What It's Like to Fly the C-130 Hercules!
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- Опубликовано: 27 май 2024
- Today, I'm taking you up close to experience the thrill of flying in the Mighty C-130J Super Hercules!
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Special thanks to the incredible team at Dyess AFB for hosting me!
Video Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:12 Background & Capabilities
2:20 C-130 Walkaround
4:24 Loadmaster
5:30 Cockpit Tour
6:36 Mission Planning
8:10 Takeoff Time
9:05 C-130 Flight
10:30 The Bubble
12:00 Ramp Surfing
13:35 One Final Surprise
14:29 Conclusion
Views expressed in this video are my own and do not represent the official views of the United States Air Force or Department of Defense
*Disclaimer: Airdrop operations were NOT conducted on the portion of the mission depicted from 11:40-12:50 and all safety precautions were followed in accordance with AFMAN 11-2C-130JV3 para. 15.6
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Sweet! Thanks for Sharing, & Serving!!❤🎉 prior 2A here 😉
Can you try The AC 130
Hi
😊
Bro
No military academy is free. You pay it back by serving at least four years. It's not a scholarship.
Respectfully,
USNA Area Coordinator, Blue and Gold Program, Georgia
I have over 5000 hours as a C-130 Flight Engineer and was an instructor for most it. I flew them in Antartica with VXE-6 and then in Navy VR squadrons participating in 4 of our countries conflicts. I've been on all seven continents with it. This amazing aircraft always brought us home. It is by far, the most influential and legendary aircraft to ever rotate off the runway...or ice...or dirt...or an aircraft carrier.... Hello to all my C-130 brothers and sisters. This is "Getch"
Please, please help me. My wish is to become a pilot and I studied commercial aviation, but my dream is not complete because I studied in my country and studying aviation in it is very bad, and after that my financial situation is difficult. We are from a poor family. We have nothing and we are from an Arab country in Africa, and I cannot collect money and study aviation, as this is my only dream. In life, please fulfill this dream for me. I want to go to America to study aviation and become a pilot in one of the American companies. We are in the poor Arab countries. No one helps you with anything. They are all liars and deceivers. I wish I were not Arab 😪😪 Is there anyone who can help me to study aviation and become a pilot? Even if in exchange for anything, I am of Sudanese nationality, but I have lived in Qatar for years, but my financial situation is very bad. Who among you wants to help me? I am ready.
Amazing
Wow awesome how do you get over 5000 hours?
3000 HRS+ PIC C-130H with RDAF ESK 721 flying liaison, SAR at home, in the Arctic, in combat zones, deserts, jungles, dirt, ice and paved strips and ditto to Loadedhog - the Herc NEVER.LET.US.DOWN. I had a buddy on RDAF F-16s and I wouldn't have traded places with him even if I could have. B-678 was my first and greatest love, and I'll admit I got choked up the day the H's were retired and replaced with J's, but it proved the old adage: The only replacement for an old Herc is a new Herc. Call sign "Tussq".
Wow, what a story. Did you ever flew the ones with the rockets? I think its the C-130?
When I was a kid (13) I flew out of a city under siege (Sarajevo) in one of these...we reached the airport in an APC through front lines. Entered the plane from the back of course - massive mounds of earth around the airport to protect from shrapnel and rounds. The troops called it 'maybe airlines'.
The pilots were very cool to let my brother and I fly up front in the cockpit. We were the only kids in the cargo bay (sat on the nets on the sides) so they thought they'd cheer us up - it still ranks as one of the coolest memories. I remember climbing up the ladder up to the cockpit, the 3-4 seats and the bunk beds in the back, the massive windows . It was absolutely epic
Maybe airlines…. LMAO
I’ve been to that airport on a USMC KC130 it was either 97 or 98
I was a C-130J Loadmaster for 4 years... Got out a couple years ago but this will still be the coolest job I've ever had.
no one cares
@@appleratpipe I care. And being a loadmaster is fking awesome. You’re just jealous you don’t get to drop packages out of an airplane mid flight
@@appleratpipe lol -_-
So why you quit...
@@dubious6718 Because maybe I had a higher paying job outside of the military. Can't stay in forever buddy.
I am not a pilot, not military, not related to the flight industry whatsoever, but you have a new subscriber based on the quality of your edits and storytelling! Well done! Very interesting and look forward to watching more!
Oh wow! That’s always my goal to pull in people like you. Thanks for following along.
@@SamEckholm that dude’s comment made me subscribe. I’m the same way as him.
Diesel dave should buy one of these bad mamajammas
yes the quality is great .. i wish I could make that quality videos
That loadmaster is gorgeous.
