOURCE

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P l eas ev i s i t t h ewebs i t ebel owt os eet h ei mager yal r eadyav ai l abl e.I f y ou ar eu n abl et of i n dwh at y ouar el ook i n gf or , pl eas edr opu sal i n ean dwewi l l doou r bes t t os at i s f yy ou r r equ i r emen t .

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endt oMi r ageF 1oper at i ons ,i t wi l l gr eat l y r educe t he l i kel i hoodofs eei ngt heai r cr af t i nEur opeans ki es .Gabon,I r an, T hepr et t yF r enchj ethass er ved L i bya and Mor occowi l lbel ef t wi t ht he Ar mée de l ' Ai ri n a as t he s ol e oper at or s oft he var i et yofr ol ess i nce 1973,but t ype,f ol l owi ng t he col l aps e of t he r emai ni ng doz en or s o S pai n’ spr opos ed s al e of16of ai r cr af t ar e al l of t he i t s own r ecent l yr et i r ed r econnai s s ance ver s i on -t he ex ampl est oAr gent i na.

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tt heAi r busf act or yatT oul ous eBl agnac,i r oni cal l yboundf orCot s wol dAi r por twher ei twoul dgoont o t wodays ( Kar lDr age)

Al s o on t he upcomi ng F r ench t r i p,Ii nt end t os pend s ome t i me att he Ai r busf act or y at T oul ous eBl agnac, wher e I ’ m ver ymuchhopi ngt ogetaf i r s t l ook att he Ai r busA350 XWB, whi ch,Ihavet os ay,i sanot her ver yeas yont heeyeai r cr af t .

ex pect i ng t o r ecei ve i t sf i r s t ai r cr af tl at eri nt he yearwi t h r evenue s er vi ce s chedul ed t o commencei nDecember .

Ai r busal r eadyhol dsf i r m or der s f or824A350sf r om 40di f f er ent car r i er s . T hr ee var i ant s ar e cur r ent l y underdevel opment , Havi ng f i r s tf l own on 14 J une t he A350800, A350900 and 2013,a compr es s ed t es tf l yi ng A3501000, al bei t Ai r bus i s s chedul e means t hatl aunch doi ngi t sbes tt oper s uadeear l y cus t omerQat arAi r waysi ss t i l l s uppor t er s of t he pr oj ect t o

s wapt hei r800or der sf orl ar ger 900& 1000s er i esai r cr af t .I n f act ,j us t34 800 s er i esor der s r emai n and t her ei spl ent y of s pecul at i on t hat t he manuf act ur erwi l lki l lof ft hat par t i cul ar l y var i ant bef or e a 800 t es t ai r f r ame has even f l own.

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Budget ar ypr es s ur esmeantt hatRedF l agex er ci s eswer eputonhi at us dur i ng2013.However ,2014hass eent hem r et ur nandt heyhavebeen pr ovi di ngal otofact i vi t yf orNel l i sAF B.T hef i r s tex er ci s eof2014,Red F l ag141,wascover edonours i s t erwebs i t e,Gl obal Avi at i onRes our ce.

GAM headed backt o Nevada f orRed F l ag 142. Rob Edgcumbe r epor t sonhow i twasconduct ed.I magesascr edi t ed.

Dat e:314Mar ch2014; L ocat i on:Nel l i sAF B,NV,US A

T he s t or y ofhow Red F l ag came t o ex i s thas been wel l cover ed by Gl obal Avi at i on Res our ce. Wi t hout r epeat i ng t he pr evi ous ex per i ences t hatl ed t ot he cr eat i on oft he ex er ci s e,t he under l yi ng r equi r ementr emai ns t hes ameaswhent hepr ogr am wasl aunched– t ogi veai r cr ew t hei rf i r s tt encombatmi s s i onsi na

cont r ol l ed envi r onment .T hes e ar e when t hey ar e mos tl i kel yt o be l os tand al l owi ng t hem t o ex per i enceand l ear ni nanenvi r onmentwhi ch does n’ tact ual l yi nvol ve s omeone t r yi ng t o ki l l t hem s houl d make t hem f arbet t erpr epar ed s houl dt heyeverber equi r edt ogoi nt ocombat f orr eal .

T heB52cr ew count eracr os s wi ndas

Whi l et hepr i nci pl esofRedF l aghavenot changed, t he s cal e, compl ex i t y and ex ecut i onoft heex er ci s ehavemor phed dr amat i cal l y over t he year s .

A par t i ci panti nRedF l agt went yyear sago woul d not r ecogni s e t he way t he ex er ci s ei snow handl ed.Notonl yi si tan ex er ci s ei nf l yi ng mi s s i ons ,now i tcover s f ourmai n ar easoft he aer i alwar f ar e envi r onment . Aggr es s oroper at i onsar e car r i edoutbyt heRedF or cei nt heai r ,i n anai rdef enceenvi r onment ,i nt hecyber s pher e and i ns pace. Al lof t hes e el ement sar e us ed t ot es tt he abi l i t yof t heBl ueF or cest ocar r youtt hei rmi s s i ons .

F i r s t ,t hough,ever yonehast ogett oRed F l ag i nt hef i r s tpl ace.T hepar t i ci pat i ng uni t scomef r om t heUSf or cesaswel las al l i edai rar ms .Ai rCombatCommandi s t he ownerof t he ex er ci s e and t hey det er mi ne whi ch uni t swi l lat t end f r om t he US f or ces whi l s tt he Pent agon i s r es pons i bl ef ori nvi t i ngpar t i ci pat i onf r om over s easai rar ms .I tcomesasnos ur pr i s e t of i nd t hatt he demand f orpl aceson t heex er ci s ei sf arhi ghert hant hes pace avai l abl e.

Whi l e demand f ors pace i shi gh,t her e ar es omecor er equi r ement st hathavet o bef i l l edf oreachRedF l ag.T hecont ent oft he ex er ci s e wi l lchange each t i me, butt her ear es omecor ecapabi l i t i est hat ar er equi r edever yt i meands ot hes ewi l l det er mi ne t he f or ce bal ance t hat i s i nvi t ed.Onebomberuni twi l l bei nvi t ed.

T hi smaybeaB1,B2orB52uni tbutone uni ti st he r i ghts i z et of ul f i lt he ex er ci s e needs .I nRed F l ag142,t he96t hBomb S quadr onatBar ks dal eAF Bs enti t sB52s t opar t i ci pat e.At t acks quadr onswi l lbe pr es entwhi ch,i nt hi scas e,i ncl udedt he F 15Es of 336t h F i ght er S quadr on at S eymour J ohns on AF B and t he F 15S ai r cr af t oft he RoyalS audiAi rF or ce ( RS AF ) .

Above-A f l i ghtofS eymourJ ohns onF 15Esbr eakb Nel l i s( RobEdgcumbe)

ast heyl aunchf orami s s i onwi t has el ect i onofpar t i ci pant swai t i ngi nt hebackgr ound ( RobEdgcumbe)

backi nt ot hepat t er nat

Above -T he RS AF s entei ghtF 15S S t r i ke Eagl es ,f ourai r cr af t f r om 6 S quadr onandf ourf r om 55S quadr on,t het r ai ni ngs quadr on,i ncl udi ngt hi s one.Bot hs quadr onsar ebas edatKhami sMus hayt( Chr i sWood)

F i ght ercoverwi l lbe r equi r ed and t he 123r dF i ght erS quadr on oft he Or egonANG br oughti t sF 15Cst of ul f i l t hi sr ol eal ongwi t ht he40t hF l i ght T es tS quadr onatEgl i nAF B.S EADwasunder t akenbyF 16CJ soft he77t h F i ght erS quadr on atS haw AF B. I ndeed t her e wer e many F 16 uni t s par t i ci pat i ngi nt heex er ci s e.T heywer et as kedt oper f or m asmanyr ol es ast heywer et r ai nedf ors oat t ackandai rdef encewasi ncl udedi nt hei r s cope.As i def r om t he77t hF i ght erS quadr on,t heUS AFhadai r cr af tf r om t he4t hF i ght erS quadr onatHi l lAF B,whi l eF 16AM/ BMsoft heBel gi anAi r F or ce and t he RoyalDani s h Ai rF or ce at t ended. T he Uni t ed Ar ab Emi r at esbr oughtt hei rF 16E/ Fai r cr af taswel l .

Above l ef t& abo ANG F 15Cs pr o t hr oughoutt heex e

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edF 16soft he77t h “Gambl er s ” , 20t h ar t i ci pat ed i n Red

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Above-T he4t hF i ght erS quadr onf r om Hi l lAF B, Ut ahs ent14F 16Cs( Chr i sWood)

Above - Denmar k had ei ght F 16AMs par t i ci pat i ng i nt hi si t er at i on oft he ex er ci s e ( RobEdgcumbe)

Above-t hes ame14F 16sf r om t he20t hF W at S haw AF B,S C,wer es t i l l atNel l i sf r om RF 141,but f l ownhi st i mebyt he77t hF S( Chr i sWood)

Mai n-T heUAEbr oughtF 16EandF 16FDes er tF al const oRedF l ag142( RobEdgcumbe)

Above-T heyel l ow f i nbandandHLt ai l codeof a4t hF S“F i ght i ngF uuj i ns ”F 16C,t ur ni ngovert he s peedway ( Chr i sWood)

Above -A Bel gi an F 16AM t ur ns i nt ol and ( RobEdgcumbe)

Addi t i onal s uppor t was pr ovi ded i ncl udi ng t anker sf r om McConnel lAF B,MacDi l lAF Band t he New Hamps hi r e ANG,a Bel gi an Ai rF or ce C130 Her cul es det achment and combat s ear ch and r es cue f r om t he 66t h Res cue S quadr on HH60s s uppor t ed by 79t h Res cue S quadr on HC130J sf r om Davi sMont han AF B. AWACScoverwaspr ovi debyaNAT O E3Af r om Gei l enki r chen and a pai rofUS AF E3Bsf r om T i nkerAF B.

Above-ABel gi um C130l aunchedeachdayas par toft hemi s s i ons( RobEdgcumbe)

Above -T he Bel gi an cont i ngentcompr i s ed 10 F 16AMs and a pai r of C130H Her cul es ( Chr i sWood)

Above -HH60G Pavehawksf r om t he bas ed 66t hRes cueS quadr ont ookpar t( Chr i sWood)

Above - T he t anker f or ce compr i s ed t hr ee r egul arai rf or ceKC135Rsandt hi sonef r om t he New Hamps hi r eANG ( Chr i sWood)

Above -T he 79t hRes cue S quadr onf r om Davi s Mont han AF B,Ar i z ona s ent t wo of i t s new HC130J s( Chr i sWood)

Mai n - A NAT O E3t ur ns t i ght l y ont o f i nal appr oach ( RobEdgcumbe)

Above -T he AWACSf or ce had a pai rofE3Bs f r om t he 552nd Ai rCont r olWi ng atT i nkerAF B, Okl ahoma ( Chr i sWood)

Above-Oneofapai rofKC135Rsf r om t he22nd Ai rRef uel i ng Wi ng atMcConnel lAF B,Kans as ( Chr i sWood)

ADani s hF 16AM qui ckl ypul l supt hegear( RobEdgcu

Oncet heuni t shavebeens el ect ed,t hey t henhavet odet er mi newhot obr i ngt o Nel l i st o car r youtt he mi s s i ons .T hi si sa cas e of combi ni ng ex per i ence wi t h i nex per i ence. T he ex per i enced cr ews ar et heonest hatcanpr ovi des uppor tt o t he j uni orcr ewsast hey car r y outt he mi s s i onsand can t ake l ear ni ng poi nt s backt ot hecor euni t st os har ewhathas been l ear ned. Meanwhi l e, a cor e r equi r ementi sf ort he newercr ewst o gai nt he mi s s i onex per i ence t heyneed.

T hi si st r uenotonl yf orai r cr ew butal s of or t he mai nt ai ner s who ar e get t i ng t he oppor t uni t y t o wor ki n a mul t i uni t envi r onment away f r om home bas e wor ki ngwi t hal l i edf or ces .

F ort hos euni t st r avel l i ngal ongdi s t ance t o gett o Red F l ag,t he mai nt ai nabi l i t y ands uppor t abi l i t yofoper at i onsi sal mos t asi mpor t antast heex er ci s ei t s el f .Maj or L ar sS t ockhol m oft he RoyalDani s h Ai r F or ce ex pl ai ned t hatt he f er r yi ng oft en F 16AM/ BM j et st oNevadawasl es st han s moot h s ai l i ng. “I ni t i al l y we wer e br i ngi ngar oundt enai r cr af tbutonl yf i ve oft hem made i tbecaus et he t anker br okedown.I gotmyf i r s tf ourai r cr af ton Wednes day and wass uppos ed t o get t henex tf ouronT hur s day.F ouroft hem gotdi ver t ed t oL uke AF B nearPhoeni x becaus e ofweat herher e. T wo oft he j et sbr okedown,s oI hadt os ends omeof my mai nt ai ner sdown t oL uke,gett he j et sf i x ed and f i nal l yonS undaymor ni ng ar ound10o’ cl ockt her emai ni ngf ourj et s l anded s oIhad al lei ghtj et sj us ti nt i me f ort heex er ci s et obegi n.Ont opoft hat al l of my C130 equi pment , t es t equi pmentands par epar t sdi dn’ tcome i nunt i l S undayaf t er noons oI was n’ tabl e t of i x anyt hi ng. ” Now t he ex er ci s ei s under wayt hi ngsar e a bi teas i er . “T he har d par ti sget t i ng t he j et soverher e and backagai n. Now i ti sbus i nes sas us ual . We al s o gets uppor tf r om t he Amer i cansandt heBel gi ans . ”

Anot herDani s hF 16AM bl as t soutofNel l i s( RobEdgcu

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Ar r i vi ng on t i me i si mpor t antbecaus e, whi l et heex er ci s es t ar t sont heMonday, t heweekendbef or ei sani mpor t antpar t oft he accl i mat i s at i on pr oces sf ort he cr ews .L tCol J or danGr anti st heDeput y Commanderoft he414CombatT r ai ni ng S quadr on,t heuni tt hatr unsRedF l ag.He ex pl ai ned how t he i nt r oduct i onpr oces s wor ks .

“I t ' sver y bus yf ort he ai r cr ew and t he mai nt ai ner swhen t hey gether e. We haveS at ur dayast hedayt hatever yone f l ew t hei r ai r pl anes . Ever ybody had r ange t i me t o go outand l ookatt he r angeandgetf ami l i arwi t ht heai r s pace andt hepr ocedur es .F ort hos et hathave not f l own her e bef or e, t hey get a chance t o get f ami l i ar i n a beni gn envi r onment . On S unday we br i ng ever ybodyi n.T heent i r e1012hourday i sbr i ef i ngaf t erbr i ef i nggoi ngt hr oughal l t he s peci f i cst heyar e goi ng t o have t o know f ort henex tt woweeks . ” Br i ef i ngswi l l t hent akepl aceonal l oft he ex er ci s edayst ogot hr ought hemi s s i ons f ort hatday.T hemas sbr i ef i ngont hef i r s t day i sal waysa l i t t l el ongers i nce t he s af et yel ement shavet obeemphas i s ed att he begi nni ng oft he pr oces swhi l e ever yone i ss t i l lqui t e new t o whati s goi ngon.

T he 547t h I nt el l i gence S quadr on i s r es pons i bl ef ordevel opi ng t he cont ent oft he mi s s i onsand how t hey evol ve t hr oughoutt hecour s eoft het woweeks .

1s tL tChr i sCl ement sex pl ai nedal i t t l eof how t hi spr oces swor ks . “T he bas el i ne s cenar i oi st he s ame f oreach ex er ci s e butt heyar et hent ai l or edbas edont he as s et st hatar epr es ent .T heover ar chi ng s t or yl i ne i st he s ame butt he i ndi vi dual s cenar i oshave t os hi f tbas ed on t he di f f er entabi l i t yl evel sand t he di f f er ent pl at f or m capabi l i t i es . ”

L tCl ement s ’t eam cont r olt he devel opmentoft he ex er ci s e asf ol l ows .

“T he t wo weekex er ci s ei smanaged t hr ougha t hr eatmat r i x .T hi si st he gui di ngdocument .Ast heF l agmovesf r om oneweekt ot henex t ,wewi l l r ampt hatupmaki ngi tmor edi f f i cul t .T hatget si nt ot headver s ar yt act i cs andhow t heychoos et oex ecut e. ” T hewayt hatnew mi s s i onsar epl annedwi l ldependonhow t hepr evi ous dayshavegoneandt hepr ogr es st hepar t i ci pant shavedemons t r at ed.L t ColJ on Ber ar di nel l ii st he commanderoft he 57t h Adver s ar yT act i cs S uppor tS quadr on and hi si ns t r uct or s wi l lt ai l or t hei r own l evelof engagement dependi ng on how t he par t i ci pant s per f or m on t hei r mi s s i ons . “We wi l ldi ali tup bas ed on whatt he Red F l ag l eader s hi pi s obs er vi ngi nt heex er ci s e.T heywi l l s ayyes ,l et ' sdi al i tupbecaus et heyar e doi ngwel l orl et ' skeepi tont hi sbui l di ngbl ockf oranot herday. ”

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F 15D ower .

aggr es s or

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aggr es s or sr unback or t i e.

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F orRed F l ag 142,t her e wer e 104ai r cr af t ,about2, 000per s onnel ,18uni t sand a numberofcoun of f er eds omet hought saboutwhatt heywoul dgai nf r om bei ngt her e.“Wegi veanoppor t uni t yf or t heycan' tdoathome.Wecanaddal eveloft hr eatt hatt heycan' ts eebackhome.Wehavet h overt hewor l dandal l overt heAi rF or ce. ”

Hedoes n’ tj us ts eet hi sasat r ai ni ngex er ci s eei t her .T her eal wor l dex per i enceofOper at i onUni f i edPr t heL i byanci vi l war ,i ss omet hi nghef eel shasdemons t r at edt heval ueofRedF l ag.“T hos ef ol kswen amat t erofhour s .T heyhadt oputever yt hi ngt oget herandex ecut eami s s i ont oget her .I fi twast hef t hatwoul dhavebeenal otmes s i er .Becaus ewecomet oRedF l ag,weal r eadys peaks omewhat t hes amepr oces s esdowns oi ti samat t erofex ecut i ng. ”

unt r i espar t i ci pat i ng. L tColGr ant oranywar f i ght ert odot hi ngst hat t heabi l i t yt obr i ngpeopl ef r om al l

Pr ot ect or ,t heUNoper at i ondur i ng entt owarwi t hver yl i t t l enot i ce-i n f i r s tt i met heyhadf l ownt oget her , toft hes amel anguage,wehave A HH60G Pavehawk f r om t he 66t h Res cue S quadr on appr oachest heJ ol l ypad ( Chr i sWood)

Above-AnF 15Ecr ew us esaer odynami cbr aki ngonl andi ng ( RobEdgcumbe) Bel ow -AB52dr opsbacki nt oNel l i sAF B( RobEdgcumbe)

Bel ow -AnF 15Sf r om 6S quadr on

noft heRS AF ( Chr i sWood)

Evens o,budgetpr es s ur esar es omet hi ngal l ar medf or cesar e cons ci ous of . Wi t h pot ent i al f or ce r educt i ons bei ng cont empl at ed wi t hi nt he Depar t mentofDef ens e,doeshe vi ew RedF l agasbei ngundert hr eat ?

“I ' m notwor r i ed becaus e ever yone r ecogni z est he val ue of RedF l ag.I fyouar egoi ngt ohaveas mal l erf or ce,youhave t of ocusont r ai ni ng.I nmyes t i mat i on,i t ' spr obabl ygoi ng t o gr ow andgetmor ei mpor t ant . ” T hatdoesnotmeanever yt hi ngi ss t r ai ght f or war df ort het eam, t hough. Budget r es t r i ct i ons ar e a pr obl em f aci ng t he aggr es s orf or ce. I nves t menti n upgr adest ot he aggr es s or capabi l i t i eshasbeen cutand t hi shasan i mpacton t he t r ai ni ng t hati sdel i ver ed. L tColBer ar di nel l idi s cus s ed t he ai r cr af tt heyar ecur r ent l yoper at i ng.“Ont headver s ar ys i de, wear ef eel i ngt hei mpactofbudgetcut s .T hatj us tl i mi t sour abi l i t yt or epl i cat et henewes tt hr eat ss owhi l ewear epul l i ng backt he adver s ar i esand notupgr adi ng t he equi pmentwe us et or epl i cat et he t hr eat s ,t he t hr eat sar e get t i ng bet t er equi pment . ” When as ked aboutt he l ack ofdi s s i mi l art ypest o pr ovi de aggr es s ort r ai ni ng,heex pl ai nedhow t heymaket hebes tus e t hatt heycan oft he t ypesavai l abl et ot hem. “I ti sal ways bet t ert o have di s s i mi l arf ort he pur pos esofr epl i cat i on and i dent i f i cat i oni nt heai r .Whenyoupas sa guywhol ooksl i ke yourwi ngmani ti sr eal l ydi f f i cul tt owor koutwhot os hoot .We over comet hi swi t hhavi ngdi f f er entpai nts chemes .Wi t ht he l i mi t ed i nvent or ywe have now,i tbecomescos tpr ohi bi t i ve.

T he F 15 and F 16 we f l y ar et he bes tr epl i cat i on. We do r epl i cat es ys t emsbas ed on ourr es ear ch whi ch makesus ex ecut e di f f er ent l ywhi ch maybe advant ageoust o usand pr ovi des a t act i cal pr obl em t o t he bl ue f or ces or i s di s advant ageoust ousbecaus ei tgi vest hem bet t ers ys t ems ort act i cs . ” Whi l et hes e pr es s ur eswi l lcont i nue t o pr ovi de chal l engest o t he or gani s er s and par t i ci pant si n Red F l ag,t he t r ai ni ng benef i ti tpr ovi deswi l l bet hej us t i f i cat i onf ort hepar t i ci pant st o r et ur n.AsL tCol Gr ants ummedup,“T her ei snot hi ngl i kedoi ng [ ami s s i on]wi t hahundr edot herai r pl aness owekeept hef i r s t dayass i mpl e aspos s i bl es ot heycan go and ex ecut e,do s omet hi ngt act i calcomebackanddebr i efs af el y.Byendof t he s econd weekever yone i sf i r i ng onal lcyl i nder s . ”T hati s whatRedF l agi sal l about .

T heaut horwoul dl i ket ot hankt het eam atNel l i sAF Bandal l of t hepar t i ci pat i ngcr ewst hats uppor t edt hepr epar at i onoft hi s f eat ur e.

‘ New Er a’ ?E

S2ACR -Thel a

Overa t hr ee dayper i od s panni ng 2224F ebr uar y,Bi man Bangl ades oppor t uni t yt of l yonone ofni ne McDonnel lDougl asDC10‘ f ar ewel S 2ACRand,i r oni cal l y,s t i l lnamed“New Er a” ,wast hef i nalpas s enger t hever yl as tpas s engerf l i ght .

EndofanEr a

l astpassengerDC10

es h Ai r l i nesgave t he avi at i on ent hus i as tcommuni t yan unbel i evabl e el lf l i ght s ’oper at i ng f r om Bi r mi ngham Ai r por t .T he ai r cr af t ,r egi s t r at i on rconf i gur edDC10oper at i onali nt hewor l d.Kar lDr agewasonboar d I mageSt eveComber

N116AA,a DC1010 ofl aunch cl i mbi ngawayf r om New Yor k’ sJ o Mar ch1981 ( PaulF i l mer )

DC10Devel opment T he DC10’ sl i neage dat esback t o 1965 and t he t hen Dougl asAi r cr af tCompany’ sf ai l ed bi dt of ul f i lt he Uni t ed S t at esAi rF or ce’ sCXHL S( HeavyL ogi s t i csS ys t em)pr ogr am.

F ol l owi ng a r eques ti n 1966f r om Amer i can Ai r l i nesf ora wi debodyai r cr af t ,s mal l eri ns i z et hant heBoei ng747but capabl eoff l yi ngs i mi l arl engt hr out esf r om s hor t err unways , Dougl asonceagai nt ur nedt oi t sCXHL Ss ubmi s s i on.

T he Dougl asAi r cr af tCompany mer ged wi t h McDonnel l Ai r cr af ton28Apr i l 1967,becomi ngt heMcDonnel l Dougl as Cor por at i on.

Des pi t et hemer ger ,t hef i r s tcommer ci alai r l i nerpr oduced byt henewl yf or medcompanyr et ai nedt hef amous“DC“ t ypepr ef i x .T hatai r cr af twasMcDonnel l Dougl as ’ ss ol ut i on t ot heAmer i canAi r l i nespr obl em:t heDC10.

Or i gi nal l y des i gned as a f our engi ned, doubl edeck wi debody,capabl eofaccommodat i ng 550pas s enger s , t he ul t i mat e DC10des i gn f eat ur ed a s i ngl edeckl ayout wi t hs eat i ng f orup t o 399 pas s enger sand power ed by t hr eeGECF 66engi nes .

Or i gi nal l ydes t i nedt obecomet he a DC1040 f ol l owi ng a r eques t pr es i dent .Al s os eenatJ F KI nt er na

I n1968Amer i canAi r l i nespl acedor der sf or25ai r cr af twhi l e Uni t ed Ai r l i nesf ol l owed t hatup wi t h 30 f i r m or der sand opt i onsf or30mor e.

T wo and a hal fweeksahead ofs chedul e,on29Augus t 1970,DC10Pr oj ectPi l otCl i f fS t outandcr ew t ookS hi p#1, N10DC –aDC1010,i nt ot hes ki esf ort hef i r s tt i me,wher e t heai r cr af tex ceededal l ex pect at i ons .

I nt r oduct i on 10mont hsand1, 551f l i ghthour sl at er ,t heDC10r ecei ved i t st ype cer t i f i cat ef r om t he F AA on 29 J une 1971,wi t h commer ci als er vi cescommenci ng on5Augus t1971wi t h an Amer i can Ai r l i ness er vi ce bet ween L osAngel esand Chi cago oper at ed byN103AA. Uni t ed Ai r l i nes ’mai den s er vi cef ol l owedon16Augus t .

Wi t har angeof3, 800mi wi t ha‘ nor mal ’l oad,t heS er i es10 ai r cr af twasr eal l ydes i gnedf orus eondomes t i cr out eswi t h s ubs equent ver s i ons demons t r at i ng ex t ended r ange capabi l i t i esorot hers peci al char act er i s t i cs .122DC1010s wer ebui l t .

T hi sS wi s s ai rmachi nei saDC1030 ( PaulF i l mer )

h cus t omerAmer i can Ai r l i nes ,i ss een J ohnF .KennedyI nt er nat i onalAi r por ti n

eDC1020,N145USi scons i der edt obe s tf r om t he Nor t hwes t Or i ent Ai r l i nes nat i onal Ai r por t( PaulF i l mer )

30,s eenatZ ur i chKl ot eni nAugus t1983

Whatwasor i gi nal l yi nt endedt obecomet heS er i es20 ai r cr af twasevent ual l ycer t i f i cat edast heS er i es40on 27Oct ober1972f ol l owi ngar eques tf r om t hepr es i dent ofNor t hwes tOr i entAi r l i nes ,who f el tt hatt he ai r cr af t wass uchavas ti mpr ovementovert heor i gi nal des i gn.

T heS er i es40sus ed t hePr at t& Whi t neyJ T 9D t ur bof an engi ne i ns t ead oft he Gener alEl ect r i c CF 6,each del i ver i ng 50, 000l bsoft hr us tr at hert hant he 41, 500l bs pos s i bl e f r om i t s pr edeces s or . Des pi t e t he bi g i mpr ovement si t of f er ed, onl y 42 ex ampl es wer e pr oducedi nt hedecadef r om 1973t o1983.

J us ta mont hl at er ,t he S er i es30ent er ed s er vi ce wi t h S wi s s ai r ;KL Mf ol l oweds hor t l yaf t er .T heS er i es30made us eoft hel at es tver s i onoft heGECF 6,t he50,whi ch coul ddel i verupt o54, 000l bsoft hr us t .I tal s ohadl ar ger f uelt anksandwasf i t t edwi t has etofcent r al i s edr ear l andi nggeart os uppor tt headdi t i onal wei ght .A t ot al of163DC1030swer e bui l tbet ween 1972and 1988 wi t hdel i ver i espas s i ngt o38di f f er entcus t omer s ,many oft hem Eur opeannat i onal ai r l i nes .

I n1973amodi f i edvar i antoft he30ar r i ved.Dubbed t he DC1030CF , i t f eat ur ed a conver t i bl e car go/ pas s engercabi n. Onl y 27 ex ampl es wer e pr oduced wi t hi ni t i aldel i ver i es goi ng t o Over s eas Nat i onal Ai r waysandT r ansI nt er nat i onal Ai r l i nes .

T heS er i es30wasnott heonl yver s i onoft heDC10t o r ecei ve t he CF t r eat ment . As i mi l arver s i on oft he DC1010,t he DC1010CF ,f eat ur ed a 3.

56m x2.

