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Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Spooky

AC-130U - Training
(USAF Photo by by Senior Airman Andy M. Kin)
I've got a couple of irons in the fire, couple of old maintenance stories rattling around in my head. I'm still cogitating on how I want to tell those stories. Ya know, what subtle nuances to use in order to entertain you, the reader. (Heh, subtle nuances. Right...)

 (No, no, my Muse is fine, just finicky.)

 Until I get it all sorted out, you get a gunship video. (And if you haven't subscribed to Gung Ho Vids on the Tube o' You... What are you waiting for?)
The gunship's sole user is the United States Air Force, which uses AC-130H Spectre, AC-130U Spooky, AC-130J Ghostrider, and AC-130W Stinger II variants for close air support, air interdiction, and force protection. Close air support roles include supporting ground troops, escorting convoys, and flying urban operations. Air interdiction missions are conducted against planned targets and targets of opportunity. Force protection missions include defending air bases and other facilities. AC-130Us are based at Hurlburt Field, Florida, while AC-130Hs and AC-130Ws are based at Cannon AFB, New Mexico. The AC-130s deploy to bases worldwide in support of operations. The gunship squadrons are part of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), a component of the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM). (W)

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20 comments:

  1. juvatJanuary 21, 2015 at 6:00 AM

    My wife got an incentive ride in one when she was an Airman in the Wisconsin Guard. Says the 105 is loud!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OldAFSargeJanuary 21, 2015 at 6:28 AM

      If you can hear it over the 130's engines, then yes, it's loud.

      (I think everyone on the planet has had an incentive ride. Except me.)

      Delete
  2. PrairieAdventureJanuary 21, 2015 at 7:05 AM

    Wow, great vid, Sarge! No cheesy pop muzak, either. Just T-56's and the ka-boom-ka-ching. What have I been waiting for?

    That Bofors 40 now. Like the Ma Deuce, unchanged since its introduction. That one may have been in service when those kids granddads were slingin' metal over Laos and Cambodia.

    On the incentive ride, find a general, a camera and a flight suit and follow Juvat's instructions...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. juvatJanuary 21, 2015 at 7:35 AM

      Oh, NOW that's funny! Maybe you should take up comedy as a side profession!

      Delete
    2. OldAFSargeJanuary 21, 2015 at 8:20 AM

      Shaun - Hhmm, finding a general might be tough, finding an admiral is do-able. The camera and flight suit are easy. (I have connections.)

      Following Juvat's instructions? Now that will be tough.

      Delete
    3. OldAFSargeJanuary 21, 2015 at 8:21 AM

      Juvat, all enlisted folk are comedians by nature.

      It ain't easy wearing stripes...

      Delete
    4. Rev. PaulJanuary 21, 2015 at 9:40 AM

      Disappearing is easier when you wear stripes, Sarge ... I became an expert at it. Not for long stretches, but frequently. :)

      Delete
    5. OldAFSargeJanuary 21, 2015 at 9:46 AM

      Sometimes the stripes help you blend into the background clutter too!

      Delete
  3. Murphy's LawJanuary 21, 2015 at 9:48 AM

    I need one of those...only Cessna 172-sized. And You've got an incentive ride waiting next time you're down here with some free time and decent weather.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OldAFSargeJanuary 21, 2015 at 10:45 AM

      In that case, I'll buy you two beers!

      (Could a 105 be mounted in a Cessna 172? Well, and have the bird still be flyable!)

      Delete
    2. juvatJanuary 21, 2015 at 10:47 AM

      I'm pretty sure the term "adverse yaw" would come into play. Hopefully, Murph has practiced spin recovery.

      Delete
    3. OldAFSargeJanuary 21, 2015 at 10:50 AM

      True that!

      Delete
    4. PrairieAdventureJanuary 21, 2015 at 11:23 AM

      Here's the guy who could have done the conversion. A highly qualified navy comedian, too. What a story! I should blog about him...

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Gunn

      Delete
    5. OldAFSargeJanuary 21, 2015 at 12:11 PM

      Shaun, you should definitely tell Pappy's story!

      Delete
  4. rkinionJanuary 21, 2015 at 11:05 AM

    Never got to see an AC-130 except at airshows but I used to have some great pics of an AC-119 laying down the law in the hills north of Phu Cat. Definitely would NOT want to be on the receiving end of that!!!

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    Replies
    1. OldAFSargeJanuary 21, 2015 at 12:10 PM

      Bill Ames showed us some footage of Spectre working over the Ho Chi Minh trail just before Christmas of 1975.

      Scary! So yeah, concur with your last.

      Delete
  5. HMS DefiantJanuary 21, 2015 at 1:29 PM

    very cool

    ReplyDelete
  6. Jim b.January 23, 2015 at 7:43 AM

    Only got to see one, a while back, as a reservist, we got to train, and provide fire protection at staging training bases, went to Camp McCoy, Wisc. They have/had a firing range. Got to see A-10s, C130s from Michigan, 15's and 16's. That was an interesting deployment.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OldAFSargeJanuary 23, 2015 at 7:34 PM

      That must have been pretty slick. Me, jealous? Of course I am!

      Delete

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