C-130 Hercules

[B777LR]

I think Soviet cargo planes (An-12s?) dropped FAMs in Afghanistan, and An-26s have also been used in Ethiopia?

Antonovs of all types have been used in most 3rd world conflicts. India has also made great use of them. An-26s and An-32s came with the option of bomb racks from the factory, while on the An-12 they were just pushed out the back.

[NARSES2]

In all honesty this has always been done - the first "bombing" raids involved chucking grenades, bombs or darts out of the cockpit. An Italian Bleriot type in Lybia circa 1911/1912 was the first I think. So what goes around comes around.

And yes I know bomb racks are a little more sophisticated then throwing things out, but probably no more accurate.

[Taiidantomcat]

LOL You have to dive it a little, baby 

[Shasper]

I do find it notable that the Grunts are going to use the 30mm version of the Bushmaster, which was recently disqualified from use on the AFSOC U-boats. . .

Shas

[Hman]

This months Air International, has an interesting article on International Air Response, who worked on the Killer Herc Programme.

I found this - http://www.flightglobal.com/airspace/forums/killer-herc-13886.aspx and http://www.1370th.org/rc130/512/512.htm

[chrisonord]

Hmmm,
Would it not have been easier and cheaper to just fly the UAV out of the back of the Herc??
They could have launched several also. Looks a bit of a rigmarole to me.
Chris.

[rickshaw]

The biggest problem I have with the UC-130... is that neither loadmasters... nor paratroopers would appreciate not having a flesh and blood pilot at the controls.

I suspect the UC-130s would be used for "routine" resupply flights to and from theatre, rather than in theatre transport of troops and/or equipment.  Therefore a UC-5 (UC-141 style) transport would be more appropriate than a tactical transport like the C-130.

[Just call me Ray]

Or, if its not doing air drops, I guess the loadmasters could just debark the aircraft after they're done loading?

Maybe they could figure out a way to automate the air drop procedure.

[Shasper]

I dont think it would be too difficult . . . just have a auto switch set to drop the ramp & flip the green light when the a/c passes pre-programmed GPS coordinates.


Shas

[rickshaw]

I dont think it would be too difficult . . . just have a auto switch set to drop the ramp & flip the green light when the a/c passes pre-programmed GPS coordinates.


Shas

Already been done.  Its how most modern airdrops are handled.  The Navigator tells the pilot when the GPS co-ords are right, the pilot pulls the nose up and the stuff falls out the bum of the Herc.   

[Shasper]

Well yeah I kinda figured they did it that way now . . . all I was saying is make it to where the man is out of the loop :/



In more conventional news, last weeks Av Week mentions that LM & AFSOC are looking at a AC-130J based on the current MC/HC-130J proposal.

Now imagine a hi-lo mix of Juliette Spectras & AC-27Js . . . Giggity!


Shas

[rickshaw]

Well yeah I kinda figured they did it that way now . . . all I was saying is make it to where the man is out of the loop :/

There are also plans now for self-steering parachutes which use GPS to land the load exactly on the spot after they leave the plane.  No humans in that loop.

[NARSES2]

Well yeah I kinda figured they did it that way now . . . all I was saying is make it to where the man is out of the loop :/

There are also plans now for self-steering parachutes which use GPS to land the load exactly on the spot after they leave the plane.  No humans in that loop.

That would have been useful when I did my Charity Parachute Jump 

[McColm]

Hi Guys,
I'm new to this site. It seems to me that we are all on the same wavelength. The C-130 amphibian one step-hull design has already been thought of. What a brilliant idea. The C-130 "float plane" was championed by Lockheed using the C-130J with a trimaran float arrangement. Tests showed that a 30% reduction in payload and range due to the drag caused by the floats. The one-step hull meant that the engines cleared the water, a large side pontoon was added for stability and refueling at sea. I'm sure weapons or search & rescue gear could be stowed in them or extra fuel.
Has anyone built this as a model?
Could some one point me in the right direction for a four engined Br 1150 Atlantic?
And do you know where I can get 1:72 eight bladed engine props from?
Many thanks,
Steven "Sapper" McColm 

[anthonyp]

My buddy at work bought a 1/72 C-130J last week, and I got to fondle it a bit.  He got bored with it and bought a 1/48 version, and offered me the 1/72 at half what he bought it for.  Of course I said yes.

But when he first brought it in, we were brainstorming on how to Whif it.  I came up with a 120mm from an M1A1, a Bofors or two, and a GAU-8.  Today, we were talking, and I came up with a new obscene mod for it:  MLRS cells!!!  Fired out the back!  Yeah, I was in an odd mood.

Other potential weapons on my AC-130J Apparition could be GAU-13's, side fired 2.75 rockets, the tactical laser system, or the microwave pain beam.  Even went so far to talk to him at length about a 155mm firing out the side, with a cut out in the fuselage on the other side to allow the cannon to recoil through the hull.