59m upwar dhi ngi ng car go dooron t he por ts i de oft he f us el age,f or war d oft he wi ngs . Onl yni ne wer e ever bui l t ,ei ghtofwhi ch wer e del i ver ed t o Cont i nent al Ai r l i nesf r om 1974wi t ht heni nt hgoi ngt oUni t ed.

T he DC1015wasf i t t ed wi t h GECF 650C2Fengi nes , maki ng i tmor es ui t ed t o oper at i onsf r om hotand hi ghal t i t ude r unways .S evenai r cr af twer e del i ver ed t oMex i canaandAer omex i cos t ar t i ngi n1981.

Al s o i n 1981,an ex t endedr ange ver s i on ent er ed s er vi ce wi t hF i nnai r ,boas t i ng an i ncr eas ed MT OW of 580, 000l bsandcapabl eofcover i ng6, 600mi l es .I twas f i t t ed wi t h an addi t i onalf uelt anki nt he r earcar go hol d,t houghj us ts i xDC1030ERswer ebui l t .

T he DC1030AF ,wher e‘ AF ’s t ood f orAl lF r ei ght ,was bui l ti ns i mi l ar l ys mal l number sf r om 1984.

KC10Ext ender Af ur t herdevel opmentwasbor neoutoft heDC1030CFvar i ant ,namel y t heKC10Ex t ender ,s ocal l edbecaus eofi t sai r t oai rr ef uel l i ngr ol e,whi ch meanti twasabl et oex t endt heendur anceofanyai r cr af tpayi ngi tavi s i t f orat opup.T heKC10wasal waysi nt endedt ocompl ementt heex i s t i ng KC135S t r at ot ankerf l eetr at hert hanr epl acei t ,andul t i mat el y60ex ampl es wer epr ocur ed.

Endoft heL i ne And s o,bet ween 1968 and 1988,a t ot alof446 DC and KC10swer e pr oduced,atwhi chpoi ntpr oduct i ons hi f t ed i nf ocusf r om t he 10t ot he MD11,s i mi l ari ns hape t oi t spr edeces s orbuts ubs t ant i al l ys t r et ched and f eat ur i ngmuchmor emoder nt echnol ogy.

T he DC10’ si nt r oduct i onhad notbeena par t i cul ar l ys moot hone wi t ha s t r i ng ofhi ghpr of i l e,and,i nt he cas esofT ur ki s h Ai r l i nesF l i ght981 and Amer i canAi r l i nesF l i ght191,hi ghf at al i t yi nci dent sdur i ngt hef i r s tt enyear s ofs er vi ce,l eadi ngt oanunder s t andabl yunf avour abl er eput at i on.I nl at er l i f e,however ,t he DC10mat ur ed i nt oar el i abl e ai r cr af tand can boas t s i mi l ars af et ys t at i s t i cst oot hercompar abl es econdgener at i onj et s .

Bel ow -Boei ng,havi ng mer ged wi t hMcDonnel lDougl asi nt he1990s ,put t oget heraDC10upgr adepr ogr am,l eadi ngt ot hedes i gnat i onMD10.T hi s i ncl uded t hei nt egr at i onofa gl as scockpi t .F edExEx pr es ss t i l loper at esa s ubs t ant i al numberof‘ 10s( Kar lDr age)

Above -T he t ank DC10, t he KC1 oper at ed ex cl us i v S t at es Ai r F or ce Net her l andsAi rF o conver t edDC103 abl e t o del i ver ( PaulDunn)

Ri ght - T he l as t oper at i ng t he pas s engerr ol ei sD KL M,wi t hr et i r em Oct ober .T hi sex a s een dep Ams t er damS chi ph Apr i l 2013 ( Kar lDr a

nkerver s i on oft he 10A Ex t ender , as i vel ybyt he Uni t ed ce.

T he Royal F or ce al s o hast wo 30CF st hatar eal s o er f uel i n f l i ght

ts chedul ed ai r l i ne MD11 i n t he sDut ch f l ag car r i er ments l at ed f or24 x ampl e,PHKCK,i s par t i ng i t s phol Ai r por thomei n r age)

Bi manandt heDC10 S ome 42and a hal fyear saf t ert hatf i r s tf l i ght , Bi man Bangl ades h Ai r l i nes br ought i t sl as t ai r cr af t – and i ndeed t he l as t pas s enger conf i gur ed DC10s t i l li n oper at i on DC1030S 2ACR,t oBi r mi ngham Ai r por tt ogi ve avi at i onent hus i as t st heoppor t uni t yt of l yonone oft hel as teverpas s engers er vi cesf ort het ypei n t hewor l d.

S 2ACR,Manuf act uer ’ sS er i alNumber48317, L i ne Number445,i st he onl y DC10 t hathas s er ved Bi man t o have been del i ver ed t ot he ai r l i neasnew,havi ngbeenhandedoveron30 December1988.

T heBi manas s oci at i onwi t ht heDC10beganon 9Augus t1983whent hecar r i ert ookdel i ver yof t hef i r s tofs evenex ampl esoft het ypet os er ve t heai r l i neovert henex t30pl usyear s .T hei ni t i al t hr eeai r cr af tt oar r i vewer eal l f or merS i ngapor e Ai r l i nesmachi nes .

Above-S 2ACR’ ss i s t er s hi pS 2ACQ vacat est he r unwayatManches t erAi r por ti nNovember2006 ( J ohnHi ggi ns )

Above-S 2ACRI nt hecr ui s eoverWal esdur i nga phot of l i ght on t he S at ur day of t he DC10 F ar ewel l T our( St eveComber )

Above -S 2ADN wasoper at ed by Canadi an Ai r l i nesbef or ej oi ni ng Bi man,hence t hi sunus al hybr i ds cheme ( PaulDops on)

Above-S 2ACRcl i mbsawayf r om Bi r mi ngham’ s Runway 15 at t he s t ar t of t he penul t i mat e f ar ewel l f l i ght( St eveComber )

Above ( PaulDops on)& Mai n( J ohn Hi ggi ns ) S 2ACP i sone oft he f or mer S i ngapor e Ai r l i nes ai r cr af tand wasonl yr et i r ed f r om s er vi ce i n November2013.

Above -S 2ACRr ot at esawayf r om Runway15 f ort he f i nalt i me wi t h payi ng pas s enger son boar d( Mi chaelHi nd)

F ar ewel lF l i ght s Ar r i vi ngf r om Dhakavi aaf uel s t opi nKuwai tCi t y,S 2ACR’ swheel st ouched downonBi r mi ngham’ sRunway33at1750onT hur s day20F ebr uar y,ar ound 90mi nut esbehi nds chedul eand20mi nut esaf t ert hes unhads et .

Af t era down dayon t he F r i day,mor et han 1300ent hus i as t spur chas ed t i cket st of l yononeoft heni nes i ght s eei ngf l i ght sovert henex tt hr eedays .

T hatnumberi si mpr es s i vei ni t sownr i ght ,but ,accor di ng t o Kevi nS t eel e, Bi man Managi ng Di r ect or ,t hos e 1300wer e dr awn f r om no l es st han 52 di f f er entcount r i es !As t r ongi ndi cat i onoft hel ovef el tf ort heDC10acr os s t hegl obe.

I nt he daysl eadi ng up t ot he ai r cr af t ’ sar r i valt her e had been much conj ect ur east opr eci s el ywher ei twoul dul t i mat el yendup.I ni t i alr epor t s hads ugges t edt hati twasboundf oramus eum i nt heUS ,butaf t ert hatf el l t hr ough,s hewasgoi ngt obedel i ver edt ot heai r f i el datBr unt i ngt hor pe,i n f l yi ngt er msamer es t one’ st hr ow f r om Bi r mi ngham,wher es hewoul dbeput i nt ous easar at herdi f f er entconf er enci ngf aci l i t y.Agai n,t hatf el l t hr ough.

When wor d was r ecei ved t hat s he woul d r et ur n t o Dhaka, s ome i mmedi at el yas s umedt hats hewoul dbepr es s edbacki nt oai r l i nes er vi ce, wi t hr umour st hatt he del i ver y ofBi man’ sf our t h 777300ER had been del ayed. Per hapsunder s t andabl yf ort hos et hathad r ung up ex t ens i ve ex pens est obeapar toft hef i nal eevent s , t her ewass omet hi ngofanonl i ne out pour i ngofemot i ont hatt hef i nal pas s engerDC10f l i ghtwoul dnotend upbei ngt hef i nal DC10pas s engerf l i ght .

T hedel ayed ar r i va ar oundwi t haqui t

T hes unwass hi ni n T he i naugur alF ar ewel lT ourf l i ghtt ax i esbackt os t and on t he S at ur day mor ni ng ( St eveComber )

i valt i meatBi r mi ngham madef orchal l engi ng phot ogr aphi ccondi t i onsbutr ewar ded t hos ewhohung ui t edi f f er entl ooki ngi maget ot hatavai l abl edur i ngt her es tofS 2ACR’ ss t ay ( Mi chaelHi nd)

i ngf ort he1200f l i ghtont hel as tdayofpas s engeroper at i ons( Mi chaelHi nd)

Kevi nS t eel e wasunder s t andabl yver ykeen t o al l ayt hef ear soft hos ebookedont hever yl as t f l i ght – t he 1500 s chedul ed depar t ur ef r om Bi r mi ngham on Monday 24 F ebr uar y.

Wel comi ng t he pas s enger sf or“Bangl ades h8” atGat e 65 wi t h a pi ece ofcommemor at i ve cakeandagl as sofchampagne,hewaskeen t o chatand ex pl ai ned why t he deci s i on had been t aken t o br i ng t he DC10 on a f ar ewel l t our .Is t ar t edbyas ki nghi mi fi twasas adday f orBi man:

“Wechos et obr i ngt heai r cr af tt oBi r mi ngham becaus e qui t es oonwe’ l ls t ar tourBi r mi ngham t oNew Yor kf l i ght s ,s ot hi si sgoi ngt obeournex t hub f ort hat ,and al s ot oemphas i s et hatwe’ r e t aki ngBi man–s adl y,i ns omeways–awayf r om t he pr evi ouser a ofDC10s( we f l ew s even at ones t age;youknow,t heywer et hemai ns t ayof ourf l eet )butwe’ r enow movi ngf or war dt ot he Boei ng 777300ERt hat ,ona pers eatbas i s ,ar e 35% mor ef uelef f i ci ent ,s oi nt er ms oft he pas s i ng,t hi si st he ol d – and we want t o cel ebr at et heol d–butwel comei nt henew as wel l .

“Yes ,It hi nkI ’ ve gota l i t t l e bi tofa l ump i nmy t hr oat . Obvi ous l y we’ ve done t hes ef ar ewel l f l i ght st os ayf ar ewel lt ot he DC10i n a good way,s ot hatavi at i on ent hus i as t sar ound t he wor l d–andI r eal l ymeanar oundt hewor l d-I ’ ve beenas t oundedt hatpeopl ehavef l owni nf r om Chi na, f r om Uganda, f r om S i ngapor e, f r om J apan,f r om Canada,ever ywher e you coul d i magi ne.I t hi nkwe’ vecol l ect ed52nat i onal i t i es , and i tr eal l yhasgone vi r al ,s oi t ’ sbeen r eal l y good.

“F i nal l y, Bi r mi ngham has been hugel y s uppor t i ve. We coul dn’ toper at et hi ss or tof oper at i on atany oft he maj orai r por t s– we coul dn’ thave t hr ee f l i ght sa day i n any s l ot cons t r ai nedai r por t s . ” Mai n -Deep bl ue s ki esand l ovel yl i ghtdur i ng S 2ACR’ sS at ur dayai r t oai rphot ogr aphi cs or t i e ( St eveComber ) F arr i ght-T henos ewheel ofS 2ACR ( Kar lDr age)

Above -Bi man Bangl ades h MD Kevi nS t eel e pr oudl ywear i ng hi s“If l ew on one oft he l as t f l i ght soft heDC10”t s hi r t( Kar lDr age)

Above-Unus ual l y,duet ot hes hor tnat ur eoft he f l i ght and t he pas s enger s ’ des i r e t o move ar oundonceai r bor ne,dr i nkswer es er vedast he ai r cr af tt ax i edt ot her unway ( Kar lDr age)

Above-T hecommemor at i vecakecel ebr at ed t hepas s i ng oft heDC10aswel laswel comi ng t henew 777300ERs er vi cet oBHX ( Kar lDr age)

“ Bangl ades h8” Wi t hf or mal i t i escompl et ed, t hepas s enger swer eboar dedont obus esand dr i ven outt or emot es t and 86C,f r om wher et he ai r cr af thad oper at ed dur i ngi t ss t ay.

As mal l wi ndow ofoppor t uni t ywaspr ovi dedt oal l ow pi ct ur est obet aken out s i de t he ai r cr af tbef or ei twasneces s ar yt o boar di n pr epar at i on f or depar t ur e.

S peci algues tont he f l i ghtwasBBC Radi o 2DJJ ani ce L ong,who,asa 19yearol d,hads er vedasanai rhos t es sonF r eddi eL aker ’ sL akerAi r ways DC10s .

Above - F ar epa and i nvi t ed gues t onboar d‘ New Er l as t ever comm DC10f l i ght .

Ri ght - F or mer D J ani ce L ong was f i nal f l i ghtandwas a publ i c addr es sneverdonebef or e

L ef t-T he vi ew gr e as t hey wer e bu r emot es t and on w waspar ked.

T op l ef t-Condi t i o wer e not t he be S 2ACR’ sphot of l i g

ayi ng pax ,medi a s t smake t hei rway Er a’ahead oft he mer ci al pas s enger

DC10 ai r hos t es s son boar df ort he asal l owedt omake s-s omet hi ng s he’ d r e.

r eet i ng pas s enger s bus ed out t o t he whi ch t he ai r cr af t

i onson t he gr ound bes tf or many of l i ght s .

Al l i magest hi ss pr eadKar lDr age

T hewi ndow andai s l es eat shadal l beens ol dt o ent hus i as t swhi l et hecent r es ect i onoft hecabi n hous ed ai r l i ne and ai r por t VI Ps as wel las member soft he medi a. T he br i ght l ycol our ed s eatcover st r ans por t edyoubacki nt i met oan er a ar guabl y pr edat i ng t he DC10’ s i nt r oduct i onatBi man.

At1527l ocalt i me and l i ned up per f ect l ywi t h t he cent r el i ne,t he t hr ot t l eswer e advanced and S 2ACRr oar ed downBi r mi ngham Ai r por t ’ s Runway 15.Once ai r bor ne t he ai r cr af tbr i ef l y camer i ghtbef or eex ecut i ngal ef thandt ur nt o t henor t h.

T ax yi ng outt ot he r unway wi t hf ar epayi ng pas s enger sembar ked f ort he f i nalt i me,t he at mos pher ewasupbeatdes pi t et hes adnat ur e of t he occas i on. F or many i t was a r eacquai nt ancewi t hanol df r i end;f orot her si t wasbot ha f i r s tand l as tchancet oex per i ence t heDC10f i r s thand.

Mai n -A f ew f l as hesofs t eam appear ed over t he wi ngs of S 2ACR at t he s t ar t of her penul t i mat epaxt r i p( Kar lDr age)

Above -Banksofbr i ght l ycol our ed s eat sf i l l ed t hei nt er i orof‘ New Er a’( Kar lDr age)

Above -Beaut i f ulcondi t i onsasS 2ACR cl i mbs awayf r om Runway15 ( Mi chaelHi nd)

Above -Hor desofpeopl et ookadvant age of Above -An i mpr es s i ve s i ghtl ooki ng s t r ai ght t heel evat ed vi ew pr ovi ded byt hecarpar kat down t he r unway as‘ New Er a’power saway Car go t o gets ome ni ce pi ct ur esoft he DC10 f r om Bi r mi ngham oncemor e( Kar lDr age) dur i nghers t ay ( Mi chaelHi nd)

Above -T he s t r obe on t he wi ngt i pi scaught Above-T hos enotpayi ngf ort hei rs eat shadt o ‘ pi ngi ng’ dur i ng t he ai r t oai r phot o s or t i e f i nd al t er nat i ve waysofwat chi ng whatwas ( St eveComber ) goi ngonout s i de ( Kar lDr age)

Af t ert hecapt ai nhadt ur nedof ft hes eatbel ts i gns ,ever yonewasf r eet o movear oundt hecabi n,wi t hmanykeent os eeever yi nchoft heai r cr af t ’ s i nt er i or–i ncl udi ng t he cockpi t ,t hought hatwoul d have t o wai tunt i lwe wer ebackont hegr ound.

Havi ngpas s edbyManches t erandPr es t on–cl oudcoverovert hemaj or i t y oft her out eandno‘ movi ngmap’maki ngi tver ydi f f i cul tt okeept r ackof pr eci s el ywher ewewer e-t hes out hbound t ur nwascommenced att he nor t her nendoft heL akeDi s t r i ct ,byKes wi ck.

Above -Des pi t et t he ai rhos t es s es f l i ghtwer ei ngr ea mor et hanhappyt

Ri ght-T he vi ew over wi ng wi ndo ex ecut esal ef t han

L ef t-S howi nghera i nf l i ght ent er t a pr es enton‘ New E

T op l ef t-L ook s t ar boar ds i deoft t he wi ndows s cr at ched.

Al l i magest hi ss pr e

t he s ad occas i on, saboar dt he f i nal ats pi r i t sand wer e yt opos ef orphot os .

f r om one oft he ows as S 2ACR andt ur n.

rage,t her ewasno t ai nment s ys t em Er a’ .

ki ng out of t he ft heai r cr af t ,wher e wer e heavi l y

r eadKar lDr age

S 2ACRcomesi nt ocl os econt actwi t ht hes un ( St eveComber )

Af t erbr i ef l ygoi ng ‘ f eetwet ’atBar r owI nF ur nes s ,S 2ACR cr os s ed l and once agai n atS out hpor tand s t ar t ed t o des cend f orherr et ur ni nt o Bi r mi ngham andt ocementherpl acei nhi s t or y.

T ax yi ng backt o herr emot es t and,s he wasgr eet ed bya wat er cannon s al ut e cour t es y oft wo ofBi r mi ngham Ai r por t ’ sr es i dentf i r et ender s , s i gnal l i ngt heendoft hat‘ new er a’r ef er encedonhernos e.

Al l over ,‘ New Er a’t ax i esbackont os t and ( Mi chaelHi nd)

T heai r p

Apar t i cul ar l ys mokeyt ouchdownonRunway15 ( Kar lDr age)

i r por tf i r eandr es cues er vi cepr ovi desawat er cannons al ut eas‘ New Er a’t ax i esbacki n( Mi chaelHi nd)

Bi manandBHX Ast he r egul arpas s enger sdi s embar ked –t he vas tmaj or i t yofwhom t ookadvant age oft he oppor t uni t yt o peeri nt ot he cockpi tf i r s t– a medi a conf er ence was hel d i nt he cent r e s ect i onoft hecabi n.

Kevi nS t eel eex pl ai nedt hecur r entBi mans t at us quo and s ome oft he pl ans t he ai r l i ne has movi ngf or war d:

“We have t hr ee 777300ERsatt he moment .

We’ vegotaf our t honecomi ngon21Mar ,and we’ r eal s oget t i ngacoupl eofl eas ed777200s .

T hei deai st hatoneoft hebr and new 777300s wi l l come her e t o be oper at i ng DhakaBi r mi nghamNew Yor k.

“Bi r mi ngham has t he l ar ges t Bangl ades hi communi t yi nt heUKout s i deofL ondon,s oi twas an obvi ouschoi ce,butal s o,we have t r af f i c r i ght sf r om Bi r mi ngham t oNew Yor k,s owe’ l lbe

l ooki ng f ora cat chmentar ea ar ound t hi sar ea and,apar tf r om t heUni t ed f l i ght s ,t her ear eno f l i ght st oJ F Koranywher e el s e,s ot hi si sa US P ( uni ques el l i ngpoi nt )f orus .

“T hef i nal par tt hatI ’ dl i ket oaddi st hatwewer e of f er ed a ver y at t r act i ve package by Bi r mi ngham Ai r por tt hems el ves .T heUKCAAhas l egi s l at ed t hatt heywi l lnotgi ve f i f t hf r eedom t r af f i cr i ght sbeyond Heat hr ow orGat wi ck or S t ans t ed,whi ch i mmedi at el y poi nt susatt he

pr ovi ncesf oranyf or m ofr egi onalf l yi ng.We’ r e notj us tl ooki ngatNew Yor k;we’ r eal s ol ooki ng atT or ont o and ot herpoi nt si n Nor t h Amer i ca.

T hat ’ s why Bi r mi ngham i t s el f has been s o s uppor t i ve i nt he act ualbi di t s el fbutal s o wi t h r egar dt ot hel as tt hr eedaysofoper at i ons .

Above-T hekeyt oBi man’ sf ut ur epl ansl i esi ni t s f l eetmoder ni s at i on pr ogr amme. T he Boei ng 777300ER wi l lr educe f uelbur n by 35% per pas s enger( Kar lDr age)

S l owi ngdownonawetRunway15.T heconesar eont hes t i l l t obeopened r unway ex t ens i on, whi ch i t s el f wi l lmake t he di f f er ence bet ween t he 777300ERoper at i onbei ngvi abl eandi tnot .

“We have t he t r af f i cr i ght sf r om t he UK gover nmentbutwe do nothave t hem yet f r om t he Canadi an gover nment . We do have an Open S ki esar r angements i gned wi t ht heUS ,s owecandot hatanywher ewe wi s hi nt heUS–Chi cago,Mi ami oranywher e el s e,t hat ’ spos s i bl e–butwear eawar et hat t he l ar ges t Nor t h Amer i can Bangl ades hi popul at i onout s i deofNew Yor ki sT or ont o. ” T her e had been s ome del ayswi t ht i cket s goi ng on s al e f or t he f l i ght s t o/ f r om Bi r mi ngham,whi chKevi nex pl ai ned: “Mygues si st hatt i cket swon’ tgo on s al e unt i l Apr i l .What ’ shappeni ngi st hatwewer e

pr evi ous l ygoi ngt ous et he( l eas ed)Egypt Ai r ai r cr af t ,becaus et hatwasa r equi r ementof t he USF AA,however ,we’ ve now f ound out f r om t heF AA andal s oEXI M Bank–whoown t he debt on t he ai r cr af t– t hat we can oper at eourownai r cr af tt her epr ovi di ngi ti s mai nt ai ned and r un by a Cat egor y 1 oper at or ,s ot hat ’ swhywe’ r egoi ngt ohave our own ai r cr af t her e but managed by s omeonel i keAt l asAi r ,whowe’ r et al ki ngwi t h i nt he US ,and a coupl e ofot herones .S o t hat ’ s why t her e’ s been a del ay, but I i magi ne t i cket swi l lgo on s al ei n Apr i l ,and t hatt he s er vi ceswi l lbe oper at ed us i ng our ownai r cr af t . ”

AF ondF ar ewel l T her ewasj us tt i mef oraqui ckl ooki nt hecockpi tbef or et hel as tf ew s t r aggl er swhower el ucky enought obeont hef i nal DC10pas s engerf l i ghtwer ewhi s kedawaybackt ot het er mi nal .

I thadbeenaf i t t i ngs endof ff oranai r cr af twhi chpl ayedas ubs t ant i al par ti nchangi ngt hef ace ofai rt r avel al l t hos eyear sago.

Al l i magest hi ss pr ead Kar lDr age

T woofBi man’ ss eni orDC10capt ai nsans wer i ngques t i ons .

F or S 2ACR, t he s t or y wasnotqui t e over . As r ef er enced ear l i er , t her e wer e many mut t er i ngsaboutwhat f at e woul d ul t i mat el y bef al lherahead oft he f ar ewel l f l i ght s .I ni t i al l yi t had been ex pect ed t hats hewoul d head t o S eat t l e t o j oi n t he Mus eum of F l i ght col l ect i on, however , t hey di d not have s pace t o pr ovi de her wi t h a home f or s i x mont hs , and s he coul dn’ t f l y beyond May, s o t he f ocus t ur ned t ol eavi ng heri n t he UK – at Br unt i ngt hor pe, wher e, i t i s r umour ed, s he woul d have r epl aced t he f or mer Ol ympi c 747 Cl as s i candbeenputt o wor k as a s omewhat unus ual conf er ence f aci l i t y.

Ul t i mat el y, t hough,Bi manr ecei ved an of f erf orpar t i ng out t hatt hey s i mpl y coul d nott ur n down. S o,j us t bef or e1900onT ues day 25 Apr i l ,s he depar t ed Bi r mi ngham bound f or Dhaka – herhome f or t hepr evi ous25+year s– t o meet a r at herl es s gl amor ous end t han one mi ghthave hoped f or .

Dur i nghercar eers he’ d amas s ed s ome 22, 000 cycl esand s pentmor e t han80, 000hour si nt he ai r .

St eveComber

S t opr i ghtt her e!( St eveComber )

L as tmi nut epi csbef or eboar di ng ( Kar lDr age) Ear t hwor kscont i nueatBHX ( Kar lDr age)

Ands o,asi ts t ands ,t heDC10–at l eas ti ni t spas s engergui s e –bows out wi t hout t hei rbei ng a s i ngl e ex ampl e of t he t ype pr es er ved wi t hi nanymus eum col l ect i on.

L i neduponRWY33 ( Mi chaelHi nd)

2014i sal s oex pect edt owi t nes st he r et i r ement of anot her pas s enger ai r cr af tdevel opedf r om t heDC10, t he MD11, whi ch i s cur r ent l y s chedul edt ol eaveKL Ms er vi ceon 25Oct ober .

Ofcour s e,t hel egacyofbot ht ypes wi l l l i veonf ors omet i meyetasbot h r emai ni n act i ve s er vi ce wi t ha numberofcar go oper at or s ,pl us t he Uni t ed S t at es and Royal Net her l andsai rf or cescont i nue t o oper at et he 10,pr i mar i l yi nt he ai r t oai rr ef uel l i ngr ol e.

F ormet her e’ sar ealbeaut yabout t he s hape oft he DC10 – much mor es ot han t he MD11. T o my eye,herl ooksdi s gui s eherage,and I hopet her e’ l l s t i l l bepl ent yofot her oppor t uni t i es t o s ee t hat t hr eeengi ne conf i gur at i on f or manyyear st ocome.

Pas s i ngt heBi r mi ngham Ai r por tf i r es t at i on ( Kar lDr age)

Kar lDr age ext endss i ncer et hanks t oJ us t i ne Howlf r om Bi r mi ngham Ai r por t ,Kevi nSt eel eandever yone f r om Bi manandBi r mi ngham Ai r por t who made t he f i nal f l i ght exper i ence notonl ya r eal i t y but al s o execut ed i t i n s uch an out s t andi ngmanner .

Edi t or ’ snot e: I twasannouncedon 23 Mar ch t hatKevi n St eel e had r es i gnedf r om hi spos i t i onasBi man Managi ng Di r ect or on medi cal gr ounds .Wewoul dl i ket ot aket hi s oppor t uni t yt o wi s h Kevi n al lt he ver y bes ti n what everbat t l es l i e ahead.

T heDC10:s uchagoodl ooki ngj et( St eveComber )

Trai ni ngTomorr

rrow’ sWarri ors

T r ai ni ngt omor r ow’ swar r i or si swhatt he23r dF l yi ngT r ai ni ngSquadr on atF or tRucker ,Al abama,i sal l about .Er i kRoel of sj oi nedt hes quadr on back i n 2011 t os ee how Uni t ed S t at esAi rF or ce t r ai nsi t sf ut ur e hel i copt erpi l ot sus i ngt heUH1HI r oquoi sandT H1HHueyI I .

Wor dsandpi ct ur esbyt heaut horunl es ss t at edot her wi s e.

1

T heear l ydays T he i ncept i on of mi l i t ar y hel i copt er pi l ot t r ai ni ng can be t r aced back t oJ anuar y 1944,when t he USAr myAi rF or ces( US AAF ) i ni t i at edi t shel i copt ert r ai ni ngpr ogr ammeat F r eeman F i el d nearS eymour ,I ndi ana. By J une 1944,t he hel i copt ert r ai ni ng s chool r ecei ved i t sf i r s tS i kor s kyR4hel i copt er s ,t he f i r s tmas spr oduced hel i copt erand t hever y f i r s thel i copt eri ns er vi cewi t ht heUSAr myAi r F or ces .

F ol l owi ng t he es t abl i s hmentoft he Uni t ed S t at esAi rF or ce i n 1947,i twasagr eed t hat t he Ai rF or ce woul d cont i nue t o pr ovi de hel i copt ert r ai ni ng f orbot h Ai rF or ce and Ar my pi l ot s t hr ough t he US Ai rF or ce Hel i copt erS chool . Byt hi st i me t he R4had al r eadybeenr epl acedbyt heBel l 47orH13 S i oux( #1) .I nt he ear l y 1950s ,t he USAr my opened i t s own hel i copt er f l i ght t r ai ni ng s chool atF or tS i l l ,Okl ahoma,andi n1956t he Ai rF or ce ceas ed t ot r ai n Ar my hel i copt er pi l ot sal lt oget her .Dur i ng t hi st i me,t he H13 r emai ned t he bas i c t r ai ni ng hel i copt er , s uppl ement ed wi t h t he S i kor s ky H19 Chi ckas aw ( #2) and t he Pi as ecki H21 S hawnee( #3) .

