After 60 years, C-130 still a 'magnificent machine'

[Sailor]

ATLANTA – Tim Nguyen regards the C-130 “Hercules” as a “good friend.” The 60-year-old military aircraft has been the focus of his professional career, and quite possibly saved his life.

During the 1975 Fall of Saigon, Nguyen -- then serving in the South Vietnamese air force -- escaped on the last C-130 out of Vietnam. During a lull in enemy fire, he emerged from a bunker at Tan Son Nhut Air Base to see the last flyable C-130 stopping and going on the taxiway.

The aircraft’s rear ramp was still open, apparently weighed down by the crowd of people standing on it.

“Every time (the pilot) jammed on the brake, it pushed the passengers forward,” Nguyen recalled. “It created more space in the back… So, I jumped in. Everybody jumped in. And a few minutes after that, the ramp door closed and we taxied out and departed.”

The plane landed safely at a U.S. air base in Thailand. Nguyen said the American soldiers there were visibly surprised as they watched 452 people disembark from a single plane.

More here:
www.foxnews.com/us/2014/08/19/after-60-years-c-130-still-magnificent-machine/

[101ABN]

Made 40-odd jumps from the Ol' Herc.


Great ride and a sweet blast.

Happy 60th Birthday, Old Girl!

[Sailor]

It's interesting how some workhorses continue to soldier on while other, newer ones just fade away. The Herc will probably still be going strong when the C-5 and even C-17 go the way of the Starlifter.

[101ABN]

And Old Buff, the B-52, may just fly forever.

[Sailor]

I think both birds entered service within a couple of years of each other and there are some grand-sons (and grand-daughters now) flying the same planes their grand-dads flew.

Waddaya think? A full century of service for both?

[101ABN]

As long as the airframes hold up.

Gotta worry about the cumulative stress at some point.

[warrior1972]

On the B-52 and the C-130....


They may be old and ugly, but MAN, they sure can DANCE.

P.S. and so can the A-10!

[tankcommander]

"This aint your Daddy's (or your Granddaddy's) Air Force.... But it just might be his airplane."

[Sailor]

Aug 21, 2014 17:21:34 GMT -8 101ABN said:

As long as the airframes hold up.

Gotta worry about the cumulative stress at some point.

True. But unlike the Buff, the C130 is still in production so key structural components will continue to be available for the forseeable future. One estimate said about half of the Hercs ever built are still buzzing around both as military and civilian cargo carriers.

Hell, there are still C-47 and DC-3 aircraft in commercial service, both with radial engines and new turboprop power packs. So who knows ...