C-130 Hercules

[Nigel Bunker]

May I refer you to page 72 0f the June 2003 issue of Air International.

Someone's taken the Fairey Rotodyne and updated it. Imagine a C-130 with Rotodyne rotor column, H-53 rotor and tail surfaces replaced by ones looking like those on an E-2.

They'll probably never fly it but what if...................... :TT

When I get my scanner working, I'll post a picture.

[nev]

Was rooting around an old WAPJ last night and came across a small article on the entry of the C-130J into USAF service.  Seems the USAF weren't too impressed with the J and felt that it had been foisted upon them by Congress.

Anyways, one Herc pilot was talking about how unsuited it now was to all the specialist roles it does, citing factors such as lack of ground clearance, lack of space inside fuselage, endurance etc.  He was convinced that the USAF would have been much better off converting 2nd hand airliners.

Steves excellent updated JSTARS got me thinking about other airliners that could be converted to military use for special roles.

I've always had a thing for that Herc with the big axe shaped ariels under the wing (forget the mark).  I have an A310 in the loft.....could Airbus make it into USAF service........

Other ideas?

[GTX]

Hi folks,

I thought some of you might be interested in doing some C-130 what-ifs.  Here are some real mods being done by Snow Aviation (http://www.snowaviation.com) for some inspiration:



Regards,

Greg

[GTX]

Hi folks,

Speaking of naval C-130s, how about a couple of amphibious C-130s:




Regards,

Greg

[The Rat]

Great minds think alike! (Or is that 'fools never differ?) I've been trying to think of thinks to whiff like a Fairey Rotodyne, and the Herc was on my list. I say go for it!

[GTX]

Chris,

You mean something like these:










Regards,

Greg

[B777LR]

But isnt the cargo bay on the C130 about the same size as the russian Mi-24? If so, you can remove wings, and add teh mnotors to teh top, and use them for powering a giant rotor!  

[Hobbes]

Minicraft has a 1:144 AC-130 on their 'future releases' list, that would be an ideal starting point...

[Captain Canada]

A 144th scale Herk ?

Can't wait ! I bet we could do all sorts of whacky stuff. Rat gets the flyinh boat......

Great pics of all the different types, thanks Greg !

 

[Hobbes]

Yep. It's on their site, somewhere in the 'future releases' pages.  

[Spey_Phantom]

Chris,

You mean something like these:

Looks quite a challenge to build, lits see:

-the fuselage of a chinook
-the nose section of a C-119
-2 pair of V-22 osprey wings
-the tailboom of a C-130

and last but not least, the refuelingprobe of a HH/MH-53.

who wants to give it a go    

[Captain Canada]

I do believe we had that very same conversation here a few years back, and the gemeral consensus was a Transall fuselage.

[Mike Wren]

anyone got any info (esp. a drawing) of what the mods for the proposed BAC license produced Hercules looked like, along with RR Tynes engines it apparently had a pair of auxilliary RR RB.145 engines to power the boundary layer control system in the wings, what I'd like to know is what they'd look like or whereabouts they'd be fitted...    

[elmayerle]

Well, I can't say for certain, but you might want to check out the info on Lockheed's HTTB experimental Hercules which had a BLC system, too.  As I remember, it also used some auxiliary engines to help power the system.

[elmayerle]

That'd probably work.  You really need to dig up HTTB info, though, 'cause I remember some strake modifications for low-speed manueverability and handling.

I'll have to see what I can find in the photo archives on the intranet at work.

I'll be glad to offer what help I can.