3

I nt he1960st hes ehel i copt er swer er epl aced wi t ht heBel lUH1F( #4) ,t heKamanH43( #5) andt heS i kor s kyCH3C ( #6) ,r epr es ent i ngt he hel i copt er s us ed by t he US Ai rF or ce f or s peci aloper at i ons ,f i r ef i ght i ng and aer i al r es cue. Asa cos tcut t i ng meas ur e,t he Ai r F or ces t ar t ed t oi nves t i gat et hepos s i bi l i t yof out s our ci ng i t sS peci al i z ed Under gr aduat e Pi l otT r ai ni ng -Hel i copt er( S UPT H) t ot he Ar my,whi l er et ai ni ng t he Ai rF or ce s peci f i c CS ARandS peci al Oper at i onst r ai ni ng.

I nOct oberof1970,t hef i r s tAi rF or ces t udent pi l ot sr epor t ed t oF or tRucker ,Al abama,t o under t akebas i chel i copt ert r ai ni ng wi t ht he Ar my.T hi smar ked t hebegi nni ngoft heend f ort he Ai rF or ce Hel i copt erS chool ,whi ch ceas edt oex i s ti n1971.

5

USAr myphot o

2

USAFMus eum

4

Kar lDr age PaulDunn

Kar lDr age

6

Ai rF or cephot o

Hel i copt ert r ai ni ngr et ur ns Al t hough t he 23r dF l yi ng T r ai ni ng S quadr on had been t r ai ni ng Ai rF or ce s t udent ss i nce 1994,t he t r ai ni ng pr ogr am wasowned and oper at ed by t heUSAr my.T heAi rF or ces t udent swoul df ol l ow t he Ar my' s Rot ar y Wi ng Qual i f i cat i on Cour s e ( RWQC) ,bef or eat t endi ngt he" Ai rF or ceUni que" t r ai ni ng t hat woul dt each s t udent s hel i copt er oper at i onss peci f i ct ot heAi rF or ce.

T hi sal l changedi n2004,whent heAi rF or cer et ook owner s hi p ofi t shel i copt ert r ai ni ng pr ogr am.T he change ofowner s hi p coi nci ded wi t ht he Ar my' s announcementoft her et i r ementoft heUH1H.As t heAr myhadnof ur t herus ef ort hes ehel i copt er s , 40wer ehandedovert ot heAi rF or ceatnocos t .

I nt het r ai ni ngr ol e,t heUH1Hhasbeengr adual l y r epl aced wi t ht he T H67Cr eek.T he " F l atI r on"ai r ambul ancedet achmentwast hel as tAr myuni tt o f l yt he UH1H atF or tRucker ,butt hes et oo wer e r et i r ed on17t hMay2011,havi ngbeenr epl aced wi t ht henew UH72AL akot a. " I twas a s ens i bl e move, "s ays Capt ai nS t eve Reagan, t he 23r d F T S As s i s t ant Di r ect or of Oper at i ons ," Whi l ebot hoper at ehel i copt er s ,t he Ai rF or cef l i esdi f f er entmi s s i onst hant heAr my,i n par t i cul arCombatS ear ch and Res cue,S peci al Oper at i onsand Mi s s i l e Wi ng s uppor t .We al s o oper at e di f f er ent t ypes ,l i ke t he HH60G,t he UH1Nandt heCV22.T heAr myoper at esnoneof t hes es peci f i ct ypesofhel i copt er s .S o when our pr i mar yt r ai ni nghel i copt er ,t heUH1H,wasr et i r ed f r om t heAr my,i tmades ens ef ort heAi rF or cet o t aket het r ai ni ngpr ogr am back. " T aki ng f ul lcont r oloft he ent i r et r ai ni ng pr ogr am al l owst he Ai rF or ce t o cr eat e an even mor e ef f i ci ent pr ogr am, t ai l or ed s peci f i cal l yt o t he needsofi t ss t udentpi l ot s ,asCapt ai n Reagan ex pl ai ns ."

When ours t udent sar r i ve her e atF or t Rucker ,t hey al r eady have f l yi ng ex per i ence.

Bef or ecomi ngher e,t hes t udent sf i r s tgot hr ough pr i mar yai r cr af tt r ai ni ngont heT 6T ex anI Iwher e t hey l ear n bas i c ai r mans hi p, i ns t r ument s , navi gat i on and f or mat i on f l yi ng.F ort he Ar my s t udent s ,t hei rhel i copt ert r ai ni ng wi l lbet hei rf i r s t f l yi ngex per i ence.I ti saver ydi f f er entappr oach. "

Above-T heT H67Cr eeki sper hapsbes tknown pur chas ed 137ex ampl esoft het ypei n1993 r equi r ement sf ort heUSAr my.T oday,s ome181 Rul es( I F R)oper at i ons .

Bel ow -T henewes tki dont hebl ocki st heUH72 t hi sai r cr af ti sus edatF or tRuckeri nt he‘ F l atI r o

nbyi t sci vi l i anname,t heBel l 206.T heUSAr my 3t of ul f i lpr i mar yr ot ar yand i ns t r umentt r ai ni ng 81ar eus ed,wi t h60capabl eofI ns t r umentF l i ght

72AL akot a.T her edcr os smar ki ngsdenot et hat I r on’ai rambul ancer ol e.

Al t hough t he j oi ntt r ai ni ng pr ogr am came t o an end,t he 23r dF T Sr emai nsatF or tRucker ,whi chi s t he Ar my' spr i mar yf l i ghtt r ai ni ng f aci l i t y.T he l ar ge compl ex i ncl udes no f ewer t han s i x di f f er ent ai r f i el ds ,i ncl udi ng Cai r nsAr myAi rF i el d wher et he 23r dF T Si sl ocat ed. T her e have been s ever al di s cus s i onsaboutmovi ngt hes quadr ont oKi r t l and Ai rF or ceBas e,New Mex i co,t ocent r al i s eal l t heAi r F or cehel i copt ert r ai ni ng. " T hes e di s cus s i onsal wayss ur f ace f r om t i me t o t i me" ,s aysCapt ai nReagan,“butF or tRuckeri sa gr eat l ocat i on f or bas i c hel i copt er t r ai ni ng.

Becaus ewear eats eal evel , t heUH1Hsar eeas yt o f l yi nt hes et hi ckai rcondi t i onswhi chcr eat eamor e f or gi vi ng envi r onment t han t he hot and hi gh condi t i onsatKi r t l and.T hos ehi ghal t i t udeand t he hotcondi t i onsmakef l yi ng a l otmor echal l engi ng f ort he s t udent s .Whi l e Iam cer t ai nt hey woul d cope j us tf i ne,i twoul di ncr eas et hei rwor kl oad s i gni f i cant l y.And bes i des ,i ti sver y val uabl ef or t hem t oex per i encet hedi f f er encebet weenf l yi ng condi t i onsi nAl abamaandNew Mex i co.I twi l l hel p t hem pr epar ef oranyf ut ur edepl oyment si npl aces l i keAf ghani s t an. " F el l ow i ns t r uct orpi l otCapt ai nDer ekS pear sagr ees , " F or tRuckerhasal l t hef aci l i t i esweneed.Bes i desal l t hef aci l i t i esher eatCai r ns ,weal s ous et hemany Remot eT r ai ni ng ar easorRT s .T hat ' show t heycal l t he l andi ng z onest hatar es pr ead ar ound F or t Rucker .T her e ar e 47oft hes e and t heycome i n di f f er ents hapesand s i z es .S ome ar e pl ai nf i el ds ; ot her sar el ocat edonhi l l s i desands l opesori nt i ght encl os ur esi nf or es tar eas .T her ear econcr et epads and ar easwi t hs and t ot r ai n br own outl andi ngs .

Ever yt hi ngweneedi sr i ghther e. " Al t hought het r ai ni ng mi s s i onhasmoved f r om t he Ar mybackt ot heAi rF or ce,t he23r dF T Scont i nues t oenj oyt hewhol ehear t eds uppor tf r om t heAr my' s avi at i on communi t y.T he " F l atI r on"det achment and ot heruni t spr ovi de l ogi s t i cals uppor twhen r equi r edandt he23r dF T Si sf i r ml yes t abl i s hedi nt he F or tRuckercommuni t y.T he pr i vi l ege t o us et he Ar my' sex t ens i vet r ai ni ngf aci l i t i esatF or tRuckeri sa keyf act ori nt hes quadr on' sabi l i t yt ot r ai nt henex t gener at i onoff i r s tcl as spi l ot s .

7422369i soneoft heUH1Hst hatwasmodi f i edt oT H1Hs t andar dvi at he

I ns pi r i ngl eader s hi p T he 23r d F T S , commanded by L i eut enant Col onel S t ephenMoyes ,i sawel l oi l edmachi ne t hat del i ver s a cons t ant s t r eam of hi ghl y mot i vat ed and s ki l l ed pi l ot s .T o ens ur et hatal l s t udent sr ecei vet her i ghtamountofat t ent i on, t he s quadr on di vi dest he s t udent si nt os mal l cl as s es of f our t o s even s t udent s each.

Cur r ent l y,t he s quadr on i st r ai ni ng 31s t udent s , di vi ded overs i x cl as s es ,wi t h each cl as s at di f f er entphas esoft he 115hourl ong t r ai ni ng pr ogr am.F r om s t ar tt of i ni s h,i ts houl dt ake t he s t udent sabouts i xt os evenmont hst ogr aduat e.

T he23r dF T Sdel i ver sj us t65t o70new pi l ot sper year ,r ef l ect i ng t he s mal ls i z e oft he hel i copt er communi t y wi t hi n t he Ai rF or ce. Wi t h an i ncr eas i ng numberofs t udent sex pr es s i ng t hei r

des i r et of l yhel i copt er sand t i l tr ot or s ,s t udent s mus t compet e over t he s mal l number of avai l abl et r ai ni ngs l ot s . " T he Ai rF or ce i sput t i ng mor e emphas i sont he hel i copt ermi s s i on,wi t h pos i t i ve r es ul t s " ,s ays Capt ai n Reagan,“T oday,f armor er ecr ui t si n bas i ct r ai ni ngar eawar et hatt heAi rF or ceeven hashel i copt er s .Newscover age ofhel i copt er oper at i onsi nI r aqandAf ghani s t ancer t ai nl yhas hel ped.Dur i ng t he Cr os s Count r y Navi gat i on phas eoft het r ai ni ng,weal s of l yt oL aughl i nand Col umbust o vi s i tt he t r ai ni ng wi ngst her e.We pr es entt hehel i copt ermi s s i onst ot hes t udent si n pr i mar yai r cr af tt r ai ni ng,doas t at i cdi s pl aywi t h ourT H1Hsand ans wera l otofques t i ons .T her e hasbeena t r emendousupt akei ni nt er es tand t her ei sa r ealcompet i t i onf orourt r ai ni ng s l ot s .

hei ns t al l at i onofadi gi t al cockpi t .I thadpr evi ous l ybeens t or edatT empl e/ Dr aught onMi l l erRAP,T ex as .

T hes t udent st hatar r i veher eatF or tRuckerar e ver yhappyt heymadei ti nt ot hepr ogr am.T hey ar ehi ghl ymot i vat ed,ver yent hus i as t i candt hey r ai s et hebarever yyear . " Oncet hes t udent sar r i veatF or tRucker ,t heywi l l beabs or bedi nt ot hes mal l ,t i ghtkni thel i copt er communi t y and s uppor t ed by t he i ns t r uct or pi l ot swho gener ous l ys har et hei rex per i ences wi t ht he eagers t udent s .T he 23r dF T Shas20 mi l i t ar y i ns t r uct or pi l ot s , wi t h f our mor e ex per i enced pi l ot sunder goi ng Pi l otI ns t r uct or T r ai ni ng( PI T ) .Addi t i onal l y,URSpr ovi desanot her 11 i ns t r uct orpi l ot s ,many ofwhom pr evi ous l y s er ved wi t hi nt heAr med F or ces .T oget her ,t he i ns t r uct or s cr eat e an at mos pher e ofs uppor t andmot i vat i onf ort hes t udent s ,whi chhasbeen a keyf act ori nt he s ucces soft he 23r dF T S ,as

Capt ai nReaganex pl ai ns ," Wer eal l ywantal l of ours t udent st os ucceed and gr aduat e,t heAi r F or ce hasa s t r ong need f ors ki l l ed pi l ot s .I n Hol l ywood movi es , pi l ot t r ai ni ng i s of t en por t r ayed as a cons t antef f or tt o was h out s t udent s ,butt hati snotus .Wedoever yt hi ngt o s uppor tours t udent s .S i nce 2005,onl yt hr ee s t udent s wer e not abl e t o compl et e t he pr ogr am,f ordi f f er entr eas ons . " T hei ns t r uct or scomef r om al lcor ner swi t hi nt he Ai rF or ceandt hewi derAr medF or ces .Bet ween t hem,t heyhaveaccumul at edanawei ns pi r i ng number of f l i ght hour s , wi t h ex t ens i ve ex per i encesacr os st he f ul lpal et t e ofmi l i t ar y hel i copt eroper at i ons ,i ncl udi ng manywar t i me Combat S ear ch and Res cue and S peci al Oper at i onsmi s s i ons .

F orex ampl e,L i eut enantCol onelDenehan,t he Di r ect or of Oper at i ons ( DO) ,f l ew Combat S ear ch and Res cue mi s s i onsdur i ng Oper at i on Al l i ed F or ce overf or merYugos l avi a.I n May 1999,L t .Col .Denehan,t oget herwi t hL t .Col .

Kunkel ,t he cur r entS quadr on Commanderof t he41s tRQSatMoodyAF B,r es cuedadowned Amer i canF 16f i ght erpi l otf r om behi nd enemy l i nesi nS er bi a. T hi sF i ght i ng F al con pi l otwas none ot hert han Maj orGener alGol df ei n,who commandedt he555t hF i ght erS quadr onatt he t i me ofOper at i on Al l i ed F or ce and i snow t he di r ect orofai rand s pace oper at i ons atAi r CombatCommand.

oper at es t he new CV22 Os pr ey.L i eut enant Col onel J onesf l ew hel i copt er swi t ht heUSAr my bef or ef l yi ngt heUH1Nwi t ht heAi rF or ceS pace Command at Vandenber g Ai rF or ce Bas e, Cal i f or ni a. Maj orMcI nt yr ef l ew t he UH1N and t heHH60G bef or ebecomi ngani ns t r uct orpi l ot ont he T 6T ex anI I . He wasof f er ed a pos i t i on wi t ht he 6t hS OS ,an el i t et r ai ni ng s quadr on wi t hi n t he Ai r F or ce S peci al Oper at i ons Command,butopt edt obecomeani ns t r uct or wi t ht he23r dF T Si ns t ead.Ever ys i ngl eoneoft he mor et han30i ns t r uct or satt he23r dF T Shavean equal l y i nt er es t i ng backgr ound i n mi l i t ar y avi at i on.

L i eut enant Col onel Der mody f l ew cover t F i r s tcont act mi s s i ons wi t ht he MH53J Pave L ow I I Iwhi l e s er vi ng wi t h t he 20t h S peci al Oper at i on T he23r dF T Scur r ent l yoper at es13UH1HI r oquoi s S quadr on, a l egendar y Ai rF or ce S peci al and 19T H1H HueyI Ihel i copt er s .Whent he Ai r Oper at i ons hel i copt er s quadr on t hat now F or ce r ecei ved t he Hueyhel i copt er sf r om t he

Ar my,i tcont r act ed Bel lHel i copt ert o upgr ade 24oft hes et ot he new T H1H HueyI Is t andar d.

Bel l Hel i copt ernotonl yr ebui l dst hehel i copt ert o a nearz er ohours t at e,butal s of i t sa mor e power f ul engi neandacompl et el ydi gi t al ,gl as s cockpi t ,s queez ed i nt ot hes t r eaml i ned Bel l212 nos e.T hes quadr onr ecei ved t hef i nalt hr eei n Apr i l2012,whi ch wer e bei ng pr oduced i nt he Bel l Hel i copt er f aci l i t y at Oz ar k, s ome 25 ki l omet r eseas tofF or tRucker .

Bef or et he s t udent scan act ual l yt ake t ot he s ki esi na Huey,t heymus tf i r s tgett hr ought he Academi csphas e,i nwhi cht heywi l lt hor oughl y s t udybot ht heUH1Hand T H1H.Whenpas s i ng t hi sphas e,t hes t udent swi l lhavebecomever y f ami l i arwi t ht he el ect r i cal , hydr aul i c and f uel s ys t ems ,t heengi nesand powert r ai n,t hef l i ght cont r oland r ot ors ys t emsand avi oni csofbot h hel i copt ert ypes .

F i nal l y,t hes t udent scant hengett hei rf i r s tt as t e ofr ot ar yf l i ght ,whi chi sver ydi f f er entf r om f l yi ng t he T 6T ex an I I ,accor di ng t o Maj orMcI nt yr e. " Evenf orme,i twasqui t eanadj us t mentt o go backt o hel i copt er s ,af t erhavi ng f l ownt he T 6 f ors ol ong.Wi t ht heT 6,yougets ous edt of l yi ng athi ghal t i t ude wher et hi ngsj us thappenata ver ydi f f er entpace.Buti nt heHuey,t hef l yi ng happensat500 f torl es sand t hat ' squi t ea chal l enge. T heT 6i samuchf as t erai r cr af tbut you us ual l yf l yt he Hueyatt r ee t op l eveland t hat ' swher et hi ngshappenver y,ver yqui ckl y. " Above-UH1H7221549car r i esanaes t het i cal l y pl eas i ng t wot one gr ey camouf l age s cheme, whi chf or t unat el ys t andsoutr at herni cel ywhen vi ewed oper at i ng atl owl evelagai ns ta br i ght gr eenbackdr opl i ket hi sone.

I nt heCont actand Emer gencyPr ocedur ephas e,t hes t udent ss t ar tt he act ualf l yi ngpar toft het r ai ni ngpr ogr am.Dur i ngt hi sphas e,t hes t udent s ar et aughtt he bas i csoff l yi ng t he UH1H,i ncl udi ng t ax ipr ocedur es , t akeof f sand l andi ngsand hover i ng.Butt he Emer gency Pr ocedur e t r ai ni ng i sar guabl yt he mos ti mpor t antphas ei nwhi cht he s t udent sar e t aughthow t odealwi t hanyemer gencyt hatcanoccuri nf l i ghtandon t he gr ound.By endl es sr epet i t i on,t he i ns t r uct or s ens ur et hatt hes e l i f es avi ngpr ocedur eswi l lbecomes econdnat ur e.T hr oughoutt heent i r e pr ogr am,s t udent swi l lbeas ked t or eci t eemer gencypr ocedur esdur i ng each br i ef i ng.F ai l ur et o pr ovi de a s at i s f act or yans werwi l li mmedi at el y r es ul ti nanuns at i s f act or ygr ade,evenbef or et hes t udent shavecl i mbed i nt ot hecockpi t .

Above -T he ana make t hi sver y cl oppos edt oaT H1

Ri ght-S t udent sl e Huey oper at i ons var i ant .

L ef t-Al l oft he23r d ar r i ve at F or t compl et ed a t r ai ni ngcour s eon

T op l ef t-S t uf ent s aheadoft heday’

al ogue i ns t r ument s cl ear l y a UH1H as 1H.

l ear nt he bas i csof s on t he UH1H

r dF T S ’s t udentpi l ot s t Rucker havi ng pr i mar y ai r cr af t nt heT 6T ex anI I .

sr ecei ve a br i ef i ng y’ sf l yi ngact i vi t i es .

Uppi ngt heant e Havi ng s ucces s f ul l y compl et ed t he Cont actand Emer gency Pr ocedur e phas e,t he s t udent swi l lt henmove ont ot he T H1H, whi cht heywi l l f l yf ort her emai nderoft hepr ogr am.T het r ans i t i on pr oces si ncl udesacoupl eofdaysofcl as s r oom s t udyandf l yi ng t i mei nt hes t at eoft hear t ,f ul l mot i onT H1Hs i mul at or .

T het r ans i t i onpr oces shel pss t udent st ogetacquai nt edwi t ht he new di gi t alcockpi t ,whi ch i sver ydi f f er entf r om t he anal ogue UH1H. Wher east heUH1H us esanar r ayofdi al sand gauges , t heT H1Hdi s pl aysal lt hei mpor t antf l i ghti nf or mat i onont ot hr ee l ar ge mul t i f unct i onaldi s pl ays( MF D) . T he T H1H r ecei ved a di gi t alcockpi tt o eas et he t r ans i t i onf r om t he T 6T ex anI Iont o new gener at i onai r cr af ts uchast heCV22Os pr eyandt hef ut ur e r epl acementoft heHH60G andUH1N. Butdes pi t ei t sr udi ment ar ycockpi tandl ackofpower ,s t udent s l i ke L t .Mar kF oyl e cher i s ht he oppor t uni t yt of l yt he UH1H I r oquoi s ."

Is t ar t ed outf l yi ng t he UH1H and i ti sa r ealcl as s i c, pr obabl yt he mos tknown hel i copt eri nt he wor l d.Iam ver y happyIgott of l yi t .Each Hueyoutt her e on t he f l i ghtl i ne i s di f f er ent .T her e ar e onesIl i ked t of l yand ot her sIdi dn' tl i ke as much.T henew T H1Hi sver ydi f f er entt hough,al l di gi t al andal ot mor epower .Al mos tt oomuchpower ,asweus ual l yonl ycar r y t hr eepeopl e.Af t ermovi ngont ot heT H1H,wedonotgett of l y t he UH1H anymor e whi ch i sa s hame t hough,i ti ss uch a l egendar yhel i copt er . " Havi ng compl et ed t he t r ans i t i on ont ot he T H1H,t he t r ai ni ng pr ogr am cont i nues wi t ht he I ns t r ument s and Cr os s Count r y Navi gat i on phas es . Des pi t e bei ng equi pped wi t h mul t i f unct i onaldi s pl ays ,t he T H1H i spur pos el ynotequi pped wi t ha movi ng map di s pl ayass t udent smus tl ear nt o navi gat e wi t houtanydi gi t al as s i s t ance.

I nt he s ubs equentDay Remot e phas e,t he s t udent shave t o combi net hei rpr evi ous l yl ear ned s ki l l st onavi gat et ounf ami l i ar l andi ngs i t es ,orRemot eT r ai ni ngar eas .Oncet hes i t ehasbeen l ocat ed, t he s t udent s mus t eval uat e i t whi l e ai r bor ne t o det er mi ne i fand how t hey can s af el yl and. T hi si nvol ves cons i der i ngt hewi nd,el evat i on,t emper at ur e,pr es s ur eal t i t ude, powerr equi r ement s ,t heappr oachpat h,s i z eand s l opeoft he l andi ng ar ea, t he t ouchdown poi nt and es cape r out e.

Mas t er i ngt hes epr ocedur esi si mpor t antast heyar eani nt egr al par toft heS ear chandRes cue( S AR)mi s s i onsper f or medbybot h t heUH1N andHH60G.S omet i mes ,t hei ns t r uct orpi l ot ss i mul at e ar es cueoper at i onbyt as ki ngt hes t udent st or et r i eveaper s on f oral ocat i ont hati scompl et el yunf ami l i art ot hem.

Above - T he poi nt i er nos e of t he T H1H i n t he f or egr oundcanj us tbemadeoutwhencompar edt o t hes t ubbi er nos edUH1Hi nt her ear .

L ef t and r i ght - T he r epl acement of anal ogue i ns t r ument swi t hdi gi t al mul t i f unct i ondi s pl ays( MF Ds )i s des i gnedt oal l ow f oras moot hert r ans i t i onf ors t udent s ast heypas st hr ought heUS AFf l i ghtt r ai ni ngs ys t em.

T he Day Remot e phas ei sf ol l owed by t he Day T act i calphas e,dur i ng whi ch t he s t udent s ar e gr adual l y i nt r oduced t o t he concept s of t act i calhel i copt eroper at i ons .F i r s t , t hes t udent sar ei nt r oducedt of l yi ng i nal owl evel envi r onment .Al t hough f ami l i arwi t ht heT H1Hatal t i t ude,t he s t udent swi l lhavet oadaptt of l yi ng cons t ant l ybel ow 300f eetAGL .T he s t udent s ar et aught t o cons t ant l y s can f orany t hr eat sand per f or m s i mul at edcar gopi ckupsatdi f f er ent l andi ng z ones .Af t erf l yi ng t he Day T act i cals i ngl es hi p s ol of l i ght ,t he s t udent swi l l pr act i s ef or mat i onf l i ght s atorabove 300 f eetAGL ,bef or e per f or mi ngf or mat i onf l i ght satl ower al t i t udes .

Wi t h t he Day Remot e and Day T act i calphas es behi nd t hem,t he s t udent s ent ert he f i naland mos t demandi ng phas esoft he t r ai ni ng pr ogr am, t he Ni ght Remot e and Ni ght T act i cal t r ai ni ng s or t i es .

Al r eady chal l engi ng i n br oad dayl i ght ,t he s t udent s mus t now mas t er t he s ame Remot e and T act i caloper at i onsi nt ot aldar knes s , ai ded by Ni ght Vi s i on Goggl es ( NVG) .T o gr aduat e,t he s t udent s have t o pas st he Ni ght T act i cal S i ngl e S hi p check r i des . T he noct ur nal t r ai ni ng phas e al s o i ncl udes t wo nongr aded T act i cal F or mat i on f l i ght st oi nt r oduce t he s t udent st oNVG f or mat i onf l yi ng.

Af t ercompl et i ngt hes eex ci t i ngni ght f l i ght s ,t he s t udent s can gr aduat e and wi l lf i nal l y get t o wear t hei r wi ngs .Af t ermas t er i ngt heT 6T ex anI I i nbas i ct r ai ni ngandbot ht heUH1H and T H1H at F or t Rucker ,t he s t udent s can now f i nal l y cal l t hems el ves pi l ot s .

But des pi t e wear i ngt hei rwi ngs ,t her ei ss t i l l mor e l ear ni ngaheadoft hem,bef or et hey canj oi nt hei roper at i onal s quadr ons .

T hel owl evel envi r onmentcancomeass omet hi ngas

Above-T hi scr ew makesus eoft her i vert onavi gat e.

asacul t ur es hockt ot hes t udent sus edt ooper at i ngatal t i t ude,notl eas tduet ot headdi t i onal wor kl oad i mpos edupont hem.

Pi ckyourai r cr af t Dur i ngt hel at ers t agesoft het r ai ni ngpr ogr am, t hes t udent sar eas kedt ol i s tt hei rpr ef er encef or t he UH1N, HH60G or CV22. Dur i ng t he Navi gat i on phas e,t he s t udent sgett o make cr os s count r yf l i ght st o MoodyAF Bi n Geor gi a and Hul ber tF i el di nF l or i da t o getacquai nt ed wi t ht he Pave Hawk and t he Os pr ey. T he s t udent sar er ankedbyt hei rachi evement s ,wi t h t hebes ts t udent sget t i ng t opi ckt heai r cr af tor hel i copt ert ypet heywoul dl i ket of l y,al t hough t heneedsoft heAi rF or cewi l lul t i mat el ybet he deci di ngf act or .

Among t he s t udent sofCl as s1107,t he mos t s eni orcl as soft hecour s e,t hepr ef er encesand opi ni onsvar yacr os st heboar d.T hes t udent si n t hi scl as swer egoi ngt hr ought heNi ghtRemot e t r ai ni ngatt het i meoft hevi s i tandhadj us tbeen as kedt ol i s tt hei rai r cr af tofchoi ce.

2nd L t .Pat r i ckMountwant snot hi ngel s ebutt o f l yt heHH60G PaveHawk,wher eas2ndL t .Ryan S pr i ngerl i s t ed t he CV22 Os pr ey as hi sf i r s t choi ce.2nd L t .Ben S oi f er act ual l y has no pr ef er r ed ai r cr af t and wi l lbe happy t of l y what evert heAi rF or cehandshi m.Butonl y2nd L t .T yl erGi bs onknowsf orcer t ai nt hathewi l lf l y t he HH60G Pave Hawkwi t ht he 129t h Res cue Wi ngoft heCal i f or ni aAi rNat i onal Guar d.Unl i ke t heact i vedut yAi rF or ce,bot ht heAi rNat i onal Guar dandt heAi rF or ceRes er vedi r ect l yr ecr ui t s t hei r ai r cr ew f or t he s peci f i c ai r cr af tt hey oper at e.T hes es t udent sknow f r om t he ver y begi nni ngwhatai r cr af tt heywi l lgett of l yaf t er gr aduat i on.

When as ked how t he s t udent sofCl as s1107 r ef l ectont hei rt i mewi t ht he23r dF T S ,2ndL t .Ben S oi f ers ays ," F orme,i thasbeen an i ncr edi bl e t r ans i t i on.Atf i r s t ,whent r yi ngt ohoveri nt heday t i me,t hehel i copt erwasal lovert hepl ace.But now Iam doi ng i ti nt he dar k,wear i ng NVGs ! " .

