Skyviper

This is still hot off the press so the story may change as the day goes on.

The C-130: Celebrating 60 Years of Active Service 60 years ago, on the 23rd of August in 1954, a legend was born when the second experimental C-130 (designated then as YC-130) took to the skies over the Lockheed plant in Burbank California and made a 61 minute flight to Edwards Air Force Base. Stanley Beltz and Roy Wimmer piloted the aircraft while Jack Real and Dick Stanton took on their roles as flight engineers. Watching from the cockpit of a P-2 Neptune was the legendary designer Kelly Johnson- the man having originally stated developing the C-130 would kill the Lockheed Company! Though the C-130 took flight in 1954 its conception occurred three years earlier after the United States Air Force realized that World War 2 era transports that were modified civilian airliners could not handle the rigors of modern warfare. Thus a new plane needed to be designed from scratch as a combat transport that could carry 92 passengers or 72 soldiers or 64 paratroopers. In addition to having a 41 foot long and ten foot high cargo compartment, the aircraft would need a loading ramp; something that was first pioneered on the German Junkers JU 252. Only a handful of companies accepted the challenge to design such a plane and Lockheed was awarded the contract. The C-130 became a huge success for the United States military and various militaries around the world. It was just the plane the United States Air Force was looking for and it can land on short, unprepared runways which allows it operate in most places around the world making it a true workhorse that can execute a list of various roles. For instance, in addition to being a transport aircraft, the C-130 can be easily modified to serve as a tanker and carry out air to air refueling operations. It can also be equipped to carry out scientific research, perform search and rescue operations, maritime patrol, and it can equipped to execute one of its more popular roles as an AC-130 Spectre gunship. When armed with a 25 mm GAU 12/U Equalizer Gatling Cannon, a 40mm Bofors Cannon, and 105 mm Howitzer the humble C-130 becomes the harbinger of death. Faster than helicopter and slower than a fighter the AC-130 can provide close air support for ground units, provide convoy protection, or conduct operations on high value targets. This deadly aircraft has seen action in just about every major conflict the United States has been involved in sense Vietnam. Here’s a little known fact about the C-130. For the last 51 years it holds the record as being the largest and heaviest aircraft to land on an aircraft carrier. A KC-130 piloted by Lt. James H. Flatley lll made 21 unassisted, full stop landings and 21 takeoffs from the aircraft carrier Forrestal. That means that for twenty one times the C-130 landed on aircraft without using an arrestor hook to stop it; something that all aircraft expected to operate from carriers use. It also means that for 21 times the aircraft took off from the carrier without using the catapult system. Though the test were successful the idea in and of itself was too risky for everyday operations. The C-130 works hard but it also plays hard too as it takes on another more entertaining role for the United States Naval Flight demonstration team the Blue Angles. Before the brilliantly painted F-18s take to the skies and awe spectators, a specially modified C-130, called Fat Albert, gets the show started. Until 2009 it performed a high speed takeoff using JATO Rockets but had had to stop due to dwindling supplies. After the takeoff Fat Albert performs various high speed passes and displays a combat landing. Over the years, potential replacements for the C-130 have come and mostly gone. It seems that the only aircraft which can truly replace the Hercules is another, better Hercules. Cue the C-130J 'Super Hercules', first flown in 1996, and which garnered a new round of orders, with hundreds more deliveries to satisfied Hercules customers, all around the globe. For 60 years the C-130 has been performing its primary role for the military, working for civilians by fighting fires or conducting research, entertaining crowds or tackling any challenge thrown its way. Without a doubt this wonderful plane is truly one of a kind and today we celebrate its well-earned place in aviation’s Hall of Fame. #Herc60

Good find. Interesting story too.

No issue at all I had no idea who she was until this week. Thought I'd share the photos. I'm curious to know what her girlfriend looks like though. For instance Robin Meade she mentioned her husband and I'm thinking dude is like Stone Cold Steve Austin ...nope... he looks like your average joe that just got lucky as hell. (she did a photo shoot with him and they talked about one day on her report)

ROFL

You do outstanding work to keep this place up and running.

Wow. ... just ... wow. Mile high club with class huh.

Doing my online rounds this evening and found this .... this little punk is the reason we have pop ups.... couldn't help but notice his last name.

Yep Lockheed is going to hook us up with the video of this....

Sounds like a nice show to watch... See and we already have the conflict going ... Now we just need a crew to film a computer screen and unneccesarily hype up some posts...

Yeah they will and it might happen sooner too because every time I turn around the cable company keeps hiking their F*ing rates up for whatever BS reason. Soon the only thing cable TV will be good for is weather reports and I don't know what else... there aren't any good entertaining shows anymore that aren't full of over dramatic bull. ( or like the one last week on FX that was basically a soft-core porn) It would be neat if they could let me opt out of channels so I can lower my rate. MTV, CMT, ESPN ESPN2, Univision, Home shopping Network would be among the top of the services I'd get rid off.

Maybe we here at CombatACE should get a fake show going too ... I'd like to make 10K a day too you know.

Very true.

Exactly. I'm not defending the guy nor chastising him; however I do find it interesting that such an allegation would be made. I'm not a faithful fan of the show because, like both of you said, they do have more drama than a desperate housewives show but every once in a while they'll get a cool project that keeps me interested.

I'm wondering if he was diagnosed with some kind of weird terminal illness.

Okay I can see myself playing this... thank god it's not a facebook game cuz holy crap people would be bugging the hell out of you with (can you send me a life)

Yeah I just read the report myself. Holy crap. I did not see this one coming. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgI4-JHZ6t4

I can't see a thing ....

I've recently interviewed Danil Kashirin from Polynetix a small game development company in Russia. They developed a game that interested me called Direct Hit: Missile War. Basically you build your base, design your missile, and try to take out the enemy before they take you out. If you wish you can more about it here. However he did mention another game that I just to let you guys here know about, why? Well because it's aviation based and all aviation based things that I come across I make for sure you here at CombatACE know about. The game is called Pe-2 Dive Bomber its a very casual game that reminds of another game called Skies of War which thought its not a flight simulator like LOMAC or SF2 its still challenging and fun. Both of these games the Pe-2 Dive Bomber and Direct Hit are on sale at Steam for 50% off (I think they're $4.99) sale ends in a few days though so apologies about the short notice. Here's some video of their other games as well as links should you want to check them out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc9a1HqmFyc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zoQ9Kq5vBc Burning Cars Direct Hit Pe-2 Dive Bomber

The writing staff is working on a neat project and while doing research I came across this B-roll of a C-130 landing on grass. I've never seen this and I'm thinking some of you would like to see this as well. Enjoy. http://www.dvidshub.net/video/349850/c-130-grass-landings-poland#.U-T23WPU7Dc

I was wondering have any of you seen this movie? I was watch Tuner Classic Movies last night and because I was so tired I couldn't stay up and finish watching. But it looked pretty interesting that a movie about Hitler's Rise to Power was made just prior to the American entry of WW2. I'm sure most of you have and I was wondering if this movie is worth me finishing. DON"T GIVE AWAY SPOLIERS IF IT IS WORTH WATCHING PLEASE.

Nightshade I'm looking at your avatar and then at what you wrote and when I read that in my mind I heard Avery Brooks saying "It is worth it".

I still got this damn vista .... nevertheless awesome find there Fubar really good find indeed thanks for sharing.