![]() ![]() ![]() In 1991 it deployed to the Persian Gulf and participated in Desert Storm combat operations before being retired and flown to the Museum in 1995.Īrmament: Two 7.62mm mini-guns, two 20mm and two 40mm cannonsĮngine: Four Allison T-56-A-9D turboprops of 3,750 hp. In 1970 it was converted to an AC-130A gunship, deployed to Southeast Asia in 1971 and flew numerous combat missions, returning to the U.S. The Museum’s AC-130A was accepted by the USAF in September 1956 as a standard cargo aircraft serving the U.S., Europe and Panama. Other missions include perimeter and point defense, escort, landing, drop and extraction zone support, forward air control, limited command and control, and combat search and rescue. Warner Robins Air Logistics Center is responsible for program management and logistics support for all USAF C-130s worldwide. The AC-130 gun ship’s primary missions are close air support, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance. The AC-130A was equipped with two 40mm cannons, two 20mm Vulcan cannons and two 7.62mm miniguns. The sound got steadily louder, when suddenly a curtain of red fire erupted from the sky and rained down on the rice paddies in front of us. By Ron Sanders Off in the distance came the faint drone of a large propeller-driven aircraft. The AC-130A Spectre is a C-130 that was converted to a side-firing gunship, primarily for night attacks against ground troops. The fixed-wing AC-130 gunship started as a Gooney Bird and became the terror of the skies during the Vietnam War. Early C-130A, B, D and E versions are now retired. The C-130 Hercules has unsurpassed versatility, performance, and mission effectiveness. The basic airframe has been modified to hundreds of different configurations to meet an ever-changing environment and mission requirement. ![]() It is the preferred transport aircraft for many US Government services and over 60 foreign counties. Basic and specialized versions perform a variety of roles including airlift support, DEW Line and Arctic resupply, aeromedical missions, aerial spray missions, fire-fighting duties for the US Forest Service, and natural disaster relief missions.įour decades have elapsed since the Air Force issued its original design specification, yet the remarkable C-130 remains in production. The aircraft is capable of operating from rough, dirt strips and is the prime transport for paradropping troops and equipment into hostile areas. With three side-firing weapons, a 25mm Gatling gun, a 40mm Bofors cannon, and a 105mm howitzer, its easy. The C-130 primarily performs the intratheater portion of the airlift mission. The AC-130 is the worlds biggest flying artillery gunship - nicknamed Hell in the Sky. During the 1950s the C-130 Hercules was originally designed as an assault transport, but it was adopted for a variety of missions. ![]()
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