2nd L t .RyanS pr i ngeradds ," WhenIf i r s tcame her e,Idi dn' tevenknow how a hel i copt erf l i es .

Butdur i ng t he academi csphas e,youreyes r eal l yopen.T henyougeti nt ot hecockpi tf ort he f i r s tt i me.F or t unat el y,t heHueyi sver yf or gi vi ng and t he i ns t r uct or sar es o ex per i enced,t hat

makest he t r ans i t i on eas i erwhen comi ng f r om f i x ed wi ng.Af t era coupl e ofweeksyouf i nal l y gets omewhatofa handl e on t he f l yi ng and hover i ng and her ewear enow,f l yi ng atni ght , atl ow l evel andnavi gat i ngandal l .I t ' si ncr edi bl y ex ci t i ng,i ti sver ycool s t uf f ! "

Af t ergr aduat i on Af t err ecei vi ng t hei rwi ngs ,t he s t udent s ar e f i nal l yr ef er r ed t o aspi l ot s .Butt hey mus ts t i l l under go t r ai ni ng on t he ai r cr af tas s i gned t o t hem.F oral l S UPT Hgr aduat es ,t hi st r ai ni ngs t ar t s wi t ht he58t hOper at i onsGr oupatKi r t l andAF B, New Mex i co. Dependi ng on t he ai r cr af tt ype as s i gnedt ot hem,t henew pi l ot swi l l j oi nt he71s t S peci alOper at i onsS quadr on ( S OS )f orCV22 t r ai ni ngort he512t hRes cueS quadr on( RQS )f or t r ai ni ngont heUH1NandHH60G. Ast he gr aduat esar e al r eadyf ami l i arwi t ht he Huey, t he UH1N t r ai ni ng onl yt akest hr ee mont hs .T r ans i t i oni ng ont ot he HH60G Pave Hawk, a much l ar ger and mor e compl ex hel i copt er ,t akes bet ween s i x and s even mont hs .Butt he t r ans i t i onper i od f ort he CV22 Os pr ey t akesovera year , ast he pi l ot smus t f ami l i ar i s e t hems el ves wi t h t he new phenomenonoft i l t r ot oroper at i ons .T heOs pr ey t r ai ni ng al s ot akespl ace wi t ht he US Mar i ne Cor psatNew Ri ver ,Nor t hCar ol i na.

Butbef or et hepi l ot scanr epor tt oKi r t l and AF B, t hey mus tf i r s tt ackl et he Ai rF or ce S ur vi val , Evas i on,Res i s t ance and Es cape ( S ERE)S chool at F ai r chi l d AF B,Was hi ngt on. At t he S ERE S chool ,t he pi l ot s ar et aught t he s ki l l st hat enabl et hem t os ur vi vei nal lcl i mat es ,i ncl udi ng woodcr af t , wi l der nes s s ur vi val t echni ques , emer gency f i r s t ai d, l and navi gat i on, camouf l age t echni ques ,met hodsofevas i on andcommuni cat i onpr ot ocol s .

T heywi l l al s obet aughthow t or es i s tt heenemy whencapt ur edandhow t oes cape.Al otoft he t r ai ni ngmat er i al i sbas edonact ual ex per i ences ofAmer i can and Al l i ed ai r men s hotdown or capt ur eddur i ngt heS econdWor l dWar ,Kor ea, Vi et nam andt heGul fWar .

Above-T heCV22i st henewes tr ot ar yt ypet oj oi nt heAF S OC f l eet .T hi sex ampl ei soper at edbyt he 7t hS peci al Oper at i onsS quadr on,352ndS peci al Oper at i onsGr oup,atRAFMi l denhal l( Kar lDr age) Bel ow -T heHH60G PaveHawki spr i mar i l yus edi nt heCS ARr ol e.T hi spar t i cul arai r f r amebel ongst o t he512t hRes cueS quadr onoft he58t hS peci al Oper at i onsWi ng,bas edatKi r t l andAF B,New Mex i co.

T hi swonder f ulcamouf l agei sbei ngcar r i S quadr on,1s tS peci al Oper at i onsWi ng,b oper at est het ype,s adl y.

Ret ur nt oF or tRucker Af t ercompl et i ng t hei rhel i copt ert r ai ni ng wi t ht he 23r dF T S ,t he s t udent sofCl as s1107and 1109wi l l l eaves out her nAl abama,t oconductt hei rf ol l owon t r ai ni ng wi t ht he 58t h Oper at i ons Gr oup i n New Mex i coandt heS ERES chool i nWas hi ngt on.Butaf t er s er vi ng wi t ht hei rs quadr onsf ors ever alyear s ,s ome mayr et ur nt oF or tRucker ,t obecomef l i ghti ns t r uct or s l i keCapt ai nS t eveReagan.L i ket heot heri ns t r uct or s att he23r dF T S ,hi spas s i onandex per i encear eadai l y i ns pi r at i onf orhi ss t udent sandheenj oysever ymi nut e heget st ot eachot her st hear tofr ot ar yf l i ght . " S UPT Hf orme wasa bl as t , Is howed up t o pi l ot t r ai ni ng ( T 37satCol umbusAF B,MS )want i ng t of l y hel i copt er s . Iwant ed t of l y CombatS ear ch and Res cue i nt he HH60G Pave Hawk. F l yi ng atF or t Ruckerdur i ng S UPT H waspr obabl yone ofmyt op ex per i encesdur i ngmycar eer .F r om dayone,i twas a gr eatand val uabl e cour s e. T he i ns t r uct or s ,bot h URSand Ai rF or ce act i ve dut y,wer e ex cel l entand pr ovi ded met hei ns t r uct i onand s ki l l sneeded t ogo f l y t he HH60G and per f or m i n chal l engi ng envi r onment sand s i t uat i ons . Is t i l lus et echni ques t odayi nt hehel i copt ert hatIl ear nedwhi l eher easa s t udent . Iwoul d br ag t o myf r i endsgoi ng t hr ough T 38sand T 1sal lt he t i me aboutf l yi ng atni ghton NVGsdur i ngpi l ott r ai ni ng,t heywer es oj eal ous ! " " Igr aduat edf r om S UPT Hi nMayof2005.Iwasl ucky t o getmyf i r s tchoi ce whi ch wast he HH60G Pave Hawk.Icompl et edI ni t i alQual i f i cat i oni nt heHH60G atKi r t l and AF Bi nDecemberof2005and ar r i ved at MoodyAF Bi nt he s ame mont h. Iwass t at i oned at MoodyAF Bf orf ouryear sand ei ghtmont hs .Dur i ng my t i me at Moody, I upgr aded t o Ai r cr af t Commanderand F l i ght L ead i nt he HH60G. I depl oyedf i vet i mes( t hr eet i mest oI r aqandt wi cet o Af ghani s t an)andI di dpr et t ymuchever ymi s s i ont hat f al l sunderPer s onnelRecover y( CombatS ear chand Res cue,MEDEVAC,CAS EVAC,Humani t ar i anAi dand Rel i ef ) . Ial s o par t i ci pat ed i n t he r ecover y of Unmanned Aer i al Vehi cl es and s uppor t of t he Pr es i dentoft heUni t edS t at es .I movedt oF or tRucker i nS ept emberof2010and compl et ed myI ns t r uct or Upgr ade i nt he T H1H. Ihave been f l yi ng wi t h s t udent severs i nce."

T H1H7221793hovert ax i esasar es i dent

r r i edbyUH1H7321857oft he6t hS peci alOper at i ons ,bas edatHur l bur tF i el dAF B,F l or i da.T heuni tnol onger

nt USAr myUH60Bl ackhawkappr oachest hef i el d.

F ut ur ePr oof Hel i copt er s and t i l t r ot or s ar e f i r ml y es t abl i s hed wi t hi nt he Ai rF or ce and wi l l be par t of t he i nvent or y f or t he f or es eeabl ef ut ur e,aswi l lt he Combat S ear chand Res cue,S peci alOper at i ons , di s t i ngui s hed vi s i t ort r ans por tand mi s s i l e wi ng s uppor tmi s s i ons .Ass uch,t he Ai r F or ce wi l lhave a cont i nuousneed f or hi ghl y s ki l l ed pi l ot s . Havi ng r et aken owner s hi p of t he bas i c hel i copt er t r ai ni ng,t he Ai rF or ce hasbeen abl et o f ul l yopt i mi z et he t r ai ni ng pr ogr am,f r om pr i mar yai r cr af tt r ai ni ngont heT 6T ex anI I t omi s s i ons peci f i ct r ai ni ngont heCV22, HH60G andt heUH1N. T he 23r dF T Spl aysa cr uci alr ol ei nt hi s chai n, by conver t i ng s t udent s i nt o educat ed, ex per i enced and s ki l f ul hel i copt erpi l ot s .T hes ucces soft he23r d F T Si snotmer el ya r es ul tofcl as s r oom t r ai ni ng,butal s o oft he s uppor t i ng and i ns pi r i ng envi r onmentt hati scr eat ed by t hes quadr oncommanderandt hes eni or i ns t r uct or s .T hi senvi r onmentens ur est hat s t udent sf eels uppor t ed and mot i vat ed t os ucceed,des pi t et he s t eep l ear ni ng cur ve and t he many chal l enges t hey mus tover come.

Wi t ht he T H1H HueyI I ,t he 23r dF T Shas t her i ghtt r ai ni ngpl at f or mf ort heyear st o come.T he T H1H i sa r el i abl e,power f ul andf or gi vi nghel i copt ert hatpr ovi desan ex cel l ent i nt r oduct i on i nt o t he ar t of r ot ar y avi at i on. T he T H1H i s al s o an ex t r emel y cos t ef f ect i ve s ol ut i on, es peci al l y when cons i der i ng t hat t he or i gi nal UH1Hai r f r ameswer er ecei vedat no cos t .T he Huey I Iupgr ade notonl y del i ver s a moder n, power f ul t r ai ni ng pl at f or m butal s o achi evesa s i gni f i cant r educt i on i n mai nt enance cos t s .T hanks t ot he23r dF T Sandt heT H1H,t hei coni c Hueys oundwi l l behear doverF or tRucker f ormanyyear st ocome.

T heBel lHueyI l-Mor et hanj us tanupgr ade T he HueyI Iupgr ade t r ans f or mst he UH1H I r oquoi si nt o a moder n, power f ul and pr act i cal l y z er ohour hel i copt er wi t h ex cel l ent per f or mance.Al t hought heT H1Hi ses s ent i al l yamodi f i edUH1H,t he Huey I Iupgr ade hast r ans f or med i ti nt o a near new,much mor e capabl e hel i copt er . T he Huey I Ii s notonl y a mor e capabl e hel i copt erbuti sal s oal otcheapert ooper at e.

T he HueyI Ii sf i t t ed wi t ha T 53L 703engi ne t hatdel i ver s1800s haf t hor s epower ,400mor et hant heT 53L 13Bt hatpower st heUH1H.T he T i me Bet ween Over haul( T BO)f ort he upgr aded engi ne hasbeen i ncr eas ed f r om 1100 t o 5000 hour s . An i ncr eas ed T BO means s i gni f i cantcos ts avi ngsasi tal l owst hehel i copt ert of l ymuchl onger bef or eunder goi nganex pens i veover haul .

T hemai nt r ans mi s s i oni sr ebui l tandupgr adedt oaccommodat et he mor e power f ulengi ne,al l owi ng f or1290 s haf t hor s epoweron t akeof f .T he mai nt r ans mi s s i onT BO i sex t ended f r om 1100t o 6000 hour s .T heex i s t i nggear box esar er epl acedbynew 42degr eesand 90 degr eesgear box es ,wi t h an i ncr eas ed T BO f r om 1500 t o 5000 hour s .

T he HueyI Ial s or ecei vest he mai nr ot orbl ades ,t ai lr ot orand t ai l boom f r om t heBel l 212.T heBel l 212mai nr ot orbl adesar el ar gerand have a wi dercor d,r es ul t i ng i ni ncr eas ed l i f t .T he Bel l212t ai lr ot or bl adesal s ohaveawi dercor dandmovi ngt het ai l r ot ort ot heot her s i deoft het ai l boom i ncr eas est het ai l r ot oraut hor i t yby50%.T henew t ai lboom us espus hpul lcont r olr odsi ns t ead ofcabl es ,whi chal s o i ncr eas ess af et y.Al lt hes eBel l212par t sar enewl yf abr i cat ed par t s andal s oi ncl udeabr andnew mai nr ot orandt ai l r ot orhubas s embl y, a new mas t , new pi t chchange l i nksand t he addi t i onofa KAf l ex dr i ves haf t .Nat ur al l y,t hes enew par t sal l haveamuchi mpr ovedT BO, wi t h4000hour sf ort hemai nr ot orbl adesand2500hour sf ort het ai l r ot orbl ades .T he new mai nr ot ormas tT BO hasbeen i ncr eas ed t enf ol d,f r om 1500t o15, 000hour s .T heHueyI Iai r f r ameal s or ecei ves s t r uct ur almodi f i cat i ons ,wi t has t r engt henedpyl ons uppor ts t r uct ur e andaBel l 212l i f tbeam.

T he HueyI Is uppor t sbot ht he s t andar d UH1H nos e ort he Bel l212 nos e,t he l at t erof f er i ng mor es pace f ora di gi t alor" gl as s "cockpi t .

Whenf i t t i ngt heheavi ermul t i f unct i onaldi s pl ays ,t heBel l212nos ei s al s ohel pf ulf orani mpr ovedcent r eofgr avi t y.Bel lHel i copt eral l ows t hecus t omert ocus t omi z ei t sHueyI I upgr ade,of f er i ngawi der ange ofopt i onsf orcockpi ts ys t emsandonboar dequi pment .T heAi rF or ce T H1H i sf i t t ed wi t h a compl et el ydi gi t alcockpi t ,butot herHueyI I cus t omer shave opt ed f ort he mor et r adi t i onalanal ogue gauges i ns t ead,whi ch ar e al s o over haul ed orr epl aced when neces s ar y.

Regar dl es soft het ypeofcockpi tdi s pl ays ,eachHueyI I i scompl et el y r ewi r edandf i t t edwi t hanew bat t er yandgener at or .

T heBel lHueyI Iupgr adep S quadr oni sus i ngt oi t sadva

packager eal l yhasgi vent heH1a new l eas eofl i f e,s omet hi ng whi cht heUS AF ’ s23r dF l yi ng T r ai ni ng vant ageonadai l ybas i s .

Bui l di ngt heHueyI I T heBel l Hel i copt erf aci l i t yatOz ar k,Al abamai st hehomeof t heHueyI I pr ogr am.L ocat edcl os et oF or tRucker ,t hef aci l i t y i snothar dt omi s sasoneonl yneedst ol ookoutf ort hemany UH1Hai r f r amespar kedont her amp.

T he Huey I Imanuf act ur i ng pr oces st akespl acesi nt wo s epar at e hal l s .T he f i r s ts t ep i nt he HueyI Ipr oces si st he r emovaloft he or i gi nalUH1H t ai lboom. Onl yt he f r ont f us el age i sus ed,t he or i gi nalt ai lboom wi l lbe r ecycl ed f or par t sf orex i s t i ng UH1H cus t omer s . Upon ent er i ng t he f i r s t hal l ,t heUH1Hf r ontf us el agei scompl et el ys t r i ppeddownf or t he Pr eS hop Anal ys i s( PS A) .Dur i ng t he PS A phas e,t he f us el age i ss andbl as t ed t or emove any pai ntand t hen car ef ul l yi ns pect ed.T heBel lengi neer si ns pectever ys i ngl e r i vethol e and ever yi ndi vi dualpanelt o det er mi ne i ft he f us el age i ss ui t abl ef ormodi f i cat i on and not e down any s t r uct ur al r epai rwor kt hati sr equi r ed.I ti snotuncommont o f i ndbul l ethol esands car sofbat t l ef i el dr epai r sonai r f r ames t hats er ved i nVi et nam.Al ongwi t hi ns pect i ngt hef us el age, al lt he r et ai ned par t s ar e al s o car ef ul l y ex ami ned and mar kedf orover haul orr epl acementwher eneces s ar y.

Af t ert he PS A phas e,t he f us el age i st r ans por t ed i nt ot he s econd hal lwher ei tent er sa l oop t r ack acr os sal lt he di f f er ents t at i ons .Att hef i r s ts t at i ons ,al lt hePS Ar epai r sar e car r i ed out .T hen t he f us el age r ecei ves i t ss t r uct ur al modi f i cat i ons ,t he new l i f tbeam and t he new at t achment f i t t i ngsands uppor ts t r uct ur et oaccommodat et henew Bel l 212t ai l boom.Uponr eachi ngt heendoft hehal l ,t heUH1H f us el age i sr eadyt or ecei ve t he new t ai lboom,r ot or sand t he new dynami c component s . Whi l e pas s i ng t hr ough s ever als t at i ons ,t he new Huey I Ihel i copt ers t ar t st aki ng s hape and s l owl yt r ans f or msf r om an empt yai r f r ame t oa compl et e hel i copt er .Al ong t he way,t he engi neer sal s of i t t henew wi r i ng,bat t er yandgener at or .

Aspar toft he f i nalas s embl y,t he hel i copt eri spai nt ed i n what evercol ours chemei sr equi r edbyt hecus t omerandi s t hent r ans por t edbackt ot hef i r s tpr oduct i onhal l .Her e,t he Huey I Imodi f i cat i on i scompl et ed by i ns t al l i ng t he new T 53L 703engi neandcompl et i ngt hecockpi ti ns t al l at i on.I n cas eoft heT H1H,t hemul t i f unct i onal di s pl ayswer es uppl i ed by t he Ai rF or ce butt he cockpi tconf i gur at i on can be cus t omi z edf oreachcus t omerandr angesf r om af ul ldi gi t al cockpi tt o an anal ogue cockpi t ,s uppl ement ed wi t h GPS , movi ngmaporot herdi gi t als ys t ems .Af t eral mos tayearof har d wor k,t he UH1H hasbeen t r ans f or med i nt o a br and new HueyI Ihel i copt er ,f eat ur i ngover14, 000new par t s .

Val uef ormoney T he compl et e Huey I Ipackage t r ans f or mst he UH1H f r om a r el i abl ebutdat edwor khor s e,i nt oamoder nut i l i t yhel i copt er ,f i tf or dut yi n t he mos t chal l engi ng envi r onment s .T he i ncr eas ed per f or mance gi vest he Huey I It he " hotand hi gh"capabi l i t yi t needst oper f or mi nt hemos tchal l engi ngenvi r onment s .T heUH1H per f or msver ywel lats ea l evelbuts t r uggl esatal t i t ude.I tcan oper at eat12, 000f eetbutwi t ha s i gni f i cant l yr educed payl oad.

T he Huey I Ihasbeen des i gned t o meett hos e hi gh al t i t ude chal l enges ,wi t has er vi cecei l i ngof16, 100f eetandI GEhoverof 12, 000f eet .

At appr ox i mat el y $5.

2 mi l l i on US D, t he bas i c Huey I Ii s an af f or dabl eopt i onf ormanyex i s t i ngUH1Hoper at or s .Al t hought hi s ver s i ondoesnotcomewi t hadi gi t alcockpi t ,i tdoesi ncl udenew gauges . Addi ng a f ul ldi gi t alcockpi twi l lcos tan addi t i onal $237, 000US D,butt her e ar e pr act i cal l yno l i mi t son t he opt i ons cus t omer scan add t ot hei rHuey I Iconf i gur at i on.T he mi l i t ar y pol i ce ofRi oJ anei r o,Br az i lr eques t ed a compl et el yar mour ed HueyI It hatcanwi t hs t andmachi negunf i r e,i sf ul l yni ghtcapabl e and i sequi pped f ors ear ch and r es cue oper at i ons .T hi si sno or di nar ypol i ceuni tasi toper at esi nt hes l umsofRi o deJ anei r o, oneoft hemos tl et hal l aw enf or cementenvi r onment si nt hewor l d.

T o meett hes e demands ,Bel lHel i copt erdes i gned a HueyI Iwi t h ex cept i on s ur vi vabi l i t yf orbot h hel i copt erand cr ew,whi l es t i l l r et ai ni ngt heabi l i t yt ooper at ei nmount ai nousandhotar eas .

T heHueyI I hasbeenwel l r ecei vedbybot hnew andex i s t i ngHuey oper at or sandBel lhass ucces s f ul l ys ol dt heHueyI It omi l i t ar y,l aw enf or cementandgover nmentcus t omer s .Cur r entdomes t i cHuey I Icus t omer si ncl ude NAS A,t he USDepar t mentofS t at e,t he US Cus t oms and Bor der Pr ot ect i on agency and s ever al l aw enf or cementdepar t ment s .

I nt er nat i onal l y,t he Huey I Ihas been equal l ys ucces s f ulwi t h cus t omer si ncl udi ng t he Phi l i ppi nesAi rF or ce,t he Ar gent i nean Ar my,t he Col umbi an Ar my,Ai rF or ce and Nat i onalPol i ce,t he Br az i l i an Mi l i t ar y Pol i ce,t he Ar med F or cesofKaz akhs t an,t he Yemeni Ai rF or ceandt heI r aqi Ai rF or ce.T hecapabi l i t yt ooper at e i nhotandhi ghenvi r onment si spr ovenbyt hedai l yoper at i onswi t h notonl yt he Yemeniand I r aqiAi rF or ce butal s o bei ng t he hel i copt erofchoi cef ort heUSDepar t mentofS t at eant i nar cot i cs oper at i onsi nAf ghani s t an.

T he J apanes e Gr ound S el fDef ence F or ce ( J GS DF )oper at est he l ocal l ymanuf act ur edUH1J ,anupgr adedHueyt hati sver ys i mi l ar t ot heHueyI I .Bui l tunderl i cens ebyF uj i ,t heUH1Jal s of eat ur esa T 53L 703powerpl ant ,aBel l 212nos eandBel l 212t ai l boom.

Acknowl edgement s T he ar t i cl e woul d not have been pos s i bl e wi t hout t he t r emendouss uppor toft he Uni t ed St at esAi rF or ce,t he 58t h SOW,t he 23r dF T S and Bel lHel i copt er .T he aut horwoul d es peci al l yl i ket ot hankL t .Col .Moyes ,L t .Col .Denehan,L t .

Col .Der mody,L t .Col .J ones ,Maj orMcI nt yr e,Capt .Reagan, Capt .Spear s ,t hes t udent sandatBel lHel i copt er ,Bar r yF or d, Br i dgetHal landMacMcMi l l an.

T heL abou

60year sof

On23Augus t1954,ar evol ut i onar ynew t r ans por tai r cr af tf l ew f ort he f i r s tt i me.S i x t yyear sl at er ,i tr emai nsi nf ul lpr oduct i on and s er veswi t h oper at or st hr oughoutt he wor l d.I thasal s o s pawnedawhol ef ami l yofs peci al mi s s i onver s i ons ,per f or mi ng r ol esasdi ver s easS ARandar medi nt er di ct i on.Paul Dunnt akes al ookbackatt hehi s t or yoft heL ockheedC130Her cul es .

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r i ort oWWI I ,s ever alcount r i eshad ex per i ment ed wi t ht heaer i aldel i ver yoft r oopsand equi pment t ot he bat t l ef i el d,not abl yi ncl udi ng pi oneer i ng wor kbyt he S ovi etUni on.T he Ger mansi n par t i cul ar wer ei nf l uenced by t hi sr es ear ch,and,when WWI I br oke out ,us ed s ome oft he t act i csand t echni ques l ear ned t ol aunch s ever alai r bor ne as s aul t s ,not abl y dur i ngt hei nvas i onoft heNet her l ands ,whi chi ncl uded t he f i r s tl ar ges cal e ai r bor ne at t ack.Ger man us e of par at r oopsr eachedi t speakwi t ht hei nvas i onofCr et e; al t hough ul t i mat el ya s ucces s f ulcampai gn,heavy l os s esmeantt hatent hus i as mf orf ur t her ,s i mi l armi s s i ons wanedamongs tt heGer manl eader s hi p.

I mpr es s ed by t he Ger man at t ack on Cr et e, but unawar e oft he ex t entofGer man l os s es ,t he Al l i es pr es s ed ahead wi t h pl ans f or t hei r own ai r bor ne i nvas i on,aspar toft he as s aul ton occupi ed Eur ope whi ch f ol l owed t he DDay l andi ngs .T r oops wer e l andedbehi ndenemyl i nesbybot hpar achut eandby gl i der s , wi t hs ome s ucces s es and s ome not or i ous f ai l ur es ;t he t act i csand t echni quescont i nued t o be devel oped,however .

Dur i ngt heconf l i ct ,bot hs i desempl oyedgl i der st ol and heavi er equi pment s uch as vehi cl es and ar t i l l er y pi eces , wi t h t he Ger mans devel opi ng t he huge Mes s er s chmi t tMe321,whi chwascapabl eofcar r yi ng amedi um t ank.Ofcour s e,gl i der shadl i mi t at i ons ;t hey wer e notr eus abl e and r el i ed on t ow ai r cr af tt o get t hem cl os e t o t hei r des t i nat i on. Des pi t e t hes e l i mi t at i ons ,however ,by t he end of t he war ,t he conceptofdel i ver yoft r oopsandequi pmentdi r ectt o t he f r ont l i ne or behi nd enemy l i nes was f i r ml y es t abl i s hedi nmi l i t ar ydoct r i ne.

I nt heyear sf ol l owi ngWWI I ,t heUS AFs t i l lr el i ed mai nl y oni t sf l eetofC47sf ort act i calai r l i f t ,al t houghnewer t ypess uchast heC123Pr ovi der( i t s el fdevel opedf r om a gl i der )and C119 F l yi ng Box cardi d ent ers er vi ce.

Bot h of f er ed advant ages ;i n par t i cul ar t he C119 f eat ur ed a l ar ge car go compar t ment t hat was acces s ed t hr ough f ul l wi dt h cl ams hel ldoor satt he r ear .I twasabl et o ai r dr op equi pment ,however ,t o al l ow t hat ,t he door sneeded t o be r emoved bef or e f l i ght .Not abl y,i nawor l dwher ecombatai r cr af twer e i ncr eas i ngl yequi pped wi t ht ur boj etengi nes ,bot ht he C119andC123s t i l l r el i edonol derpi s t onengi nes .

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modelC130swer e pr oduced wi t ha s o cal l ed ‘ Roman ant heonet hatmos tpeopl ewi l lr ecogni s e.541640was r r yi nngT ennes s eeANG t i t l es( L i nds ayPeacock)

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I nJ une 1950,t he Kor ean Warbegan.

S hor t l y af t er war ds , as par t of a moder ni s at i on pr ogr amme f ort he US AF , a r equi r ement was i s s ued f or a new t r ans por tai r cr af t .T hes peci f i cat i onswer e f ai r l ydemandi ng:t henew ai r cr af twoul d beabl et ocar r y90t r oopsover2000mi l es andbeabl et ooper at ef r om r oughf i el ds cl os e t o t he f r ont l i ne; t he new t ype needed t o be ver s at i l et oo,capabl e of car r yi ng a var i et yofcar go and abl et o per f or mt heai r dr opmi s s i onoft r oopsand equi pment .

F i ve compani es r es ponded t o t he pr opos alwi t ha t ot alof t en des i gns ; L ockheed s uppl i ed t wodes i gns ,and t he cont es tended wi t ht he l i ght eroft hes e t wo pr opos al s( i ni t i al l yt er med L 206 by t he company) bei ng s el ect ed f or devel opment .I nJ ul y1951,L ockheedwas awar ded a cont r actt o bui l dt he new ai r cr af t( by now des i gnat ed L 82)and cons t r uct i on of t wo pr ot ot ypes commenced. I n cont r as t t o t he r emai nder of t he pr oduct i on r un,t he pr ot ot ypes wer e cons t r uct ed at L ockheed' sBur bankf act or y;f r om ear l yi n t hepr oj ect ,t henew ai r cr af twasdes t i ned t o be bui l tatt he company' sf aci l i t yi n Mar i et t a,Geor gi a.

F r om t he s t ar t ,t he new ai r cr af t was des i gned asa r ugged mi l i t ar yt r ans por t butf eat ur ed s omef ai r l ynovelat t r i but es .

Chi efamongs tt hes e wast he choi ce of power pl ant ; r at her t han s el ect t he pr oven t echnol ogy of r adi al pi s t on engi nes ,whi ch had r eached i t sz eni t h t owar dst heend oft he1940s ,L ockheed el ect ed t o go wi t h f ai r l y newl ydevel oped t ur bopr opst hatus ed ex haus tgas esf r om agast ur bi neengi ne t o t ur n a pr opel l er . Al t hough t he t echnol ogy was f ai r l y i mmat ur e, i t pot ent i al l y of f er ed gr eati mpr ovement s over r eci pr ocat i ng engi nes and al s o s ome advant agesoverpur ej et s ,whi ch att het i met endedt obef ai r l yt hi r s t y.

Recei vi ng t heUS AFdes i gnat i onYC130,t henew t r ans por thadahi ghmount ed,s t r ai ghtwi ngand f eat ur edf ourAl l i s onT 56t ur bopr ops .I tf eat ur eda l ow car go f l oorand a r earl oadi ng r amp t hat al l owedvehi cl est odr i ves t r ai ghtont ot heai r cr af t .

I mpor t ant l y,t her amp coul d beopened i nf l i ght , f ort heai r dr opofcar go,andt her ewer eal s ot wo door sf i t t ed on t he s i de oft he r earf us el age t o al l ow par at r oopst o ex i t .I tr ecei ved t he name Her cul es ,af t ert he f i gur ef r om Gr eekmyt hol ogy, wi t hhi sf amous12l abour s .T heC130woul dgoon t o per f or m i t sown l abour sand i nt i me woul d devel opi t sownl egend.

F i r s tF l i ght T hef i r s toft het woYC130pr ot ot ypesmadei t sf i r s t f l i ghtf r om Bur bankon23Augus t1954,wi t ha 61 mi nut e s or t i e t hat ended wi t ha l andi ng at Edwar dsAF B,wher et he pr ot ot ypeswoul d be bas ed f ort her emai nderoft het es tpr ogr amme.

Evenbef or et hemai denf l i ghthadoccur r ed,wor k wasunder wayatMar i et t aont hef i r s tpr oduct i on r un ofai r cr af t .T he f i r s toft hes e( 533129)was r ol l ed outon 10 Mar ch 1955 and made i t sf i r s t f l i ghtj us tundera mont hl at er .Af t ers ome i ni t i al s ucces s esi nt hef l i ghtt es tpr ogr amme,i ts uf f er ed amaj ors et backwhent hef i r s tpr oduct i onai r cr af t caughtf i r ej us taf t ert ouchi ngdown.T hef aul twas t r acedt oal oos ef uell i nei nengi nenumbert wo, whi ch r es ul t ed i naf uell eak and s ubs t ant i al damage t ot he l ef twi ng.T he f i r e wasqui ckl y br oughtundercont r ol andal t hought hepor twi ng had s epar at ed f r om t he ai r cr af t ,i twas l at er r epai r edandf l ew agai n;i ndeedt heai r cr af twent ont os er vet heUS AFi nvar i ousgui s esf oral mos t40 year s .

T es t i ngandSer vi ceEnt r y T es t i ng oft he C130cont i nued t hr oughout1955 and 1956,wi t h pr oduct i on ai r cr af tr ol l i ng of ft he pr oduct i onl i neatt hes amet i me.T heeval uat i on pr ogr amme r eveal ed a maj orpr obl em wi t ht he engi ne/ pr opel l er i nt er f ace, wher eby t he Cur t i s s Wr i ght t ur boel ect r i c pr opel l er s had a t endencyt o' s nat ch' andcaus eengi nes ur ges .

Above -Named ' T he F i r s tL ady' ,533129was al mos tended pr emat ur el ybyanengi nef i r e, year s .L at t er l yoper at i ngwi t ht heAF RESasanA and l at erdur i ng Des er tS t or m and i ss eenhe bef or er et i r ementt ot heUS AFAr mamentMus e

Bel ow -560478,aC130A,i ss eencar r yi ngab atRAFMi l denhal li nJ une 1966. Youwi l lnot e or i gi nal t hr eebl adedpr opel l er s( L i nds ayPeac

st he f i r s tpr oduct i onC130A.Al t houghi t scar eerwas e,t heai r cr af twentont os er vet heUS AFf oral mos t40 nAC130A,533129s aw act i ondur i ngt heVi et nam War her e at t endi ng I AT94atRAFF ai r f or d,j us tovera year s eum atEgl i nAF B( PaulDunn)

bar emet al s chemeandT act i cal Ai r l i f tCommandt i t l es t et hatatt hi st i me t he ai r cr af twass t i l lf i t t ed wi t ht he acockCol l ect i on)

Event ual l yt he deci s i on was made t o r epl ace t he or i gi nal pr opel l er s wi t h Aer opr oduct s hydr aul i cal l y act uat ed ex ampl es .Byt hatt i me,ar ound50ai r cr af t had been pr oduced butnotdel i ver ed; t hes e ai r cr af t wer e s ubs equent l y modi f i ed enabl i ng del i ver i es t o commence i n December1956,wi t ht he f i r s tuni tt or ecei vet heC130A bei ng t he 463r d T r oop Car r i er Wi ng ( T CW) at Ar dmor e AF B,OK.T he wi ng waspar tof T act i calAi rCommand ( T AC) ,whi ch at t he t i me wasr es pons i bl ef ort he US AF ' s t act i cal ai r l i f tandai r dr ops er vi ces .

T he new ai r cr af t qui ckl y gai ned an ex cel l entr eput at i on wi t hi t scr ewsand of f er ed huge advant ages over t he C119s and C123s i tr epl aced. T o L ockheed' s cr edi t , dur i ng t es t i ng t he ai r cr af thad been obs er ved t o ex ceed t he or i gi nalUS AFr equi r ement si ns ever al par amet er s ,i ncl udi ng cr ui s es peed and r at e of cl i mb and al s o r equi r ed l es s r unwayl engt ht ogetai r bor neand l and.

Once del i ver i es of modi f i ed ai r cr af t s t ar t ed,C130sbegant oqui ckl yf l ow i nt o T AC, and by 1957 t wo wi ngs had conver t ed, each cons i s t i ng of t hr ee s quadr onsandar oundf i f t yai r cr af t .Af t er t he i ni t i aldel i ver i es had t aken pl ace, ai r cr af tbegan t o ar r i ve atUS AF uni t s over s eas , wi t h t he 317t h T CW at Evr eux F auvi l l e, F r ance, bei ng t he f i r s t US AF E uni tt or eequi p,r ecei vi ng i t sf i r s t ex ampl esi nS ept ember1957.T he 483r d T CW atAs hi yaAB,J apanf ol l oweds hor t l y af t er war ds ,becomi ng t he f i r s t PACAF ( Paci f i c Ai rF or ces )uni tt or ecei ve t he ai r cr af t .T hef i r s tover s easoper at oroft he C130A was t he Royal Aus t r al i an Ai r F or ce,whi ch r ecei ved 12 ex ampl esi n 1958.

Above-T heRomani anAi rF or cehasanact i ve f l eetoff ourC130s( 3xB and 1xH) .T hi si sa f or merUS AFC130B,now s er vi ng wi t ht he901s t S t r at egi cT r ans por tS quadr on ( PaulDops on)

Above-T heS out hAf r i canAi rF or ceoper at esa f l eetofmoder ni s ed C130BZai r cr af t ,whi chl as t yearnot ched up 50year sofs er vi ce.T heyar e al l ocat ed t o 28 S qn bas ed atWat er kl oofAB nearPr et or i a( PaulDunn)

T heC130B F oral lt he i mpr ovement sof f er ed by t he C130A,once t he ai r cr af tent er ed s er vi ce,s ever al dr awbacksbecameappar ent .T hemai ni s s uewi t ht heai r cr af tasdel i ver edwasi t sl ackofr ange; t hi swascor r ect edt oanex t entbyt hef i t t i ngofex t er nal f uel t anksout boar doft heout erengi nes , butamor eel egants ol ut i onwoul df ol l ow.Af t erat ot al of202ai r cr af thadbeenbui l t( t hemaj or i t y f ort heUS AF )pr oduct i ons wi t chedt ot hei mpr ovedC130Bver s i on.T hi sf eat ur edupr at edAl l i s on T 56A7engi nesdr i vi ngf ourbl adedHami l t onS t andar dpr opel l er s( ear l i erai r cr af twer edel i ver ed wi t ht hr eebl adedpr opel l er sal t houghs omewer er eequi ppedmuchl at eri nt hecar eer s ) .Mor e f uelwasabl et o be car r i ed i nt er nal l y,l eadi ng t oi ncr eas ed r ange,and t he under car r i age was s t r engt henedt obet t eral l ow oper at i onsonr oughf i el ds .

Mai n-T hi sbar emet albeaut yi ss eenbas ki ngi n t he s un at t he Paki s t an Ai rF or ce Bas e of Chakl al ai nMar ch1991,whi l e a camouf l aged ex ampl el ooksonbehi nd ( L i nds ayPeacock)

Above-T hi ss mar tC130B,10303,wascont r ol l ed by t he RoyalCanadi an Ai rF or ce’ sT r ans por t Command;s een her e atGat wi ck i nJ anuar y 1967 ( L i nds ayPeacockCol l ect i on)

As i mi l arnumberofC130Bswer e pr oduced;agai n,t he maj or i t ywer e del i ver ed t oT AC,but s ever al mor eex por tcus t omer sbegant ot akeani nt er es ti nt heai r cr af t .Bat cheswer eevent ual l y del i ver edt oCanada,I ndones i a,I r an,Paki s t anandS out hAf r i ca.

T heC130Bwasal s ous edast hebas ef ort heC130Ff ort heUSNavyandKC130Ff ort heUS MC, and s ever alot hers peci almi s s i on ai r cr af t .T hes es peci al i s ed C130ver s i onsbegan t o gr ow i n numberandi mpor t anceast heai r cr af tmat ur edandwewi l l covert hedevel opmentoft hemaj or ver s i onsl at eri nt hi sar t i cl e.

At ypi cal US AFC1 AW atPopeAF Bi s

Ent ert heEmodel T henex tmaj ort r ans por tver s i ont obef i el dedpr obabl yr epr es ent st hef i r s t t r ul y' mat ur e'C130t obedevel opedandwast hef i r s tt obepr oducedi n ver yl ar ge number s .T he C130E emer ged i n 1962 and wasor i gi nal l y devel oped f ort he Mi l i t ar yAi rT r ans por tS er vi ce ( MAT S ,t he f or er unnerof Mi l i t ar yAi r l i f tCommand,MAC)whi ch,evenbyt heear l y1960swasmai nl y equi pped wi t hobs ol et e pi s t onengi ned ai r cr af t .T he C130Ef eat ur ed an i ncr eas ed t akeof fwei ghtand l ongerr ange,duet ot hef i t mentofl ar ger ex t er nalt anks on pyl ons bet ween t he engi nes .T he s t r uct ur e was s t r engt hened,and t he f or war d car go door( af eat ur e ofear l i erai r cr af t ) wasdel et ed ear l yi nt he pr oduct i on r un,i ncr eas i ng s t r engt h and al s o r educi ngt heai r cr af t ' swei ght .

T heC130Ewaspr oducedi nl ar genumber s ,wi t hcl os et o500bei ngbui l t and t heai r cr af tal s obei ngwi del yex por t ed.J us tunder100ai r cr af twer e s uppl i ed new t o Ar gent i na,Br az i l ,Aus t r al i a,Canada,I r an,S audiAr abi a, S wedenandT ur key.Ot hernat i onsevent ual l yr ecei vedEmodel st hr ough t hes al eofs ur pl usUS AFai r cr af t .

L ef t-S eenatNel l i C130Ehass i nceb Nat i onalMus eum t ypi calC130E,i t s er vi ce car eerdu War ,i ncl udi ng a af t erwhi ch t wo awar ded t he A ( PaulF i l mer )

Mi ddl el ef t-T hi s ( T HK) C130E wa wheni tat t endedR F et e 98,s uppor t i n di s pl ay t eam. T u C130f l eetwhi ch model s( PaulDunn

130Ewear i ngt heEur opeanOnecamouf l ages chemecommoni nt he1980s ,t hi sai r cr af tf r om t he317t h i ss eenatRAFMi l denhal l i n1992 ( RobEdgcumbe)

l l i sAF Bi n2009,t hi s beenr et i r edt ot he m oft he US AF .A i thad an i l l us t r i ous ur i ng t he Vi et nam a not abl e mi s s i on ofi t s cr ew wer e Ai r F or ce Cr os s

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Ref er r ed t o byt he Canadi an Ar med F or cesast he CC130,t hi sEmodel ai r cr af ti ss eencl i mbi ngawayf r om Runway21LatNel l i sAF Batt hes t ar tofa RedF l ag082mi s s i on ( Kar lDr age)

Mai n-AnI s r ael i Ai rF or ceC130Eget ss mar t l yai r bor newi t ht heas s i s t anceofJ AT Or ocket s .I s r ael hasa s er vi ce,wi t hs i xC130J 30sonor der( F r ankGr eal i s h) ;I ns ett hi spage-5105,t hef i r s tC130Et ober ece I r ani anAi rF or ce;s eeni nMar ch1967 ( L i nds ayPeacockCol l ect i on) ;T opmi ddl e-637890i ss eende i nMay1971s por t i nganF Bt ai l codedenot i ngowner s hi p byt he47t hT AS ,313t hT AW,bas ed atF or b Peacock) ;T opr i ght-639813wasas s i gnedt ot heNor t onAF Bbas ed1174t hS uppor tS quadr onatt h mi d1970 ( L i nds ayPeacock) ;Ri ght-Car r yi ngMAC t i t l esandaver yeas yont heeye s and/ cr eam c i ss eenatT yndal l AF Bi nOct ober1982 ( L i nds ayPeacock)

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A US AFC130t ur nsatt heend oft hes h Di vi s i onbackt ot hei rbas ecampatAn s uppl i est of r ontl i neuni t s .23November

T heVi et nam War T heAmer i canC130communi t ygoti t sf i r s tt as t eof combat oper at i ons dur i ng 1965, when ai r cr af t began t o be us ed t o t r ans por tt r oops and equi pmentt o Vi et nam,t os uppor tt he devel opi ng conf l i ctt her e.Al t houghneverper manent l ybas ed i n t he count r y, Her cul es uni t s r ot at ed i nt o Vi et names ebas esf ora coupl eofweeksata t i me andbecamevi t al i ns uppor t i ngt hewaref f or tt her e.

C130s event ual l y per f or med a wi de var i et y of mi s s i onsoverVi et nam,wi t hai r cr af tbei ngmodi f i ed f or nont r ans por tt as ks s uch as command and cont r ol ,s peci alf or cess uppor t ,r ef uel l i ngand even ar medi nt er di ct i on,asguns hi ps .I nal l t hes er ol es ,t he ai r cr af t per f or med admi r abl y, but wi t hout t he cont r i but i onoft hepur et r ans por tver s i ons ,i twoul d havebeenunl i kel yt hatUSf or ceswoul dhavebeen abl et oconductt hewari nVi et nam.

Ofal lt he act i onst o whi ch t he C130cont r i but ed dur i ngt heconf l i ct ,per hapst hemos tcel ebr at edi s t heBat t l eofKheS ahn.I near l y1968,t heUSMar i ne Cor psbas et her e came underr el ent l es sas s aul t f r om t he Nor t h Vi et names e Ar my,s uch t hatt he bas ewasef f ect i vel yunders i ege.T hemai nmet hod bywhi cht hebas ewasr es uppl i ed wasvi a ai r cr af t , andt hepr i mar yai r cr af ti nus ewast heC130.Bot h US AFandUS MC ai r cr af tt ookpar ti nt heoper at i on, whi ch s omet i mes i nvol ved l andi ng at t he bel eaguer ed bas e and ot her t i mes i nvol ved ai r dr op, f or ex ampl e us i ng t he L ow Al t i t ude Par achut eEx t r act i onS ys t em ( L APES ) .Wi t ht hear ea ar oundt heper i met ert eemi ngwi t henemys ol di er s , new appr oach pr ocedur es wer e devel oped t o avoi ds mal lar msf i r e.I nbound ai r cr af ts t ayed as hi ghaspos s i bl eunt i lappr oachi ngt heper i met erof t he bas e,bef or e per f or mi ng a s t eep des centand l andi ng.

T he Bat t l e ofKhe S ahn wenton unt i lJ une 1968, when USf or cesabandoned t he bas e.Bot hs i des cl ai medvi ct or y,buti ti sf ai rt os ayt hatwi t houtt he cont r i but i onofC130cr ews ,t heMar i nesatt hebas e woul dnothavebeenabl et ohol doutf ors ol ong.I n r ecogni t i on of t he r ol e of t he C130, t act i cal appr oachess uch ast hos e devel oped dur i ng t he bat t l e ar e s t i l l popul ar l y known as ' Khe S ahn Appr oaches ' .

Ai rF or cePhot o

s hor tr unwayatBam Bl eh,Vi et nam.T het r ans por twasoneofs ever alt aki ngt r oopsoft heF i r s tCaval r y nKheaf t eranoper at i on.Ai rF or ceai r cr af tmadedai l yf l i ght st of i el dsl i ket hi sonecar r yi ngt r oopsand er1966 ( Ai rF or cePhot o)

A C130B pas s esl ow overadr opz onei nS out hVi et nam t odel i ver apal l etofs uppl i est ogr oundf or cesi naf or war dar ea,i nJ anuar y 1967.T he l ow al t i t ude par achut e ex t r act i on s ys t em ( L APES )was s ucces s f ul l y us ed t or es uppl yf or war d ar ea s i t eswher ei twas i mpos s i bl ef oranai r cr af tt ol and ( Ai rF or cePhot o)

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T heC130H T heul t i mat ever s i onofwhatcoul d bet er med t he' cl as s i c'C130Her cul es wasdevel oped i nt he mi d1960s .T he C130H wasi ni t i al l ydevel oped f or ex por tbutevent ual l yal s odel i ver edex t ens i vel yt ot heUS AF .Ex t er nal l yt he Hmodel di f f er edl i t t l ef r om t hepr evi ousEmodel ,buti twasf i t t edwi t hmor e power f ulT 56A15 engi nesand f eat ur ed var i ousi nt er nali mpr ovement s .

Mos tnot abl e was a r edes i gned and s t r engt hened cent r e wi ng box as s embl y,andt heai r cr af tal s oi ncl udess ever al avi oni ci mpr ovement s .

F i r s tcus t omerf ort he C130H wasNew Z eal and,whi ch r ecei ved i t sf i r s t ai r cr af ti n1965.S ubs equentt ot hat ,a t ot alofover600oft he t ype wer e bui l t , maki ngi tt hemos tnumer ousofC130ver s i ons ; i ti sal s ot hemos twi del y oper at ed wi t h ai r cr af ti ns er vi ce wi t h over50ai rar mswor l dwi de.Many r emai nact i vet oday,wi t hoper at or si nEur ope,As i a,t heMi ddl eEas t ,Af r i ca andt heAmer i cas .

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Ri ght-T heUS AFi s us eroft heC130i l ar ge number si n wi t h Ai rF or ce Re and t he Ai r Nat i ai r cr af t ,f r om t he Kent ucky ANG, i oper at edC130Hs

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aCol ombi ana( F AC)oper at esaC130f l eetcons i s t i ngofs evenai r cr af ti nami xofC130BandC130H 30Hcar r i esas peci al col ours chemeandi ss eenondi s pl ayatJ os éMar í aCór dovaI nt er nat i onal Ai r por t ( PaulF i l mer )

i sbyf art hel ar ges t i nal li t sf or ms ,wi t h n par t i cul ars er vi ng Res er ve Command t i onalGuar d.T hi s e 123r d AW oft he i st ypi cal of US s( PaulDunn)

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i rofRoyal S audi Ai r ax ii n atS akhi rAi r hi l es uppor t i ng t he r lDr age)

T he RAFand t he C130K Devel opedatar oundt he s amet i meast heC130H and br oadl y s i mi l ar i n capabi l i t y, t he C130K wasa ver s i ons peci f i cal l y t ai l or ed t ot he needsof t he RoyalAi rF or ce.T he RAFr ecei ved 66C130Ks i nt hemi d1960s ,wi t ht he ai r cr af tbei ng equi pped wi t hs ome Br i t i s havi oni cs and i ns t r ument s .I n RAF s er vi ce,t he i ni t i alvar i ant was known as t he Her cul es C1. L at er ,a bat ch of ai r cr af t wer e s t r et ched by t he i ns t al l at i on ofpl ugsf or e andaf toft hewi ng;t hes e ai r cr af twer e des i gnat ed C3.

T he RAF ' s Her cul es f l eet s aw s er vi ce dur i ng t he F al kl andsconf l i cti n1982, wi t h manyai r cr af tbei ng f i t t ed wi t h r ef uel l i ng pr obess cavenged f r om r et i r ed Vbomber s , i n or der t o i mpr ove t hei r r ange f or oper at i ons i n t he S out h At l ant i c.S uch ai r cr af twer et er medC1P andC3P.A s mal lnumber wer e al s o modi f i ed by t he i ns t al l at i on ofa hos e dr um uni t( HDU) i nt he car go hol d t o per mi t oper at i on as a t anker .

T hes e ai r cr af t ( des i gnat ed C1K) wer e mai nl yus ed f orr ef uel l i ng mi s s i onsi nt he vi ci ni t yof t heF al kl andI s l andsi nt he per i od f ol l owi ng t he end ofhos t i l i t i es .

Above -Repl aci ng t he i ni t i als and camouf l age s cheme was t hi s gr ey and ol i ve dr ab camo, car r i edbyXV178i n1980 ( L i nds ayPeacock)

Above-Dur i ngt hel at t ers t agesoft heC130K’ sRAFcar eer anumberofai r f r amesr ecei veds peci al f or cesmodi f i cat i ons andanol i vegr eenpai nts cheme ( Kar lDr age)

Above-Anot hers cheme car r i ed dur i ng t he RAF C130Ker a wast hi sr at herl es si nt er es t i ngal l over gr ey,as s een her e on Her cul es C3 XV301 at S hor eham i n2008 ( PaulDunn)

Mai n - Whi l et he s and camo may have been eas i er ont heeye,i ti shar dt oar guet hatt hegr eyandol i vedr ab s cheme wasnotmor e appr opr i at ef ormuch ofWes t er n Eur ope ( L i nds ayPeacock)

Above -Her cul esC1XV181i ss eenatCambr i dge i n1971 s por t i ngt hedes er ts andcamouf l agei nwhi chal lt heRAF ’ s C130Kswer edel i ver ed ( L i nds ayPeacock)

HZ 128 i san L 100

T heL ockheedL 100 Ent er i ng s er vi ce atar ound t he s ame t i me ast he C130H wer et he f i r s t ex ampl esoft he ci vi l i an ver s i on oft he Her cul es ,t he L 100.Pr evi ous l y L ockheedhadat t empt edt omar ketanupdat edver s i ont ocar goai r l i nes , butt he pr oj ectcame t o naught .I nt he end,t he L 100 wasa s i mpl er der i vat i ve oft he C130E,l acki ng mi l i t ar ys ys t ems .A t ot alof21ai r cr af t wer epr oducedbef or epr oduct i ons wi t chedt ot hes t r et chedL 10020and s ubs equent l yt heL 10030ver s i on.

Al t hought hel ar gerver s i onspr oved t obef ai r l ypopul ar ,onl y114L 100s wer epr oduced.T oday,ar ound70r emai ni ns er vi ce,s pl i tr oughl yequal l y bet ween mi l i t ar yand ci vi l i an oper at or s .L ar ges toper at or sar eS af ai rof S out hAf r i ca( 9)andL yndenAi rCar goofAl as ka( 6) .

Ri ght-T hes ol eai r w t he or i gi nal L 10 Paki s t an Ai r s pect acul arar t wo

L ef t-Ai rAl ger i eC s i ngl eL 10030 He maki ng a r ar e Heat hr ow i n D ( T om Gi bbons )

T op l ef t-T hi sS af a bas ed on a cont Res pons e L i mi t ed pas s ed t o Ai r r ecei vedanI r i s hci onl yL 100t oappe ci vi l r egi s t er( Paul

0030 oper at ed byt he S audiAr abi an RoyalF l i ght .S een her et ax yi ng outatL ondonL ut on Ai r por t ( Kar lDr age)

i r wor t hyex ampl eof 100, 4144 of t he F or ce car r yi ng or k( Kar lDr age)

Car go oper at esa er cul es ,s een her e vi s i tt o L ondon December 2013

f ai rL 10030wasUK nt r actwi t h Oi lS pi l l d ( OS RL ) .I tl at er Cont r act or s and ci vi l r egi s t r at i on,t he earonaEur opean lDops on)

L ockheedL 10030Her cul esEI J I Vbel ongi ngt oAi rCont r act or sf l i eso

overt heRi verL i f f ey,Dubl i n,whi l et aki ngpar ti nt heF l i ght F es tevent ,15S ept ember2013 ( F r ankGr eal i s h)

Above -N121T Go Res pons es t ar t ed 560511wi t ht heUS now oper at i ng i n Res pons ecol our s

Ri ght-Anot herf or t hi st i me 570512.

Mar i t i meS pi l lRes p t i t l esonwetl eas e Ai rRes pons e( Pau

L ef t - Al t hough col our s ,HZ 115 i s t han an L 100,an t heS audi Royal F l i g

ofI nt er nat i onalAi r outl i f e asC130A US AF .T heai r cr af ti s i ns t r i ki ng Oi lS pi l l s( Kar lDr age)

or merUS AFC130A, 2. S een car r yi ng s pons eCor por at i on ef r om I nt er nat i onal ulDunn)

car r yi ng S audi a i sa VC130H r at her nd i soper at ed by l i ght ( J ohnHi ggi ns )

Above-L yndenAi rCar gooper at esaf l eetofL 100si ncl udi ngt hi sex ampl e s eenar r i vi ngatBoei ngF i el di nS eat t l e( RobEdgcumbe)

I naddi t i ont ot hes epur pos ebui l tL 100s ,s ever alex mi l i t ar yai r cr af tar ei n s er vi ce wi t h ci vi l i an oper at or s .F ormany year s ,ex US AFC130Aswer e popul arasf i r ef i ght i ngai r cr af ti nt heUS .However ,asar es ul tofas er i esof hi gh pr of i l e acci dent s ,al loft hes e C130shave been r et i r ed f r om f i r e t anker oper at i ons .S ome r emai n i n s er vi ce i n ot her r ol es t hough; Ar i z onabas edI nt er nat i onal Ai rRes pons ehasas mal l f l eetwhi chi tus esf or a var i et y ofr ol es ,i ncl udi ng aer i als pr ayi ng f oroi ls pi l lr es pons e and a var i et yofmi l i t ar ycont r act s .I nt hepas t ,i t sai r cr af twer eus edt oi nt egr at e t heAGM114Hel l f i r emi s s i l eont ot heHer cul es ,aweaponwhi chwasl at er t oequi ps omemodi f i edUS MC ai r cr af t .

Oper at edbyt he143r dAi r l i f tWi ng,RhodeI s l andAi rNat i onal Guar d,t hi ss t r et c

T he' SuperHer cul es ' By t he mi d1990s ,t he C130H had been i n pr oduct i onf ornear l y30year s .I nt ot al ,over2000 C130sofal lver s i onshad beendel i ver ed,and t he pr ogr amme had been a mas s i ve s ucces s , butt he des i gn wass t i l lover40year sol d and el ement sofi tf el l s hor tofmoder ns t andar ds .

L ockheed began a pr oj ectt o moder ni s et he ai r cr af t ,wi t hnew engi nesandpr opel l er s ,al ong wi t h mor e moder n avi oni cs and cockpi t s ys t ems .

Ent hus i as m f ort he new ai r cr af t ,des i gnat ed C130J , was f ai r l y wi des pr ead, wi t h many ex i s t i ng C130 oper at or sbei ng oft he opi ni on t hatt he bes tr epl acementf ora Her cul eswas

t chedC130Js i t sundert hel i ght si nt hes t at i cpar katt he2014Bahr ai nI nt er nat i onal Ai r s how ( Kar lDr age)

anot her Her cul es . T he devel opment pr ogr amme was s omewhat t r oubl ed, but r es ul t edi nanai r cr af twhi chhass ol dwel landi s now i nwi des pr eadus et hr oughoutt hewor l d.

T heC130Ji sf i t t ed wi t hRol l sRoyceAE2100D3 t ur bopr op engi nes ,dr i vi ng s i x bl aded Dowt y R391compos i t e' s ci mi t ar ' pr opel l er s .T hecockpi t hasdi gi t al di s pl aysandheadupdi s pl ays( HUDs )

f or bot h pi l ot s ; i mpr oved avi oni cs and navi gat i on equi pmentmeanst hatt he ai r cr af t al s o hasa r educed cr ew compl ement .T hes e i mpr ovement s gi ve t he J model i ncr eas ed r ange,ahi ghermax i mum s peedandgener al l y i mpr ovedper f or mance.T heC130Ji savai l abl e i nt wo s i z es ,t he C130J 30bei ng s t r et ched by ar ound15f t ,i nas i mi l armannert ot heC130H30 andL 10030.

T heC130Jhasbeenadopt edbymanyex i s t edHer cul escus t omer s ,anda f ew new ones .L ar ges tcus t omer shave beent he US AFand US MC,whi ch hasadopt edt heKC130Jver s i on.T heRAFwasanear l ycus t omer ,t aki ng25 ai r cr af ti n a mi x ofC130J 30 ( Her cul esC4)and C130J ( C5)var i ant s .

El s ewher ei nEur ope,t heJmodelhasbeens el ect edbyDenmar k,Nor way andI t al y.

Above -Ast he s u RoyalAi rF or ce Cbegi nsa l owl evel ( Gor donJ ones )

Ri ght - S hor tf i n Nor t on’ sRunway2 F or ceHer cul esC4

L ef t- T ur ni ng f i n dur i ng a Red F l ag t hi si s one of f o s er vi cewi t ht heRo F or ce ( PaulF i l mer

T op l ef t - Amo enhancement st o addi t i on of a ( Gor donJ ones )

s un goesdown t hi s C130JHer cul esC5 els or t i e overWal es

f i nal t o RAF Br i z e 26f ort hi sRoyalAi r 4( Kar lDr age)

i nal s at Nel l i s AF B g ex er ci s ei n 2009, f our C130J 30s i n oyal Nor wegi anAi r er )

ong t he cockpi t t ot he C130Ji st he headup di s pl ay

T he C130J has f ound f avour wi t h ex i s t i ng cus t omer ss uch asAus t r al i a and Canada,but al s os ome new oper at or s ,not abl yi ncl udi ng I ndi a and I r aq.El s ewher ei nt he Mi ddl e Eas t , pr es entoper at or si ncl ude Qat arand t he UAE,

Above-S adl y,t heI s r ael iAi rF or ce’ sbr andnew C130J sar e pai nt ed i n an al l overgr eycol our s cheme.T heywi l l beknownast he‘ S hi ms hon’i n s er vi ce ( L ockheedMar t i n)

wi t h Kuwai t and I s r aelhavi ng al s o or der ed ai r cr af t ,wi t h Kuwai t opt i ng f ort he KC130J t anker .L ockheed al s or ecent l yl aunched a

ci vi l i anver s i onoft heC130J ,asar epl acement f ort heL 100.

Above - T he Republ i c of Kor ea Ai rF or ce became t he f our t eent hcount r yt or ecei ve t he C130Ji nMar ch ( L ockheedMar t i n)

Above-T heRoyalDani s hAi rF or ceoper at esa f l eetoff ourC130J 30s( Ki er anL ear )

w ur i n

a

Above-Meanwhi l e,t het hr eeRoyal Ai rF or ceof Above - T he L ockheed Mar t i n C130J Oman ex ampl es s t i l l car r y t hei r beaut i f ul pr oduct i on l i ne i n Mar i et t a, Geor gi a camouf l age ( L ockheedMar t i n) ( L ockheedMar t i n)

Mai n-Oneofs i xC130J 30sor der edbyt heI r aqi Ai rF or cedepar t sS hannonAi r por t ,havi ngs t opped f orf uel dur i ngi t sdel i ver yf l i ght( F r ankGr eal i s h)

Above-T uni s i acur r ent l yoper at esaf l eetofC130HsandC130Bs ,f i r s tpur chas edi nt hemi d1980s .

T hef i r s toft woC130Jai r cr af ti sduef ordel i ver yl at ert hi syear( L ockheedMar t i n)

Speci alMi s s i onC130s

Res cueoper at i ons

I n addi t i on t o t he s t r ai ght t r ans por t C130 ver s i ons ,t he ai r cr af t ' sr uggednes sand i nt er nal capaci t yhave meantt hati ti sabl et of ul f i la var i et yofs peci al mi s s i ons .Manyoft hes ei nvol ve maj ormodi f i cat i onst ot heai r f r ame,r es ul t i ng i n t he adopt i onofnew des i gnat i ons .Anat t empt t ocoveral loft hedi f f er entmodi f i cat i onst ot he bas i cC130overt heyear swoul dt akeupmuch mor es pace t hani savai l abl ei nt hi smagaz i ne, s o we wi l ls t i ckt ot he bet t erknown and mor e numer ousver s i ons .

Oneoft heear l i es ts peci almi s s i onsas s i gned t o t heC130wass ear chandr es cue.T heUSCoas t Guar dacqui r ed12modi f i edC130Bsf r om 1956, undert hedes i gnat i onHC130B. Der i ved f r om t heC130Eai r f r ame,t heHC130H wasdel i ver edt obot ht heCoas tGuar dandt he US AF ,whi chus ed t he ai r cr af tf orS ARand al s o Combat S AR ( CS AR) . A maj or di f f er ence bet weenai r cr af tdel i ver ed t ot he t wo ai rar ms wast he f i t t i ng oft he F ul t on S T ARS per s onnel

r ecover y s ys t em; US AF ai r cr af t had t hi s equi pmentf i t t edi namodi f i ednos es ect i on.

T heF ul t onequi pmentenabl edt heai r cr af tt o r ecoveran oper at i ve ( orequi pment )f r om t he gr ound us i ng a hel i um bal l oon and a l engt hofs t r ongcabl e.

S t unni ngvi ewsasaUSCoas tGuar dHC130Hf r om CGASS acr ament ovacat est her unwayatRocky Mount ai n Met r opol i t an Ai r por t , Col or ado ( PaulF i l mer )

T hi sHC130PCombatKi ngwass er vi ngwi t ht he79t hRes cueS

Mos tUS AFHC130Hswer el at er upgr adedt oHC130Ps t andar d.

Par toft he upgr ade package added r ef uel l i ng pods under t he out erwi ngs ,t o al l ow t he ai r cr af tt o r ef uel hel i copt er s , f ur t her i ncr eas i ng t hei r us ef ul nes si nr es cueoper at i ons .

I nt er nalf uelt anks wer e al s o f i t t ed.

As wel l as t hes e upgr aded ai r cr af t ,t heUS AFal s or ecei ved s ome new ai r cr af tt ot he s ame s peci f i cat i on,al s o des i gnat ed HC130P.A f ol l owon bat ch of s i mi l ar ai r cr af t was del i ver ed, but l acki ng t he F ul t on equi pment ,whi chbyt hats t age wasr ar el y us ed.T hes e ai r cr af t wer e des i gnat ed HC130N; col l ect i vel y t he f l eet was dubbed' CombatKi ng' .

T he HC130 f l eetwasdi vi ded bet ween t he US AF ,ANG and AF RES ( whi ch became AF RC) .

S ome ai r cr af t s er ved wi t h AF S OC ( Ai r F or ce S peci al Oper at i ons Command) , as t anker st o s uppor t hel i copt er oper at i ons ;t hes e ai r cr af twer e r edes i gnat ed MC130P ' Combat S hadow' i n t he mi d1990s .

As wi t h much oft he s peci al mi s s i on Her cul es f l eet , t he HC130 f l eet i s agei ng and r eachi ng t he end ofi t scar eer .

T her epl acementi st heHC130J ' CombatKi ngI I ' ,ader i vat i veof t he US MC' s KC130J t anker .

Del i ver i escommencedr ecent l y and t heear l i es tHC130Pshave now been r et i r ed.T he US CG i s al s or ecei vi ng a new ver s i on, al s o des i gnat ed HC130J ,and bas edont heC130Jai r f r ame.

HC130N oft he211t hRQS ,176t hWg,Al as kaANG,s t r eamsi t ( RobEdgcumbe)

S quadr onwhenphot ogr apheddepar t i ngNel l i sAF Bdur i ngaRedF l agex er ci s e.I thass i ncebeenr et i r ed andr epl acedbydel i ver i esofHC130J s( F r ankGr eal i s h)

i t sr ef uel l i nghos es

Recent l ydel i ver ed HC130JCombatKi ng I If r om t he79t hRes cueS quadr on, homebas edatDavi s Mont hanAF B,AZ ( RobEdgcumbe)

Her cul esT anker s Anot herear l yr ol e as s i gned t ot he C130 was t hatofai r r ef uel l i ngt anker .I ni t i alcus t omerwas t he US Mar i ne Cor ps , who oper at ed t he KC130F ,a der i vat i ve oft he C130B.T he C130 r epr es ent saus ef ult ankerai r cr af t ,es peci al l yf or af or ce s uchast he US MC,asi ti sabl et o pas s f uelata var i et yofs peeds ,meani ng i thast he abi l i t yt or ef ueldi f f er entt ypesf r om hel i copt er s t of as tj et s .Mos tar e notf i t t ed wi t hper manent f uelt anks i nt hei rcar go hol ds ei t her ,whi ch means t hey ar e s t i l l avai l abl e f or mor e convent i onal t r ans por tmi s s i ons .

T he KC130Fwasf ol l owed byt he KC130Rand KC130T ,bot h ofwhi ch wer e bas ed on t he C130H ai r f r ame.T he F and R ver s i onswer e mos t l yr et i r ed f r om US MC s er vi ce i nt he ear l y par t of t he l as t decade, when t he newer KC130Jbecameavai l abl e,al t hought henewer Tmodel s t i l l s er veswi t hs omer es er veuni t s .

Ot hernat i onshave adopt ed t he KC130asa r el at i vel yl ow cos tt ankerai r cr af t ,par t i cul ar l yf or t hos e oper at or s who al r eady us et he C130 t r ans por t .S i ngapor e was an ear l y cus t omer , and s t i l l oper at es a number of KC130Bs .

Canada has a f l eet of f i ve KC130Hs ( CC130H( T )i nt he RCAFdes i gnat i on s ys t em) , ands mal l number sofai r cr af tar eal s ooper at ed byt he ai rar msofAr gent i na,Br az i l ,Mor occo, and S audiAr abi a,amongs tot her s .I s r aeli sa maj orus er ,wi t ht wo s quadr onsoper at i ng t he KC130H,and I t al yhasmodi f i ed s evenC130J s t oKC130Js t andar d,wi t haf ur t herai r cr af tbei ng l os ti nanacci dent .

Ex per i ence i nt he F al kl andsconf l i ctl ed t ot he RAFmodi f yi ngas mal l numberofi t sHer cul esC1 f l eett o oper at e ast anker s .F i t t ed wi t h a hos e dr um uni ti nt he car go hol d,whi ch coul d be t r ai l ed t hr ougha hol ei nt he r amp,t he ai r cr af t wer edes i gnat edC1K.T heHer cul est anker ss aw much us ei nt he F al kl andsar ea i nt he pos t conf l i ctper i od,buti ncommonwi t ht her es tof t he C1/ C3 f l eet ,t hey have now been r et i r ed ands of arnoneoft heHer cul esC4/ C5f l eethas r ecei veds i mi l armodi f i cat i onst or epl acet hem.

Bel ow r i ght-T heol des tC130sl ef ti nUSmi l i t a t oVX30' Bl oodhounds 'atNASPoi ntMugu, us edt opr ovi der ef uel l i ngs uppor tf ort es two

T heI t al i anAi rF or cehasmodi f i eds evenC13 wi t haf ur t herex ampl ebei ngl os ti nanacci d

T heUS MC oper at esas ubs t ant i al f l eetofKC130J s ,s uchast hi sex ampl ef r om VMGR352' Rai der s ' , bas edatMCASMi r amar , CA. Mar i neCor psHer cul esar eequi ppedt or ef uel f as tj et s , t i l t r ot or sand hel i copt er s ,i naddi t i ont or egul art r ans por tdut i es( PaulDunn)

l i t ar ys er vi cear eat r i oofKC130F sas s i gned ,CA.Del i ver edi n1961,t hi sai r cr af ti snow or kovert hePaci f i cr anges( PaulDunn)

130J st oKC130Js t andar d, ci dent( J ohnHi ggi ns )

Above-AnRAFHer cul esappr oachest her ef uel l i ng dr ogue t r ai l ed behi nd a Her cul es C1K ( Gar et hAt t r i dge)

T hi sMC130ECombatT al onIi ss eeni nt he dayswhent he ex t ended ( RobEdgcumbe)

Speci al Oper at i ons Suppor t Dur i ng t he Vi et nam War ,a number of C130Es wer e modi f i ed t o s uppor t s peci al f or ces oper at i ons . S ever al pr oj ect syi el ded s mal lnumber s ofai r cr af t ,us i ng pr oj ectnames s uchasRi vetCl ampandHeavy Chai n. T he ai r cr af t i nvol ved r ecei ved t he col l ect i ve code name Combat T al on ( l at er Combat T al on I ) i n 1967, al t houghi twas n' tunt i l1977t hat t hey r ecei ved t he s t andar d des i gnat i on MC130E, havi ng pr evi ous l ybeenr ef er r edt ous i ng var i ouss uf f i x es .

T he MC130Ef eat ur ed a var i et y of modi f i cat i ons t o t he bas i c C130E ai r f r ame,t o al l ow i tt o oper at ei nhos t i l et er r i t or y,mos t l y atl ow l evel ,undert he coverof dar knes s .T hes ei ncl uded t er r ai n f ol l owi ng r adar , i mpr oved navi gat i on equi pment and count er meas ur es equi pment .

T hey al s of eat ur ed t he F ul t on S T ARS per s onnel r ecover y s ys t em,whi ch wasf i t t ed t ot he nos e oft he ai r cr af t ;i ns t al l at i on oft hi s and t he T F R gave t he MC130E a di s t i nct i ve dr ooped nos epr of i l e.

T he MC130E f l eethad a ver y l ongandvar i edl i f e,wi t hai r cr af t l at t er l ys er vi ngwi t hAF RC asl at e as2013.T heywer epr ogr es s i vel y upgr aded dur i ng t hei r l ong car eer ,r ecei vi ng t he capabi l i t y t or ef uelhel i copt er s ,aswel las upgr adest omi s s i onequi pment .

T heF ul t ongearwasr emoved i n t he ear l y 1990sdue t ol ack of us e.

T he F ul t onS T ARSr ecover ys ys t em wasr emoved f r om t he M poi nt sr emai ned,ass eenont hi sex ampl e( RobEdgcumbe)

he F ul t onRecover yS ys t em wass t i l li ns t al l ed wi t ht he booms

MC130Ef l eeti nt he ear l y1990s ,al t hought he at t achment e)

T oex pandt hes peci al oper at i ons f l eet ,a f ur t herbat ch ofai r cr af t wasdevel opedi nt heear l y1980s .

Bas ed on t he C130H, t he MC130H CombatT al onI Ihad a pr ot r act ed devel opment ,and i t was n' tunt i ll at e1991t hatt hef i r s t uni tbecame oper at i onalon t he t ype.

T heai r cr af tar eopt i mi s ed f orl ow l evel ,ni ghtmi s s i onsi ns uppor tof s peci alf or ces ,and f ort hatr ol e ar e equi pped wi t h upgr aded avi oni cs and navi gat i on equi pment ,r adarand GPS .L i ke i t spr edeces s or ,t heMC130Hhas beenacons t antpr es encei nt he wor l d’ st r oubl es pot sovert hel as t 20 year s , par t i cul ar l y dur i ng Oper at i ons Endur i ng F r eedom and I r aqi F r eedom. S ever al ai r cr af thave s us t ai ned damage due t o enemyf i r e,and t he f l eet hass eens omeacci dent all os s es , but t he r emai ni ng ai r cr af t r epr es entt he cor e oft he US AF S peci al Oper at i ons Command ( AF S OC)f l eet .

T he MC130P CombatS hadow i scur r ent l yt he pr i mar yt ankerai r cr af toper at edbyAF S OC.T he f l eet i s compr i s ed of f or mer HC130P S AR ai r cr af t ;s uch ai r cr af tas s i gned t o AF S OC wer e r edes i gnat edMC130Pi n1996.I t spr i mar yr ol ei s t he s uppor t of hel i copt er ( and t i l t r ot or ) oper at i onswi t haer i al r ef uel l i ng.

F aced wi t hanagei ng f l eetofai r cr af tasbot h t he MC130E and MC130P appr oached t he endoft hei rcar eer s ,AF S OC acqui r ed12f or mer ANG/ AF RESC130Hs ,whi chwer et henmodi f i ed wi t hs omes peci al mi s s i onequi pment ,emer gi ng as MC130W CombatS pear s .Al t hough t hey l acked t er r ai n f ol l owi ng equi pment , t he MC130Ws have pr oven us ef ul , par t i cul ar l y gi venat t r i t i ont ot heCombatT al onI If l eet .

Above -9t hS OSMC130Pdepar t sS hannonAi r por ton26J une 2009af t er t aki ngpar ti nal ongr angeS ARmi s s i ont hati nvol vedi tbei ngr ef uel l edbya KC135f r om t he100t hARW atRAFMi l denhal l bef or ei ti nt ur nr ef uel l edapai r ofHH60PaveHawksof ft hewes tcoas tofI r el and ( F r ankGr eal i s h) Bel ow-T henos epr of i l eoft hi sMC130Pbet r aysi t spr evi ousi ncar nat i onasan HC130H,f i t t edwi t ht heF ul t onS T ARSr ecover ys ys t em.S eenwheni ns er vi ce wi t ht he 67t hS OSatRAFMi l denhal l ,t hi sai r cr af thasnow been r et i r ed ( PaulDops on) Bel ow l ef t-T hi s7t hS OS ,352nd S OG,MC130H t ax i esi n atRAFF ai r f or d’ s Wes t er nPar k& Vi ew ar eaaheadofRI AT2006 ( Kar lDr age) T op l ef t-T he MC130H i spr edomi nant l yempl oyed atl owl evel ,and t he cr ew oft hi sRAFMi l denhal l bas edmachi nei ss eenhoni ngt hei rs ki l l si nWal es ( Kar lDr age)

T hei mpr ovedengi nesandpr opel l er soft heMC130Jal l ow i tt of l y20% f as t ert hant car r y10, 000l bsofaddi t i onal f uel orcar go

T heRoyalAi rF or cer et i r edi t sl as tC130Ki nOct ober2013.Dur i ngi t sl at t eryear s ,t heai r cr af twer eus e s peci al f or cesoper at i ons ,asevi dencedbyt hevar i ousl umpsandbumpscar r i edont heai r f r ame ( Kar

t heMC130Pand o( Gor donJ ones )

s edex t ens i vel yon ar lDr age)

T hi sMC130Jwasl oanedt ot he7t hS OS ,352ndS OG,t oal l ow i tt os t ar tt he t r ans i t i onf r om t he MC130P,a t r ans i t i ont hati s now compl et e( Gor donJ ones )

T hel at es tver s i onoft heHer cul est os er vewi t hAF S OC i st heMC130J ,whi ch wi l levent ual l yr epl ace al lt he command’ sC130s .Bas ed on t he US MC KC130Jai r f r ame,butmodi f i edf ors peci al oper at i onst as ks ,t heMC130Ji s act ual l yt he f i r s tver s i on oft he C130t o have been bui l ts peci f i cal l yf or s peci aloper at i onsf r om dayone;al lt heot her shavebeenmodi f i edf r om convent i onal C130E/ Hai r f r ames .

Del i ver yoft he MC130J shasal l owed r et i r ementoft he ol derMC130Ps , andal s oal l owedt heMC130W f l eett obear medandr er ol edasAC130W guns hi ps ,t aki ngs omeoft hepr es s ur eof ft her el at i vel ys mal l AC130f l eet .

Ot hernat i onshave al s o oper at ed t he Her cul esi nt he s peci alf or ces s uppor tr ol e,butr ar el yhave ai r cr af tr ecei ved maj ormodi f i cat i ons .One ex cept i on was t he RAF C130K f l eet ,whi ch i ncl uded s ever alai r cr af t modi f i ed f orcover toper at i ons .T hes ewer eHer cul esC1Psf i t t ed wi t hF L I R, enhanced count er meas ur esand f ur t hers ys t ems .T heai r cr af ts er ved wi t h t heS peci al F or cesF l i ght ,anel ementof47S qn,andhavenow beenr et i r ed andr epl acedbyl es sobvi ous l ymodi f i edC130J s .

T heC130Jhasr epl aced t heKmodeli nt heS Fr ol ewi t ht he RAF ( Kar lDr age)

Her cul esGuns hi ps Dur i ng t he Vi et nam War , t he US AF ex per i ment ed wi t h f i t t i ng s i deways f i r i ng guns t o t he C47 t r ans por t ai r cr af tt o pr oduce a guns hi p capabl e ofengagi ng gr ound t ar get s . T he or i gi nal AC47s ( ni cknamed S pooky) wer e f ai r l y l ow t echnol ogy,butwer econs i der edus ef ul and pr ovedt heconceptt hatat r ans por tai r cr af t f i t t edwi t hs i dewaysf i r i ngweaponswoul dbe abl et o ut i l i s et hes e weapons accur at el y dur i ngapyl ont ur n,t oat t ackat ar getont he s ur f ace.

I nor dert oi ncr eas eendur anceand al s ot o car r yheavi erweaponr y,i twaspr opos edt o modi f y a numberofC130Ast oas i mi l ar conf i gur at i on.Wher et heAC47swer ef ai r l y cr ude and r udi ment ar y,t he AC130 was des i gnedf r om t hes t ar tt ocont ai ns i gni f i cant avi oni cs ,i ncl udi ng ananal oguef i r econt r ol comput er and i mpr oved s ens or s .I ni t i al weaponsf i twasl i mi t ed t os i mi l arcal i br e gunst ot he AC47,but ,ast he pr ogr amme devel oped, heavi er weapons wer e i nt r oduced.

T he AC130A s er ved wi t h di s t i nct i on dur i ng t heVi et nam War ,andai r cr af twer ecr edi t ed wi t ht he des t r uct i on ofmanyvehi cl esand ot hert ar get s .F i nalweaponsconf i gur at i on wast er med' S ur pr i s ePackage' andi ncl uded t wo 20mm r ot ar y and t wo 40mm Bof or s cannons .T hes e ear l y guns hi pswer el at er augment ed by a bat ch of conver t ed AC130Es ;t he pr oj ect name was Pave S pect r e,and t he name S pect r e hass i nce become cl os el yas s oci at ed wi t ht he ent i r e guns hi p f l eet ,r egar dl es s of modi f i cat i on s t at e.

T he AC130E f l eet was s ubs equent l y upgr adedt oAC130Hs t andar d,wi t honeof t he 40mm cannon r epl aced by a 105mm howi t z er . T he AC130A/ H f l eet s er ved t oget herunt i lt he mi d1990s ,bywhi cht i me t he ear l i erai r cr af thad r eached t he end of t hei rl i f es pan.

An AC130H guns hi pf r om t he 16t hS peci a S quadr on,Hur l bur tF i el d,F l or i da,j et t i s onsf l ar esa count er meas ur e dur i ng mul t i guns hi p f or ma t r ai ni ngonAugus t24,2007 ( U. S.Ai rF or cephot o/ Seni orAi r manJ ul i anneSho

Bel ow l ef t&mi ddl e:T heAC130Hf l eethasund cannonsmount ed f or war d oft he mai nl andi n guns hi pscar r yar t wor ks i mi l art ot hi s' Angel ofDe

i alOper at i ons sasani nf r ar ed at i on egr es s

howal t er )

Bot t om r i ght-' Guns hi pI I '( 541626)wast he pr ot ot ype AC130A conver s i on.Modi f i ed f r om J C130conf i gur at i on atWr i ght Pat t er s onAF Bi n1967,i twasdepl oyed t oS out h Eas tAs i as hor t l yaf t er war ds .I twasr et i r edf r om t es tdut i esi n 1976and pl aced on di s pl ayatt he US AFMus eum.I twas r et ur ned t o AC130A conf i gur at i on ( al bei t wi t hout weapons )i nt he mi d1990s and i ss een s hor t l y af t er r es t or at i on ( PaulDunn)

der goneaf ew changesi nconf i gur at i onovert heyear s .I ni t smos tr ecenti ncar nat i on,t hepai rof20mm i ng gearhave beenr emoved,l eavi ng onl yt he 40mm and 105mm ( bot t om mi ddl e)weapons . Many Deat h'( PaulF i l mer )

Repl acementf ort he AC130A f l eetcame i n t he f or m ofa bat ch ofconver t ed C130H ai r f r amesdes i gnat ed AC130U.T he Umodel di s pens ed wi t ht he pai rof20mm cannons , whi ch wer e r epl aced by a s i ngl e 25mm weapon. As t he guns hi p concept has evol ved,t heal t i t udeatwhi cht heai r cr af thas t endedt ooper at ehasi ncr eas ed,maki ngt he or i gi nal 20mm ar mament unaccept abl y i naccur at e.

T he AC130H/ Uf l eethass een ex t ens i ve us e overt he l as tt wo decades ,and t he ai r cr af t havebeenpr ogr es s i vel yupgr adedandf i t t ed wi t h i mpr oved s ens or and f i r e cont r ol equi pment .T o eas es ome oft he oper at i onal pr es s ur e on t he f l eet ,t he MC130W Combat Dr agon ai r cr af t wer e modi f i ed t o car r y weapons ,i ncl udi ng t he AGM114 Hel l f i r e mi s s i l eandevent ual l ya30mm cannon.

I ni t i al l y t er med MC130W ' Dr agonS pear ' ,t heai r cr af t ar enow des i gnat edAC130W S t i ngerI I .

I nt hef ut ur e,t heAC130J( bas edonMC130J ai r f r ame)wi l lent ers er vi ce wi t h a weapons package t hatwi l lbe s i mi l art ot he AC130W. T hes e ai r cr af t wi l lr epl ace t he agei ng AC130Hsandal s oi ncr eas et heover al ls i z eof t heguns hi pf l eet .T hef i r s tai r cr af ti ss uppos ed t o ent er s er vi ce i n 2017, wi t h t he name Ghos t r i der , cont i nui ng t he s pect r alt heme whi chbeganwi t hS pooky.

T heUS AFi st heonl yoper at orofpur pos ebui l t guns hi pC130s .However ,i nr ecentyear s ,t he US MC has adopt ed an ar mament pr ogr amme f ori t s KC130J f l eet .Know as Har ves tHAWK ( Her cul esAi r bor ne Weapons Ki t ) ,t hi si sar emovabl emodi f i cat i onpackage whi ch gi ves t he KC130J a l i mi t ed cl os e s uppor t capabi l i t y.T he ai r cr af t car r i es t he AN/ AAQ30 T ar get i ng S i ght S ys t em ( T S S ) at t achedt ot hel ef twi ngex t er nal f uel t ank.A s ens oroper at ori ns i det heai r cr af tcanempl oy mi s s i l es s uch as t he AGM114 Hel l f i r e and AGM176 Gr i f f i ni na s i mi l armannert ot he AC130W,and t her e ar e pl anst oi ncl ude a 30mm cannon asa f ut ur e upgr ade.Har ves t HAWKequi ppedKC130J shaves eencombat overAf ghani s t an,wi t hs ucces s f ul r es ul t s .

Above-T heAC130W i smodi f i ed f r om t heMC130W and equi pped wi t ha s i ngl e30mm Bus hmas t ercannoni nt hef or war df us el age.T he ai r cr af tcanal s ohasdepl oys t andof fweaponss uchast heAGM114 Hel l f i r emi s s i l e( Al anKenny) Bel ow -T her ecent l ydevel oped' Der i ngerDoor 'al l owst heKC130Jt o depl oypr eci s i ons t andof fweaponss uchast heGr i f f i nmi s s i l ewi t hout depr es s ur i s i ngt heai r cr af t( U. S.Navyphot o) Bel ow l ef t-T heuni queHar ves tHAWKvar i antoft heKC130Js uppor t s 2ndMar i neAi r cr af tWi ng( F or war d)i npr ovi di ngcl os erai rs uppor tand s ur vei l l ance f or coal i t i on t r oops on t he gr ound i ns out hwes t er n Af ghani s t an.AGM114Hel l f i r emi s s i l esar ef i t t edundert hewi ngoft hi s ex ampl e( U. S.Mar i neCor psphot o,CplSamant haH.Ar r i ngt on) L ef t-T hear r ayofweaponsf i t t edt ot heAC130Ui scl ear l yvi s i bl east hi s ex ampl et akesof ff r om RAFMi l denhal l( Gor donJ ones ) T op l ef t-T he AC130 car r i esa cr ew of13,whi ch i ncl udess ens or oper at or s ,a f i r e cont r olof f i cerand f ouraer i algunner s .Her e,t hes e gunner sl oadmas s i ve105mm s hel l si nt ot hehowi t z eratt her earoft he ai r cr af t( U. S.Ai rF or cephot o,SSGTGr egL .Davi s )

Communi cat i onsandEl ect r oni cCombat Oneoft hemor eunus ual ands peci al i s edr ol esas s i gnedt ot he Her cul esi st hatoff l yi ngcommuni cat i onscent r eandj ammi ng pl at f or m.T hes edut i esar eunder t akenbyt heEC130f ami l yof ai r cr af t ,and t hei roper at i onsar es ome oft he mos ts ens i t i ve under t akenbyt heHer cul es .

T he ear l i es tEC130swer e EC130Es ,conver t ed f r om C130E t r ans por t s .T hes e ai r cr af tf al li nt ot wo mai n cat egor i es .T he EC130EABCCC Ai r bor ne Bat t l ef i el d Command and Cont r ol Cent erwasa t act i calcommand pos tf orus ei nl ow t hr eat envi r onment s .T he ai r cr af twer er et i r ed i n 2002,and t hei r mi s s i ont r ans f er r edt ot heE8J S T ARSandE3S ent r yf l eet .

T he EC130E Commando S ol o ai r cr af thad a r at hermor e i nt er es t i ng car eer .T hes e ex t ens i vel ymodi f i ed ai r cr af twer e al s or ef er r ed t o by t he code name Ri vetRi der ,and wer e equi ppedwi t hequi pmentt oactasanai r bor neT Vandr adi o t r ans mi s s i on cent r e.T he or i gi nalEC130E( RR)ai r cr af thave beent hr oughs ever alchangesi nconf i gur at i on,butt hei rf i nal appear ance i ncl uded f ourf i n mount ed pods ,t wo l ar ge under wi ng bl ade ant ennae and t wo ver yl ar ge VHF / UHF t r ans mi s s i onpodsundert heout erwi ngs .

T hemai ndut yoft heCommandoS ol oai r cr af ti sps ychol ogi cal war f ar e( PS YOPS ) ;us i ng t hei requi pment ,s i gnal s can be br oadcas ton commer ci alT V and r adi o channel s ,meani ng pr opaganda can be t ar get ed atei t hermi l i t ar y orci vi l i an per s onnel .T he ai r cr af tcan al s o be us ed i nt i me ofnat i onal emer gency, t o br oadcas ti nf or mat i on t o ci t i z ens .T he EC130E( RR)f l eetwasr epl acedi nt heper i od200306,wi t ht he mi s s i onequi pmentbei ng t r ans f er r ed t oa f l eetofnew bui l d EC130J s .

T heEC130JCommandoS ol oI I If l eeti soper at edbyt he193r d S peci alOper at i ons Wi ng of t he Penns yl vani a ANG and cons i s t sofs evenai r cr af t ,al t houghonl yf ourcar r yt hemi s s i on equi pmentf orPS YOPS .T he r emai nderoft he f l eetar e al s o r ef er r ed t o as EC130J s( or s omet i mes EC130S J s ) and appar ent l y ar e us ed f or mor e ' convent i onal 's peci al oper at i ons .However ,i nt hepas t ,t he193r dS OW oper at eda s mal lnumberofs hadowy EC130E( CL )ai r cr af t( known as Comf yL evi orS eni orHunt er )whi chwer ebel i evedt ohavean el ect r oni ci nt el l i gencegat her i ng capabi l i t y.T heEC130E( CL ) mi s s i onequi pmentwast houghtt o bemount ed i nt r ai l er sf or eas ydepl oymentont heai r cr af tand i ti spos s i bl et hatt hes e EC130S J sar et hes ucces s or st ot heComf yL evi ai r cr af t .

By2003,t he EC130E( RR)wa camei nt hef or m ofanumbe CommandoS ol oI I I( L ockheed

Above-I ni t sear l yf or m,t heEC130E( RR)car r i edps ychol ogi calwar f ar eequi pmentpr evi ous l y i ns t al l edonL ockheedEC121SCons t el l at i ons .Oper at edbyt hePenns yl vani aANG,t heai r cr af t s aw s omechangesi nconf i gur at i on( andcol our s )dur i ngt he1970sand1980s ,whent heywer e r ef er r edt oasCommandoS ol o.

Mai n-Ex per i ence dur i ng Des er tS t or ml ed t oa r adi calr ef i tf ort he EC130E( RR)f l eet ,whi ch r es ul t edi nt hi sconf i gur at i on,knownasCommandoS ol oI I( T opt hr eei magesL i nds ayPeacock)

asi n need ofr epl acement .T hi s erofnew bui l dEC130J s ,dubbed edMar t i n)

T he 193r dS OG al s o oper at esa numberofl es s obvi ous l y modi f i ed EC130J s ,s omet i mesr ef er r ed t o asEC130S J sor " S peci al J s "( ShaunSchof i el d)

AnEC130H Comp

T heEC130Hi sanot herr at herr adi cal l ooki ngconver s i onoft heHer cul es ,i n t hi scas et he C130H ai r f r ame.T oday al lEC130Hss er ve wi t ht he 55t h El ect r oni c CombatGr oup atDavi s Mont hanAF B,AZ .T heyar e knownas Compas sCal l ,and per f or m a var i et yofmi s s i onsai med atj ammi ng and di s r upt i ngenemycommuni cat i ons .

Onef ur t hervar i et yofEC130,whi chhasnow beenr et i r edf r om s er vi ce,was t heEC130Q.T hi sver s i ons er vedt heUSNavyi nt heT ACAMO ( T akeChar ge And Move Out )r ol e.T he ai r cr af twer ef i t t ed wi t ha l engt hyt r ai l i ng wi r e ant enna f orVL Fcommuni cat i onswi t ht he USNavy F l eetBal l i s t i c Mi s s i l e s ubmar i nes .T heEC130Qswer er et i r ed i nt heear l yni net i esand r epl aced byt heE6.

Ri ght-EC130H 7 s hor tf i nal t oRAFL a when oper at ed b bas ed atS emba ( L i nds ayPeacock)

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T op l ef t-AnEC13 t ouches down at Bas e af t ercompl e par t of Red ( Gor donJ ones )

pas sCal lf r om t he 55t hEl ect r oni c CombatGr oup t ur nsf i nalatNel l i sAF Bdur i ng a Red F l ag ex er ci s e ( PaulF i l mer )

731585 i ss een on L akenheat hi n1987 by t he 43r d ECS ach AB,Ger many k)

rUSNavyEC130Q, d by NCAR and i s of t he many undi ng t he AMARG ar lDr age)

130H Compas sCal l at Nel l i s Ai rF or ce l et i ng a mi s s i on as ed F l ag 141

Met eor ol ogi calRes ear ch T her uggednes soft heC130des i gnl enti t s el fwel l t ooper at i ngi nex t r eme condi t i ons ,and t her e ar ef ew weat hercondi t i onsmor e ex t r eme t han wi t hi n a hur r i cane.However ,t hati sex act l ywher eas el ectnumberof C130shave been f l own ( del i ber at el y)i nt he name ofmet eor ol ogi cal r es ear ch.Overt heyear s ,t heUS AFhasoper at edvar i ousdi f f er entt ypesof Her cul esf orweat herr econnai s s ance,des i gnat edWC130A/ B/ E/ H/ J .T he cur r entt ypei nus ei st heWC130JHur r i caneHunt er ,whi chi si ns er vi cewi t h t he 53r d Weat her Reconnai s s ance S quadr on of Ai rF or ce Res er ve Command,bas edatKees l erAF B,MS .T heai r cr af tcar r yavar i et yofs ens or s and equi pmentus ed t or ecor d par amet er ss uch aswi nd s peed and di r ect i on and r ai nf al l .T hi sdat ai sus ed i nf or ecas t i ng t r opi cals t or m devel opment .

US AF i st he mai n oper at or of weat her r es ear ch C130s ,but ot her or gani s at i onsoper at e( orhave oper at ed)modi f i ed ai r cr af ti na s i mi l ar r ol e.T heNat i onal Cent erf orAt mos pher i cRes ear ch( NCAR)us esaf or mer USNavyEC130Q whi chhasbeenex t ens i vel yequi ppedf oral lmannerof ex per i ment s ,i ncl udi ngat mos pher i cs ampl i ng,oceanogr aphyand cl oud phys i css t udi es .

F ormanyyear s ,t he RAFoper at ed a weat herr es ear ch C130.Dubbed Her cul esW2,t he ai r cr af twasmodi f i ed wi t hanl ong nos e pr obe,whi ch neces s i t at ed t he movi ng oft he weat herr adart o a pod above t he f l i ght deck.T hi sgavet heai r cr af tauni queappear ance,andal s ogaver i s e t oi t sni ckname-S noopy.I twasoper at edonbehal foft heMetOf f i ceunt i l bei ng wi t hdr awn i n 2001.I twast hen us ed asa t es tbed f ort he T P400 engi ne f or t he A400M, al t hough i t di d not s ee much us e i nt hi s conf i gur at i onandhasbeengr oundedf ors omet i me.

Above-XV208,He known as“S noop f or over 28 yea Res ear ch F l i gh F ar nbor oughbef o Mar ch2001 ( L i nds

Ri ght-640552was her e atRAFMi l de t he ver y obvi ous i ndi cat i ng i t spur p bel onged t o t he Reconnai s s anceS q McCl el l an,CA ( L i n

L ef t-T he Nat i o At mos pher i c Re oper at es t hi s f o EC130Q f ora va pr oj ect s( PaulF i l m

Her cul esW2,bet t er py” ,wasoper at ed ear s by t he Met ht f r om RAE f or ei t sr et i r ementi n ds ayPeacock)

asaWC130E,s een enhal li n 1972wi t h s “WEAT HER” t i t l es r pos e. T he ai r cr af t he 55t h Weat her S quadr onbas edat L i nds ayPeacock)

t i onal Cent er f or es ear ch ( NCAR) f or mer US Navy var i et y ofr es ear ch l mer )

T henew gener at i onofHer cul esf i r ef i ght i ngt anker si st ypi f i edbyt hi sex ampl eownedbyCoul s onAvi a USNavyEC130Q,whi chwasr et i r edi nt heear l y1990saf t eraf ai r l ys hor tcar eer .S eenher eper f or mi ng dr opatCent enni al Ai r por t ,Col or ado ( PaulF i l mer )

J ohnHi ggi ns

i at i on.I ti saf or mer gademons t r at i on

L i nds ayPeacock

Dr onedi r ect or Bot ht heUS AF( above)andUSNavy( t opl ef t )haveus edmodi f i edC130st o l aunchand cont r oldr ones .Modi f i ed ai r cr af twer e des i gnat ed DC130A/ E and wer e capabl e ofcar r yi ng up t of ourdr onesf ora var i et y ofus es , i ncl udi ng r econnai s s ance and weaponsdevel opment .T hey wer e us ed oper at i onal l ybyt heUS AFt ol aunchr econnai s s ancedr onesoverVi et nam wi t hs ome s ucces s .I mpr ovement si n UAV t echnol ogymade t he DC130 r edundanti nt her ol ei nwhi chi thadbeendes i gned,ands ur vi vi ngai r cr af t wer eei t herconver t edbackt obei ngt r ans por t sorr eas s i gnedt ot es tdut i es .

L as toper at oroft he DC130wast he Navy,who us ed a s mal lnumberof ai r cr af ti nconj unct i onwi t ht r i al swor kwi t hVX30atNASPoi ntMugu,CA.T he l as toft hes ewasr et i r edi n2007,butnotbef or eoneoft heNavyDC130As hadbeendepl oyedt ot hePer s i anGul ft ot akepar ti nt heopeni ngs t agesof Oper at i onI r aqi F r eedom,l aunchi ngt hr eedr oneswhi chf l ew overBaghdad di s pens i ngchaf ft ocovert hei ni t i al ' s hockandawe' at t acks .

AnL C130HHer cul esdepar t sBar nesAi rNat i onalGuar dBas e on i t sway t oF l or i da i ns uppor tofa 104t hF i ght erWi ng depl oyment( F r ankGr eal i s h)

Above-T heRoyal J or dani anAi rF or ceoper at es af l eetofei ghtC130s ,i ncl udi ng t hi sC130H s eenatAmmani n2008,andoper at edby3S qn ( Gar et hAt t r i dge)

Above -C130H 851079 oft he J apan Ai rS el f Def ens eF or cei ss eenatPopeAF B,NC,i nJ une 1990 ( L i nds ayPeacock)

Above -T he Aus t r i an Ai rF or ce pr ocur ed t hr ee f or merRAFC130Ksi n2003/ 4( Kar lDr age)

Mai n-Oneoft hemos tf amousC130col ours chem T heC130of t enper f or msi t sowndi s pl ayatai r s how

Above-Mor occoi samaj orC130Hus er ,andi t s f l eeti ncl udesa pai rofKC130H t anker sand at l eas tone ai r cr af tmodi f i ed f orr econnai s s ance ( J ohnHi ggi ns )

Above-T heC130Ti sus edbyt heUSNavyasa t act i calai r l i f t er .T hi sex ampl e hai l sf r om VR62 “Nomads ” ,aUSNavyRes er veuni tbas edatNAS J acks onvi l l e,F L( Kar lDr age)

Summi ngup T heC130i soneoft hegr eatai r cr af tofmoder nt i mes .I thasbeeni ncont i nuous pr oduct i onf or60year s ,t he l onges tpr oduct i onr unofanymi l i t ar yai r cr af ti n hi s t or y,and i sone ofonl yf i ve t ypest o mar kover50year sofs er vi ce wi t hi t s or i gi nalcus t omer .Wi t hC130J scont i nui ngt of l ow of ft hepr oduct i onl i neand f ut ur eor der ss t i l lcomi ng i n,i tl ooksl i kel yt hatt heHer cul eswi l lbecel ebr at i ng manymor eanni ver s ar i esi nt heyear st ocome.

mesi nt hewor l d,' F atAl ber t ' i saUSMar i neCor psC130Tus edt os uppor tt heBl ueAngel sdi s pl ayt eam. ws ,al t hought hi ss adl ynol ongeri ncl udesas pect acul arJ AT Ot akeof f ,ass eenher e( RobEdgcumbe)

T heCatS

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I t ’ sawel l knownf actt hatwi t hi nt hegr eatci r cl eofl i f e,t her ea unknown.T hes amecoul dbes ai dofai r cr af t ;des i gned,bui l t , t ot hei rnat ur al compos i t i onsofr aw mat er i al s ………………. but

S omeai r cr af ts ur vi vef oranumberofyear sgi vi ngs er vi cet ot h RAF ’ sJ aguarF or ce i ss t i l ldoi ng i t sbi twi t hi nt he conf i nesof S hr ops hi r e.Cl i veBennet tr epor t s .Addi t i onal phot ogr aphyas

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ar emanys t agest hatul t i mat el yendswi t hdeat handt hegr eat t ,s er vi ceent r yandf i nal l ywi t hdr awnf ors cr appi ngandar et ur n tnotal ways !

t hei rr es pect i veai rar msi nmai nt enancet r ai ni ngr ol es ,andt he ofNo.1SchoolofT echni calT r ai ni ng ( 1SoT T )atRAFCos f or d, scr edi t ed.

Ant honyWi l l i ams

No. 1 S oT T has over al l command of pr ogr ammesatCos f or d,butal ls t udent s s t ar tt hei rt r ai ni ng l i f e wi t h No. 238 S quadr on once bas i c RAF t r ai ni ng has beencompl et edatRAFHal t on.

Hi s t or y T he No. 238 S qn number pl at e was adopt ed by t he Ai r f i el dT r ai ni ng S qn i n 2007.T hi shadt obes anct i onedbyt heRAF att he hi ghes tl eveland i suni que i nt he f actt hatt hes quadr onbadges t i l lhast he Ki ng’ scr owndi s pl ayedf r om i t sl as tdaysas af l yi nguni t .( Not e:238hasr ef or med asa t r ai ni ng s uppor t s quadr on onl y) T he s quadr oncr es ts howst hehydr a,whi chi sa t hr eeheaded beas t f r om Gr eek myt hol ogy, whi ch was s ai d t o be t he har des tt odef eatast heheadsgr ew back i fs ever ed.

T hes quadr on’ smot t o,‘ Ad f i nem’ ,i squi t e aptasi tmeans' t ot he end' ,whi ch t he s quadr on l i nks t o t he t r ai ni ng, as t he pr ogr amme al s o r uns ‘ t o t he end’ , concl udi ng wi t ht he pas s i ng outoff ul l y qual i f i edmechani cs .I ti ss ai dt hatt hi sl i nk wasact ual l yoneoft hemai nr eas onst hat t he 238 S quadr on number pl at e was chos en.

J aguarGR3AXX119/ AI

Bel ow -238S quadr onut i l i s esa di gi t alpr ogr am f ort h paper wor kt obekeptupt odat et oo.Al l i magest hi s

238 S quadr on hasan out s t andi ng pedi gr ee,havi ng s eenact i ont hr oughs omeoft hemos ti mpor t antaer i al campai gnsi n hi s t or y.F or med on 20Augus t1918f r om t hr ee f l i ght s( Nos .347,348 and 349)att he s eapl ane s t at i on atCat t ewat er ,Pl ymout h,t he s quadr on f l ew ant i s ubmar i ne s or t i esunt i lt he end oft he war ,f i nal l y bei ngdi s bandedon15May1919.

T he s quadr on wasr ef or med dur i ng May1940 atRAF T angmer ewi t hS pi t f i r eMK1sdur i ngt hes t ar toft heBat t l e ofBr i t ai n.T hef ol l owi ngmont hi tchangedequi pmentt o HawkerHur r i caneswhi l er edepl oyi ngt oMi ddl eWal l op.

Remai ni ng wi t hi n 10 Gr oup s ect or ,t he s quadr on cl ai med 69 ki l l swi t hi nt he dar kdaysoft he Bat t l e of Br i t ai n.

T hes quadr onwentont os er vei nMal t a,aswel l asat our oft he Wes t er n Des er ti ncl udi ng of f ens i ve s weepsunt i l af t ert he bat t l e ofElAl amei n,des t r oyi ng 50 Ger man T r ans por tai r cr af tanddi s abl i ng90mor e.

J aguarGR1XX727/ ER

t he day’ sact i vi t i es ,butt her e’ spl ent yof i ss pr eadCl i veBennet t

F i nal l yt hes quadr onwasi nvol vedi nact i onf r om Cor s i ca and nor t her nI t al ywhi l et he al l i esadvanced t hr ough s out her n F r ance ( oper at i on Anvi l ,l at er Oper at i on Dr agoon)andont oL yonandDi j ont ol i nkupwi t hf or ces f r om Oper at i on Over l or d,t he I nvas i on ofNor mandy, D– Day. T he l as tmaj oract i vi t y undert he mant l e ofNo.238 S quadr on was when No. 528 S quadr on was r enumber edi nt o238f ori t spar ti nf l yi ngDakot asi nt he Ber l i nAi r l i f t ,bef or ef i nal l ybecomi ngNo.10S quadr onon 4Oct ober1948.

T oday RAFCos f or di st he No.1S choolofT echni calT r ai ni ng wi t hi nt heRAF .

238S quadr oni sacomponentwi t hi n1S oT T ,whi chdeal s wi t ht he f i r s tphas et r ai ni ng t hatal ls t udent scoverno mat t erwhatt hei rdes i gnat edt r ade.Ret ur ni ngs t udent s t henf ocusont hei rs peci f i ct r adet r ai ni ngonnonengi ne r unni ngai r f r amest hatar eal l ocat edwi t hi n1S oT T .

S t udent sar r i ve f r om i ni t i alt r ai ni ng atRAF Hal t on f or appr ox i mat el ys i x mont hs of Ai r cr af t Mai nt enance Mechani c( AMM)t r ai ni ng.

Above -One off ourf or merAr my Ai rCor psGaz el l esus ed by No.238 S quadr on.

T opr i ght-J aguar s ,Gaz el l esandS eaKi ngsar et hemai nt ypesacces s i bl et o s t udent son238S quadr on.

Bot t om r i ght-Al ower angl edvi ew of238S quadr on’ sas s et s .

Bel ow -J aguarGR1XX959s t i l lwear st hemar ki ngsofNo.20S quadr onwi t h whi chi ts er vedi nRAFGer many.

Al l i magest hi ss pr ead Cl i veBennet t

T he cour s ei shi ghl ys t r uct ur ed and knowl edgei spas s edt hr ought ot he s t udent sovert he92daysf r om s t ar t t of i ni s h,whi ch gi vest he s t udent s t he neces s ar ys ki l l sas s oci at ed wi t h t hef ol l owi ng:

Rect i f i cat i onF l i ght Ar r i val andHeal t h& S af et yatWor k F l i ghtS af et y/ Ai r f r ameCons t r uct i on T heor yofF l i ght Ant i I ce Docs / Bas i c F 700 ( t heor y and pr act i cal ) HandT ool s / T or queT ool s Cabl es and Chai ns ( t heor y and pr act i cal ) S af et yEx am

L i neF l i ght L i neAr r i val s / S er vi ci ngT er ms S eat S er vi ci ng ( t heor y and pr act i cal ) Ar medAi r cr af tT heor y Ni t r ogen( t heor yandpr act i cal ) El ect r i cs Ox ygen ( r epl eni s hment / l i qui d t heor yandpr act i cal ) Under car r i age( t yr esandbr akes ) S t r uct ual Damage ( t heor y and pr act i cal ) Ai r cr af tDocument at i on( t heor yand pr act i cal ) Hydr aul i cs / Oi l F l i ght S er vi ci ng ( t heor y, demo, pr act i cal ) Gr ound Handl i ng ( t heor y and pr act i cal ) Ref uel( t heor yandpr act i cal ) Recei pt & Des pat ch of Ai r cr af t ( t heor yandpr act i cal ) L i nedepl oyedOpsT r ai ni ng.

Above-Asi ts aysont hes i gn,“Wel comet o238S qu T r ai ni ng”

Al li ni t i alt r ai ni ngi sf i r s t l ycar r i edouti nt hecl as s r oo l ear nt het heor yt oanyoft hedi s ci pl i nebei ngt aug t headvant ageofget t i ngt hei rhandsdi r t ywheni t s i deoft hecour s eonact ual ai r f r ames-pr i mar i l yt h l as tofwhi cht oucheddownatRAFCos f or di nJ ul y

T hes e ai r cr af t have been kept ( wher e pos s i b condi t i onf ort hegr oundhandl i ng/ r ecei ptanddi s p 238S quadr onal s ohasf ourGaz el l eandt woS eaKi n wi ng t r ai ni ng and a S EPT( S ynt het i c Envi r onmen ai r f i el dmar s hal l i ngs i mul at ort hatcanbeus edt op r ot ar ywi ngedgr oundhandl i ngandmar s hal l i ngs k

Al l of238’ sal l ocat i onofai r cr af tandt r ai ni ngoper a RAFCos f or d’ sHangar s3& 4.

S er geantT i m Wheel hous es t at ed,“T he whol e pr o t r ai ni ng-s peci f i cs ubj ectt heor yi st aught ,wi t ht he outont heai r cr af t .T het as ksar et henl i nkedt opr o s er vi ci ng and t o pr epar et he ai r cr af tf ora s or t i e, ar r i vesbackf r om t hemi s s i on” .

No.238 S quadr on can of f erbet ween 2025 co max i mum of16s t udentpl acesavai l abl epercour s

T hes t udent st hengett r ans f er r edoutt oaf r ont l i ne yearbef or er el ocat i ngbackt oRAFCos f or dt ocar t r ai ni ng,bot havi oni csandmechani cal wi t h1S oT T

uadr on-HomeofAMM

oom,wher et hes t udent s ght ,andt heyt henhave i tcomest ot hepr act i cal t heS epecatJ aguar ,t he l y2007.

i bl e) i nf ul loper at i onal i s pat chphas eoft r ai ni ng.

Ki nghel i copt er sf orr ot ar y nt alPr ocedur alT r ai ner ) pr act i cebot hf i x edand s ki l l s .

r at i onst akespl acewi t hi n

r oces si smodul arbas ed et as kt henbei ngcar r i ed r ovi deacompl et ef l i ght ,and r ecei ve i twheni t

our s esperyearwi t ha r s e.

nes quadr onf oraf ur t her ar r youtf ur t hert echni cal T T .

Above-I ti svi t al l yi mpor t antt hatt het r ai ni ngdel i ver edt ot hes t udent si sas accur at ear epr es ent at i onoft hewor kt heywi l lbeex pect edt ocar r yout ont hei rs quadr onsaspos s i bl e. Eachai r cr af thasi t sownl ogbookwhi ch mus tbecompl et edwheneveranywor ki scar r i edoutoni tori ti sr un.

Bel ow -Oneoft wof or merRoyalNavyS eaKi ngHAS 6hel i copt er sus edby No.238S quadr on.

Al l i magest hi ss pr ead Cl i veBennet t

F l tL tMat t“Daubs ”D’ Aubyndi r ect sJ aguarGR3AXX725/ Tt owar dst heRAFCos f o

f or dr unwayon2J ul y2007,i ndoi ngs obecomi ngt hes econdt ol as tper s ont oeverl andanRAFJ aguar ( Kar lDr age)

T opr i ght-J aguarGR1XZ 370/ J Bi ss eeni nt hemar ki ngsofNo.17S quadr on i ns i deoneoft heRAFCos f or dhangar sbacki nJ ul y2008 ( Kar lDr age) Bot t om r i ght-F el l ow GR1XZ 384/ BC enj oysanaf t er noonouti nt hef r es hai r atCos f or d( Kar lDr age) Bel ow -A l ovel yl i ne ofJ aguart ai l si ncl udi ng a numberoft he f i nal6 S quadr onai r cr af tt obef l owni n( Cl i veBennet t )

T hes e ai r cr af tof f ert he s t udent st he abi l i t yt o t r ai n on and gai ns ki l l si n a wi de var i et y of di s ci pl i nes ,whi cht heycanputt ogoodpr act i cal us et ogai nf i r s t handex per i enceoft heai r f r ame and ai r cr af ts ys t ems . Al lt he s t udent s ar e chal l engedt hr oughoutt het r ai ni ngcour s ebya s er i esofex amsf orever ymodul et aken,whi ch t hey mus tpas sbef or e movi ng on t ot he nex t modul ewi t hi nt het r ai ni ng.I nt heeventt hatt he s t udent sdonoti ni t i al l ypas s ,t heyar egi vent he oppor t uni t yt or et r ai nandr et akeex amst okeep ons chedul et o compl et et hecour s ewi t hi nt he 92daysal l ocat ed.

T he‘ S pot t yJ ag’i st he

Al loft he “r unnerai r cr af t ” ar e as s i gned t ot he Gr ound Handl i ng, S ee i n/ S ee of f and Mar s hal l i ng phas es of oper at i onswi t hi n238S quadr onandcanof t enbes eenout and abouton t he t ax i waysar ound t he ai r f i el d.T heyar e “pi l ot ed”byi ns t r uct or sf r om 238S quadr onwhot r ai nast ax i pi l ot st hr ough a bes poke t r ai ni ng package. When t he cour s ehasbeencompl et ed,t hes t udent sar eas s es s edby qual i f i edt ax i i ns t r uct or s .

epr i deof238S quadr on’ sf l eet ,havi ngbeenador nedwi t ht hi ss t unni ngr et i r ements cheme ( Kar lDr age)

Aboveand Mai n-T hebl ackJ aguar sar et hemos tr ecentar r i val satRAF Cos f or dhavi ngbeendel i ver edbyr oadf r om RAFCr anwel l( Bot hi mages Ant honyWi l l ams )

Above -T he gr oundr unni atr ecents ho

e RAFCos f or d Ai r s how or gani s er shave made us e oft hei r ni ngas s et sbyper f or mi ngat ax i r unaheadoft hef l yi ngdi s pl ay howsl i ket hi sonei n2012 ( ShaunSchof i el d)

T heJ aguaral s os er vesNo.1 S oT Ti n t he t r ai ni ng r ol e ei t her i n t he Engi ne or Ai r f r ame envi r ons , wher e s t udent s can gai n mor e s peci al i s t t r ai ni ng and ex per i ence when t hey r et ur nt o Cos f or d af t ert hei r s t i nt wi t h a f r ont l i ne s quadr on.

F i nal l yt her e ar e al s ot hr ee bl ack J aguar s oper at i ng ( whi ch have been t r ans f er r ed f r om RAF Cr anwel l ) whi ch ar e us ed by t he T r ai ni ng Cons ol i dat i on F l i ghtatRAF Cr anwel l whi ch have moved t o t he Def ence S chool of Aer onaut i cal Engi neer i ng Cos f or d ( f or mer l yDCAE)al ong wi t h t he Engi neer i ng Of f i cer f oundat i on.

Cur r ent l y t her e ar e no es t i mat ed r et i r ementdat es f ort he J aguar swi t h ei t her 238S quadr onort hewi der1 S oT T .

RAF Cos f or d, No. 238 S quadr on and No.1 S oT T of f era wor l d cl as st r ai ni ng s yl l abus f or al l ai r cr af t t echni ci answi t hi nt he RAF and t he capabi l i t yt o al l ow s t udent s t o put t he knowl edge and s ki l l s i mpar t ed t ogood us eona r ange ofai r cr af tt ypeson s i t e; and l ong may i t cont i nue.

T he aut hor woul d l i ke t o ext end t hankst o Squadr on L eaderGr aham L ee and t o Ser geantT i m Wheel hous e.

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31 Mar ch 2014 mar ked 40 year ss i nce Br i t i s h Ai r wayswasf or mal l y f ounded.Evers i nce t he Boar d was es t abl i s hed i n 1972,L ondon’ s Heat hr ow Ai r por thasal waysbeent hecar r i er ’ smai nhub.F ol l owi ngt he 14Mar ch2008openi ngofT er mi nal5,al mos tal loft heai r l i ne’ ss er vi ces ar enow oper at edf r om t hi ss t at eof t hear tf aci l i t y.

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ti sar ar epr i vi l egei ndeedt obeabl et ot our ar oundHeat hr ow Ai r por t .Evenhavi ngbeen a Br i t i s h Ai r wayspi l otf ors even year s ,Iam amaz edathow mucht her ei st odi s coverabout t he BA oper at i on outofT er mi nal5 when you s cr at chbel ow t he s ur f ace. I ti swhyIs t ar tt hi s ar t i cl e wi t ht hanks– t hankst ot he i ndi vi dual s whowor keds ohar dt ogetKar l Dr age,Nat as ha Ver r al l Bhas i n( f r om t he RAFand wr i t i ng f ort he

Ai rCadetmagaz i ne)andI acces st ot he‘ i ns i de’ oft he oper at i on t hat i s Br i t i s h Ai r ways and T er mi nal 5.F r om Br i t i s hAi r waysI mus tt hankPaul S mi l es ,S ue Gol dt hor pe and T ony Cane;and f r om t he Br i t i s h Ai r por t sAut hor i t y Imus tt hank RachelBet t s .S peci alt hanksal s o go t o Gl enn Pal merwho wasoures cor tar ound t he ai r f i el d f ort hedur at i onofourvi s i t .

T heBoei ng7878Dr eaml i nerj oi ned t heBr i t i s ex ampl eshavebeendel i ver edwi t haf ur t her Imus tofcour s et hankKar l–i twashi si deat hat wet akeawanderar oundHeat hr ow!ImetKar l whenI wasaJ aguarpi l oti nt heRAF ;wewor ked t oget her on maki ng t he wi t hdr awalof t he J aguarF or cef r om RAFS er vi ceani ndel i bl epar t ofhi s t or y.And a good j ob hedi d ofi tt oo.S o her e we ar e agai n –s ame ol d Kar l( he has n’ t evenaged! )andme( s omewhatol derl ooki ng) i n mynew gui s e asan Boei ng 787Dr eaml i ner pi l otwi t hBA.If l ew t heAi r busA320f orf i veand ahal fyear sandt hens pentni nemont hsont he Boei ng 777i nbet weenbuthave beenont he 787s i nceOct ober2013.

F orr eas onsofs af et yands ecur i t y,manychecks havet obedonei nor dert ogetacces st ot he ‘ ai rs i de’atL HR.Event houghI havean‘ ai rs i de’ pas s ,i tdoesnotent i t l e me t or un ar ound t he t er mi nal uncont r ol l ed.S owet ur nupatt heS t ar Cent r ei nt he ‘ Cent r alAr ea’ofHeat hr ow ( t he ar eawher eT er mi nal s1,2and3ar e)andweget s peci al pas s esi s s ued,cour t es yoft hehar dwor k oft heBAandBAApeopl ement i onedabove.

t i s hAi r waysf l eeton26J une2013wi t hs er vi cescommenci ngt oT or ont oon1S ept ember .T odat e,f our erf ouronor der .T hecar r i eral s ohasor der si npl acef or227879var i ant sand1278710s .

Ar medwi t hourpas s est henex tchal l engei st o f i nds omewher et opar k.Wegot ot hebus i nes s par ki ng ar ea atT er mi nal5s ot hatIcans how Kar land Nat as ha t he “Pods ” . T er mi nal5 i s s er vedbyt hewor l d’ sf i r s tper s onalr api dt r ans i t s ys t em –a f our per s on dr i ver l es svehi cl et hat whi s ksyou f r om carpar kt o checki n des ki n aboutf i vemi nut es .Mys onl ovest r avel l i ngi ni t becaus ei ti suni queandal s ogoesr i ghtunder t heai r cr af tast heyappr oacht ol and–s oever y t i me he vi s i t she i ns i s t sonuspar ki ng i nt he T 5 bus i nes spar k!

Moment sl at er ,wef i ndour s el vesi nT er mi nal 5– t he l ar ges ts i ngl es pan bui l di ng i n Eur ope, bei ngt hes i z eof50f oot bal lpi t ches .I fi tl ooks bi gf r om t heout s i de,i ti swor t hnot i ngt hatt her e i sasmuch under gr ound ast her ei sabove gr ound. I ti scapabl e ofhandl i ng 30 mi l l i on pas s enger sayear ,and12, 000bagsperhour .I t hasover100s hops ,and hasl ounges pacef or 2, 500cus t omer s . Butt hat ’ sj us tT er mi nal5A – we have t wo s at el l i t es–5Band 5C al s o. T he checki n and s ecur i t ys ys t em i sdes i gned t o haveyou‘ ai rs i de’wi t hi nt enmi nut esofwal ki ng i nt hebui l di ng.Wear eaboutt opr ovei t !

Above - A s i ght ai r por twi l leverw empt yt er mi nal .

Ri ght - T er mi nal December 2009 Met r opol i t anPol i ce EC145 hel i copt er s check,i st he l ar ge T er mi nal 5compl ex l ar ges toft ypescur t heai r l i net hati sab t heA380r es t r i ct ed 5Band5C.

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Whet heryouar eapas s engerors t af f ,youhave t ogot hr oughex act l yt hes ames ecur i t ychecks .

S ohavi ngs pentaboutt enmi nut esget t i ngf r om t he cart ot he T er mi nal ,we pr oceed on our t womi nut e wal kt o s ecur i t y. Des pi t e Kar l car r yi ng hi s us ual 150kg of camer a equi pment ( ! ) ,wewhi pt hr ought hechecksand f i nd our s el vesi nt her el ax ed at mos pher eoft he ‘ ai rs i de’wi t hi n20mi nut esofget t i ngoutoft he car .

We ar e goi ng t o do t he ni ghts hi f t .T he t i me i s about7pm andt hes unwi l ls oonbes et t i ng.S o ourf i r s tj obi st ot r yandgets omephot osoft he ai r cr af tatdus k.Ir i ngGl ennwhowi l lpi ckusup and gui deusar ound t heai r f i el d.Gl enndr i ves “L eader6” – a pi ckup t r uck i n an at t r act i ve s hade ofbr i ghtyel l ow whi ch hel pst o mar s hal ai r cr af tandvehi cl esont hemanoeuvr i ngar eas oft heai r por t .Hei sahi ghl yqual i f i eddr i ver–s o much s ot hathe i sper mi t t ed t o “f r eer ange” ar oundt heai r por t–hei saut hor i s edbyAi rT r af f i c Cont r olt o dr i ve anywher e on t he ai r f i el d,wi t h t heex cept i onoft her unways ,wi t houtneedi ng t o getper mi s s i on. T hi si sbecaus e hi sex per t i s e andex per i encei ss ucht hathecanmakeal l t he s af et y deci s i ons he needs “wi t hi n hi s own cockpi t ” .L ucki l yf orhi m -and us,he l i kes aer opl aness owe’ r ei nf oragoodni ght .

Whi l e we wai tf orGl ennt o ar r i ve,we wat cha s hor thault ur nr ound. Puts i mpl yi ti sa mas s i ve ver s i onofaf or mul aonepi ts t op.T heai r cr af ti s anAi r busA319.I thappenst obei nt he“Dove” pai nts cheme – a s peci alpai nts cheme t hat cel ebr at es“Gr eatBr i t ons ”andcommemor at es BA’ spar t ner s hi p wi t ht heL ondon2012Ol ympi c and Par al ympi c Games . T he aer opl ane wi l l depar ton i t snex tf l i ghtj us t40mi nut esaf t eri t ar r i ves .

T heai r cr af tt ax i esi nononeengi neonl yt os ave emi s s i ons , par t of our “One Des t i nat i on” Cor por at e Res pons i bi l i t y pol i cy. T he s econd engi ne i ss t i l lwi ndi ng down when t he j et t y at t achest ol ett he pas s enger sout . DoorOne L ef topensataboutt hes amet i meast hecar go door sopenont her i ghtandt hebagscomeof f –i ti snotunus ualf ort he bagst o beatt he

“T heDove”( above)wasoneoft wos peci als A319f l eett ocel ebr at et heL ondon2012Ol ym t hi s des i gn,whi l eaf ur t herai r cr af t ,GEUP r ecogni t i onoft hef acti twasus edt odel i vert h

ls chemesBr i t i s hAi r waysappl i edt os omeofi t s mpi cGames .A t ot al ofs evenai r cr af ts por t ed PC ( bel ow) ,r ecei ved “T he F i r ef l y” l i ver yi n t heOl ympi cf l amet ot heUK.

T hef uel t r uckappear sundert hel ef twi ngast he cat er er shookupt oDoorT woRi ght .At t achi ngt o DoorOne Ri ghti st he hi ghl i f t–a mobi l e ar r i val hal lt hatwi l lt ake car e ofourPas s enger swi t h ReducedMobi l i t y.

Undert he t ai loft he ai r cr af tt he wat ert r uck appear sast hegr oundel ect r i csar epl uggedi nt o t hej etundert henos e.Att hi spoi ntt heai r cr af t ’ s Aux i l i ar yPowerUni tcanbes wi t ched of f ,f ur t her s avi ng onemi s s i ons . Ast he l as tpas s engerget s of f ,t heCabi nCr ew doa s ecur i t ys weep oft he ai r cr af t ,andt hecl eaner sf ol l ow t hem up.

Ont he r i ghtoft he j ett he baggage cont ai ner s f ort henex tf l i ghtar er eadyt obel oadedast he cl eaner s do t hei r own s ecur i t y check on compl et i onoft hei rt as k. T he new Cabi nCr ew getonanddot hei rowns ecur i t ycheckal s o.T he pi l ot s ar e s t ayi ng on t he ai r cr af t , goi ng i mmedi at el yi nt o anot herf l i ghti na t echni que known asa “F i x ed L i nk” . One goest o do t he “wal kr ound” – an ex t er nali ns pect i on oft he ai r cr af t ,and one pr epar est he f l i ghtdeckand t hef l i ghtmanagements ys t em,t heF MGS ,f ort he nex tf l i ght .

Under t he wat chf ul eye of t he T ur nr ound Manager ,t he l oadi ng i scompl et ed. Wi t h her f our t h pai rofhands ,t he T ur nr ound Manager l i ai s eswi t ht hecabi ncr ew andt hegat es t af ft o ens ur e t hat pas s enger embar kat i on s t ar t s pr eci s el y28mi nut espr i ort odepar t ur e.S hehas beenmoni t or i ngel ect r oni cal l yt hemovementof pas s enger st hr ough checki n and s ecur i t yt o makes ur et hatever yonei si nt her i ghtpl aceat t he r i ghtt i me. Mos tpeopl e checki nonl i ne at home t hes e days , and t hey can even get el ect r oni cboar di ngpas s esont hei rs mar tphones –al loft hi smakesl i f ea l i t t l el es ss t r es s f ulatt he ai r por tandas s i s t si nt heont i medepar t ur e.

One byone,t he door scl os e,t he t r ucksgo t o t hei rnex tj obs ,and att en mi nut est o go,t he pus hbackt r uckconnect sup and t hepus hback cr ew do a f i nalcheckt hatt he out s i de oft he ai r cr af ti scor r ect l y conf i gur ed f orf l i ght . Wi t h t hr eemi nut est o go t hej et t ydet achesand t he ai r cr af tpus hesbackont i me.Al lwear emi s s i ng i saNAS Acount down. . . .

Above-Gl ennPal meri ss eenmar s hal i ngaBA 767ont oi t ss t andaf t ert he f ai l ur eoft heaut omat eds ys t em.T hi si sj us toneoft hemanyt as ksGl enncan beas kedt of ul f i l i nhi shugel yvar i edr ol e.

A br i ghtyel l ow pi ckup wi t ha bi g bl acknumber“6”pai nt ed ont he s i de appear swi t hbeaconsf l as hi ng. Gl enni sher e and he pi cksusup ast he “Dove”ex t endsi t sf l apsand s l at sand t ax i esaway. He ex pl ai nsal lt he s af et yas pect sofbei ngont heai r f i el dandequi psuswi t hhi vi sj acket sand hear i ng pr ot ect i on. We s pend t he nex tcoupl e ofhour si nt o dar knes s movi ngar oundt het er mi nal andt heai r f i el dasawhol e.

Bel ow -T her ear ever yf ew qui etper i odsatHeat hr ow.I nt hi spi ct ur eaBA A319t ax i est os t and asanAl i t al i a ex ampl evacat est her unwayand f our ot herai r cr af tpr epar et ot ouchdown.

Above-GBZ HA,a t akes a wel ldes e concr et eout s i deT e dayofoper at i ons . ‘ Ex t endedRange’ Ai r wayspr i mar i l ye on s ome ofi t shi g wi t hi nEur ope.

Ri ght-T he l i ght si n i l l umi nat et heef f l ux A320’ snumber2e i nt o ni ghtand i tp t ar mac on Run compl et i ngt hel as t

aBoei ng767336ER, s er ved r es ton t he T er mi nal 5af t eraf ul l s .Des pi t ebei ng an ’ ver s i on, Br i t i s h empl oyst hi sai r cr af t i gher dens i t yr out es

i nt he backgr ound uxpour i ngoutoft hi s engi neasdayt ur ns pr epar est o ki s st he unway 27R af t er s ts ect oroft heday.

T 5i sbus y al lt he way i nt ot he l at e ni ght .BA andi t spar t nerai r l i ness er ve a gl obal net wor k of over 600 des t i nat i ons and BA and i t s s ubs i di ar i es oper at e 263 ai r cr af tt hatnumberhasi ncr eas ed i nr ecent t i mesasBMimi gr at ed acr os st o BA, andwecont i nuet or ecei veournew Boei ng787sandAi r bus380s-andof cour s e we have wel comed ourI AG par t nerI ber i ai nt oT 5.T het er mi nali n t ot al has76ai r cr af tpar ki ngs t ands ,of whi ch mos tconnectdi r ect l yt ot he t er mi nal vi aj et t i es .T hi smi ghts eem a l ow numberbutmos toft he ai r cr af t ar eai r bor neatanyonet i me,i tbei ng nor mal f oras hor t haul ai r cr af tl i kean A319t of l ys i xt i mesaday!

Above-T heAi r bu bi gges tai r cr af ti n f l eet f ol l owi ng t h ai r l i ne’ sf i r s tex am F i veai r cr af thave dat eandaf ut he or der .T heyar ec s er vi ces t o L o J ohannes bur g,w Was hi ngt onDul l e commencei nS ep

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busA380i snow t he i nt heBr i t i s hAi r ways t he ar r i valof t he mpl eon4J ul y2013. ebeendel i ver edt o ers evenr emai non cur r ent l yoper at i ng os Angel es and wi t hS i ngapor eand l l es s et t o ept ember .

l cons ol e,f eat ur i ng, t hi ngs ,t he t hr ot t l e Boei ng747400.

Above-Ar at herdi f f er entcockpi tt ot hatwhi chyouraut hor( r i ght )i sus edt o!

T hi s ,ofcour s e,i st he mi ght yBoei ng 747400. Wi t h an act i ve f l eetof49 ai r cr af t ,Br i t i s hAi r waysi st hewor l d’ smos tpr ol i f i coper at oroft het ype.

Bel ow -Whi l et he747400cur r ent l yr emai nst hef l ags hi p ofBr i t i s hAi r ways ’ l onghaul f l eet ,t hef i r s toft hecompany’ sA380s ’f i r s tf l i ghtl ooms .

Mai n-Br i t i s hAi r wayshasa56s t r ongf l eetofBoei ng777s .Al l bart enar ef r om t he 200S er i es ,l i ket hi sone,GVI I C. Bot t om -T heel ongat edpr of i l eofoneofBA’ s18A321s ,GEUXF .

Wet aket i met ovi s i tal l ai r cr af ti nt hef l eett hatar epr es ent–t hos e under goi ngr out i nemai nt enanceont her ampar eont hegr ound f oral i t t l el ongers owear eabl et owal kar oundt heout s i deand t he i ns i de oft he 777s ,747s ,767s and t he Ai r bus es . Iam par t i cul ar l yhappyt os how Kar l andNat as hat henew F i r s tCl as sf i t i noneofourJ umbos .I thasni ces of tbl uel i ght i ngandt hebi gT V s cr eens–wel l –I ’ dl i keonel i ket hati nmyhous epl eas e!T hi sadds t ot he ot herpas s engerf aci l i t i est hatar e bei ng cont i nuous l y i mpr oved s uch asf l atbedsi ns ome ofourA321sand ai r bor ne i nt er netandmobi l et ex tmes s agi ngi nourA318s .

T hef ourt hr ot t l el ever soft he747400.

T hes of tbl uel i ght i ngofBA’ snew F i r s tCl as scabi n aboar di t s747400s .

S peaki ng ofengi neer i ng,you have gott os ee t hes e peopl eatwor k.Wi t hconf i denceandapl omb,t heywor k on t he mas s i ve Boei ng 747400 l i ke t hey ar ef eedi ng a newbor n baby,t aki ng gr eatcar e and concent r at i ng har d, but havi ng t he obvi ous compet ence of an ex per i enced par ent . Icannotr emembert he l as tt i me I as ked an engi neera t echni calques t i on aboutt hes e ex t r emel ycompl exmachi nesandt heydi dn’ tj us tans wer i t–s t r ai ghtof ft hebat !

Dur i ng ourt r i pswi t h Gl enn,we go t o pl acest hatf ew peopl e go –t he t ax i ways ,t her amp,t heengi neer i ngbas e,t hegr as sver gesoft her unway.

Ever ymi nut ewel ear ns omet hi ngnew aboutt hewor l d’ sbus i es tai r por tand t hewor l d’ sbi gges tj i gs aw.How Ai rT r af f i cCont r ol ( i nmyopi ni ont hebes ti n t hewor l d)managesal l t hemovement s ,how t heai r f i el di sabl et ooper at e i n75m vi s i bi l i t yonaf oggyday,how t hef ueli sdi s t r i but ed,how t hef oodi s keptf r es h,andhow t hewi ndowsonT 5s t aycl ean!Youcannotf ai lt obe i mpr es s ed.

S peaki ngofi mpr es s ed,wet akeat r i pt ot heRoyalS ui t e,ont hes out hs i de ofRunway27L .Al t houghT 5hasi t sownVI Phos t i ngf aci l i t i es ,i ti sl ovel yand s omewhatnos t al gi ct os eet hi sf aci l i t yt hati ss t i l l ver ymuchoper at i onal ;t he s t af fofcour s e hi ghl yt r ai ned and f ul l yconver s antwi t hal lt he neces s ar y pr ot ocoland et i quet t e.Nat as ha cannotr es i s thavi ng a pi ct ur et akenof hers i t t i ngont heRoyal s of a. . . . .

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Bot t om l ef t-Onewon S ui t e. . . . ?

T op l ef t-Heat hr ow’ s Ai r f i el dOpscarpar k.

i ew oft heNor t hGal l er i esL ounge,of f er i ng a ver ycomf or t abl e vi ew acr os st heai r por t ,whi l eyouawai tyourf l i ght .

mt hebal conyacr os saver yqui etT er mi nal 5A.

nder sj us twhomi ghthaves atont heRoyal s of ai ns i det heRoyal

’ si mpr es s i veai rt r af f i ccont r olt oweratni ght ,ass eenf r om t he k.

Havi ng gone backt o Ai r f i el d Ops wi t h Gl enn,we gets ome “s t ay awake j ui ce”( cof f ee)and head back t oT 5f ora l ook r ound t he depar t ur esl evel s .I ti s2am.T her e ar e no pas s enger sher e now but t hepl acei ss t i l l anamaz i nghi veof act i vi t y. We go t o t he Nor t h Gal l er i esL ounge. T 5A al one has f i vepr emi um l oungesand wes ee t he f aci l i t i esbei ng cl eaned and r epl eni s hed. Her e t her e ar e bus i nes sf aci l i t i es ,s hower s ,f ood, dr i nk, chi l dr en’ s pl ay ar eas , news paper sand magaz i nes ,and s ome l ovel ys t af f . I t ’ sa s t r ange f eel i ng chat t i ng t ot hem becaus e when t he T er mi nali s oper at i ng we’ r e al l f ocus s ed on t he cus t omer s and we don’ tr eal l y not i ce eachot her . Now t hatt he pl ace i sf ul l of s t af f onl y and peopl e have t i me t ot al k,If eela bond wi t ht hem; a connect i on t hatwe ar e al lher e doi ng t he s ame j ob, pul l i ng i n t he s ame di r ect i on.BAcal l si t“OneT eam” .

As we wal k ar ound t he vas t s hoppi ngar easand t hemul t i t ude ofs eat i ngf aci l i t i es ,If eelt hi swhen meet i ng t he s ecur i t y s t af f ,t he cl eaner s ,t he peopl er es t ocki ng t hes hops ,t hepeopl epr epar i ngt o open t he cus t omers er vi ce des ks .

Qui t e a humbl i ng ex per i ence i n f act .

And t he peopl e her e wor k wel l .

You r ar el y s ee l ong queues anywher e i n t hi sT er mi nal ; you don’ ts eepeopl es t r uggl i ngt of i nd as eat .Whent hepas s enger sget on t he aer opl ane t hey l ook r el ax ed, whi ch i s s ome achi evementwhen you cons i der t he pr oces s est hatone mus tgo t hr ough,and t he ex per i encesof year sgonebyi not herpl aces .You s ee peopl er ecei vi ng a per s onal s er vi ce. I ’ m gl ad Is t ayed up al l ni ghtt os eet hi s .

An amaz i ng s ky wel comes t he S peedbi r d 56 backt ot he UK af t eran 11hou J ohannes bur g,t hef i r s tar r i val oft heday.

Aswel ookoutoft he t he Eas twe s ee t he l i ght en.T i mef orKar l t o ofcamer a equi pmen By coi nci dence,i t ’ s Goodpr es ent ,eveni f Wecat ch“S peedbi r d I t ’ saBoei ng747400t h f or11hour s ,comi ng f r om J ohannes bur g pas s enger son boar d t ouchdownonRunwa t ax yi ngpacewi t hs po and wheelbr akess o don’ teven have t or her al dst he s t ar tofa S oon,ai r cr af ts t ar tar mi l ei nt er val s ,l andi ng ar at eofaboutonee

urr et ur nt r i pf r om

ehugewi ndowst o he hor i z on s t ar tt o l t ounl eas hhi s150kg entast he s un r i s es ! ’ s hi s bi r t hday t oo. i fI dos ays omys el f . i r d56” ,t hef i r s tj eti n. t hathasbeenf l yi ng backt oHeat hr ow g wi t h s ome 337 r d. Wi t h a per f ect ay27L ,s l owi ngt oa poi l er s ,r ever s et hr us t s o qui et l yt hatwe r ai s e ourvoi ces ,i t a new dayatL HR. ar r i vi ng atex act2½ gonRunway27Rat ever y50s econds .

Above -T he mos tr ecentaddi t i on t ot he Br i t i s h Ai r waysf l eeti st he Boei ng 777300ER. T wo bi g puf f s of s moke ar e emi t t ed as GS T BF ’ s mai n under car r i aget ouchesdownonRunway27R. Bel ow -A t ypi calHeat hr ow s cenewi t has t r eam ofi nboundsf l yi ngdownt he appr oach,headedbya747400.

Bot t om l ef t-A 744pr epar est ol andonRunway27L ,pas s i ngi nf r ontofwhat wi l l becomeHeat hr ow’ snew T er mi nal 2i nt hepr oces s .

Occas i onal l y,Ai rT r af f i cCont r olwi l ll andai r cr af tonbot hr unwaysat t hes amet i met os peedt hi ngsup–t hi sr educesai r bor nehol di ngand t husget sai r cr af ti near l i erandhavi ngpr oducedf eweremi s s i ons .We wat ch al lmannerofai r cr af t ,l ar ge and s mal l ,even t he odd hel i copt er ,t akeof fandl andast heL HRandT 5oper at i onget si nt of ul l s wi ngbyabout6am.

Atanyonet i mei nT 5al one,t her ewi l l bemaybet enai r cr af tar r i vi ng anddepar t i ng,wi t ht hous andsofs t af fdoi ngt hei ri ndi vi dual j obswi t h pr of es s i onal i s m anddi l i gencei nor dert okeept hemos tcompl i cat ed s how onear t hont her oad.I ti st es t amentt ot hatpr of es s i onal i s m and di l i gencet hatt heBA/ T 5pas s enger shavecomet oex pectnot hi ng l es st hanaper f ectper f or mance.

GZ BJ D,a Boei ng 7878,cr os s est he moonasi t depar t sf r om Runway09R.

Unl i keT er mi nal5A,manyoft hef i r s tmovement s oft he day on t he t wo s at el l i t et er mi nal sar e ar r i val s .

Above -Compl et i ng t he cur r entBA Mai nl i ne pi ct ur e ar et he t wo Ai r bus A318s bas ed at L ondonCi t yAi r por t .F i t t edouti nanal l bus i nes s cl as sconf i gur at i on,t hey oper at es er vi cest o New Yor k’ sJ ohn F . Kennedy I nt er nat i onal Ai r por t , cl ear i ng cus t oms and r ef uel l i ng i n S hannon,I r el and,ont hewes t boundl eg.

Above -A hugel ybus yT er mi nal5A ast he f i r s t waveofpas s enger sboar d.

Br i t i s hAi r waysi sa f ul lmemberoft heonewor l d gl obalai r l i neal l i ance,asi ndi cat edbyt hel ogo ont hes i deoft hi s747400.

Above -A headonencount erwi t ha 777asa s econd ex ampl e cont i nuesi t sl andi ng r ol l out behi nd.

Byabout7am evenKar li sget t i ngt i r ed!S oweex i tt oT er mi nalvi aar r i val s ,not i ngt he hugebaggagehal l i nf ul l s wi ng,andar r i veback‘ l ands i de’ .Wehaveaqui ckl ookat t he“CRC”–t heCr ew Repor tCent r e,wher ewes eet eamsofCabi nCr ew br i ef i ngt hei r nex tt r i p,pi l ot spr i nt i ngoutf l i ghtpl ansandmaki ngt echni cal andf uel deci s i onsf ort he f l i ghtahead,and s uppor ts t af fdoi ng ever yt hi ng f r om act i vat i ng s t andby cr ew member st ohandi ngoutbugs pr ay.

Wevi s i tt heal l i mpor t antcof f eebari nt heCRC f oronel as tt i meandt henhandi nour pas s est ot he BAA pas sof f i ce. Ibr eat he a s i ghofr el i eft hatt he cari sonl ya s hor t j our neyawayi nt he“Pod”butgetabi tj eal ousasI s eet hebus i nes st r avel l er sgoi ngi nt o t he Gal l er i esAr r i val sL ounge f ora s howerand a f ul lf r yand a news paperbef or e headi ngof ft owor k!

F ul l y l oaded, door s ecur ed, s af et y br i ef per f or med,ai r cr af tpus hedback,t i met ot ax i .

A777236ERmakest het ur nont os t andaf t err et ur ni ngf r om anover ni ght l onghaul s ect or .

GDBCH&GDBCD,t wooft heA319sabs or bed i nt ot heBAf l eetf ol l owi ngt het akeoverofBr i t i s h Mi dl andI nt er nat i onal ( BMI ) .

Ar emot el ypar kedA321compl et ewi t hcompanyai r s t ai r s .

GXL EB,Br i t i s hAi r ways ’s econdA380i ss eenons hor tf i nal t oRunway27Lagai ns tamenaci ngs ky.

F l yi ngt hef l ag,byf art hemos tcommons i ghtt obes eenar oundL ondon’ s Heat hr ow Ai r por t .

Soendsaqui t euni quevi s i tt oBAandT er mi nal5,onet hatI ,evenwi t h f i veyear s ’exper i enceasaBApi l ot ,havel ear neds omuchf r om.I thas beenal ongni ght ,butwor t hever ymi nut eofl os ts l eep,andwehave al lbeen i mpr es s ed wi t ht he wor kt hatgoeson t o make s uch a compl i cat ed oper at i onl ooks i mpl e –i nt he hi ghes tt r adi t i onsoft he mot t oofBr i t i s hAi r ways–“ T oF l y,T oSer ve” .

F r om 3t o14F ebr uar yt he2014edi t i onofExer ci s eRealT haw t oo T heannual ex er ci s e,or gani s edbyt hePor t ugues eAi rF or ce,ai mst o s peci al i s ed t r ai ni ng t ot he oper at i onaluni t smos tl i kel yt o par t i mi l i t ar yoper at i onswi t hi ni nt er nat i onal cooper at i vef r amewor ks( N t heEU) .J or geRui vor epor t sf orGAM.I magesascr edi t ed.

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RealT haw 2014 T hecoor di nat i onofReal T haw 2014wasr un f r om Mont e RealAi rBas e 5,a handf ulof mi l esf r om Por t ugal ’ sAt l ant i ccoas t .I nor der t o gi ve s uppor tt o ai rand gr ound mi s s i ons t hatt ookpl acei nt hear easofMonf or t i nho, Pi nheland Agui arda Bei r a,among ot her s , t heai r f i el datS ei awass et upandus edasa t act i cal ai rbas e.

I n or der t o cr eat e a j oi nt oper at i onal envi r onment , br i ngi ng t oget her t he Ai r F or ce,Navy and Ar my,and mul t i nat i onal par t ner s l i kel y t o f eat ur e i n cur r ent i nt er nat i onal mi l i t ar yoper at i ons ,f or cesf r om ot hercount r i eswer ei nvi t edt opar t i ci pat ei n t he RT 14. T hus , beyond t he Por t ugues e nat i onalf or ces ,par t i ci pat i on al s o came f r om t heUni t edS t at es ,t heNet her l ands ,t he Uni t edKi ngdom andNAT O.

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