As a C-130 maintainer, I get to fly with the crew occasionally. I've been in the bubble and sat in the back with the ramp door down watching paratroopers jump out the back. Yes, both of those experiences are indeed as cool as they look in this video!! 👍 This is an excellent video on the C-130!!
as a 17 year old paratrooper ijumped c130 in 1956 ft bragge
I got the once in a lifetime opportunity to fly in a C-130 Super Hercules at Barksdale Airforce Base in Louisiana and it was an insane experience. I'll be honest though, I wouldn't be able to be a paratrooper jumping out of those beasts or out of a helo for that matter.
I always thought that the bubble was from the old school days for celestial navigation. I don't quite swallow the rear view chase story.
@@michaelleitner1245 So, I was told the bubbles were for spotting enemy aircraft and calling bearing so the pilots can preform evasive maneuvers. Not sure how much it would help against fighters. But, I guess if there is a chance… 🤷🏻♂️
@@lukesdoings7150 I googled it and that is indeed the current explanation. Like you, I would say "good luck with that". Mach 2 AMRAAM at 6 o'clock, sir.
Memories from my childhood! My dad was in the air force and when he worked on the opposite coast from where his family was, we'd sometimes hop a flight in the back of a Herc across the country rather than drive. Those webbing seats, the cold air, wearing ear plugs, stepping over the cargo rollers to go to the toilet behind the canvas sheet, getting shown the cockpit, having lunch packed in a cardboard lunch box - what an adventure for a small boy to have 🙂
My dad was a flight engineer on the C-130 in the RCAF up until the mid 1990s. I was fortunate enough to go with him on some test flights, and slept in the same bunk you were in looking out the dome. I was also fortunate when the captain asked me if I wanted to try flying it. At 13 years old, I simply could not refuse! I got about 30 minutes of flying time on a C-130.
It's an experience I won't ever forget. Also box lunches were amazing!
I am retired Air Force myself. I never flew except in a C141 once. The crew invited me to the cockpit during a flight. That was quite amazing and left a lasting impression on me. One of the bases I was stationed was Elmendorf AFB AK. I actually worked in the Squadron that was responsible for the C130's. I enjoyed that assignment very much and always went out of my way for the good of the Squadron. The C130 will never win a beauty contest or be as sexy as a fighter jet but it's more than earned it's place in the sky. It's a go almost anywhere do anything plane that is rightfully called a Hercules.
Lies again? Fake Hercules
AC-130 will won beauty contest any day for me
@@prateekthakran2878 no
Flew on the C141 starlifter from Yokohama Japan to McCord Afb non stop mind you, I was on emergency leave from Nam for a death in the family. Waited on another hop for 24 hours, no luck, so had to commercial. But the 141 was amazing, a fabulous aircraft, smooth as glass in flight
Also Retired Air Force myself. I was privileged to fly in the C-130 a few hundred times (even jumped out a few times) in my career, as well as the C-141 and C-5. All of the aircrews are really the Best. The C-130 pilots can do things with that plane that it's not supposed to be able to do. They are by far the best in the world and they have earned my respect.
You’re so respectful of their work!
I work with an old loadmaster and it is a vital, but “behind the scenes” role that doesn’t always get the appreciation it deserves.
Indeed. Loadmasters can makre the difference between life and death. Cargo MUST be properly secured or the airplane can fall out of the sky. This has happened more than once.
Facts. Having been in the 82nd... we love these flight crews... well, maybe not pilots when they trolled us and dropped us close to the downwind treeline, lol. But in the meat of things, all the equipment we need on the ground if we ever have to jump into combat, these folks are our lifeline. Everyone that's been in the airborne, we have tremendous trust, respect, and love for the airlift units. They drop us on target as safely as can be done, right on Hell's doorstep when needed, and keep us equipped and going. One of the most underappreciated jobs in the military.
Amazing planes. My late cousin spent his entire career with Lockheed and the C-130. At first he was a line mechanic supporting the birds, including 6 months in Antarctica. By the time he retired, he was in charge of all C-130 sales to civilian operators and to foreign governments. He gave me a wonderful tour through the factory in Marietta where they and the C-5 are built.
respect for your brother
Hello, I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, and love all over the world, I would love 💚us to be good friends in honesty and in trust if you don't mind. I'm david steve by name im a military surgeon general from San Francisco, California, where are you from if I may ask🥰🥰
Hi from the Uk, I'm an ex RAF Loadmaster and was lucky enough to accumulate 4000 C130 flying hours and the vast majority of those was on the J model. 2 Pilots and 1 Loadmaster was as much fun as you could ever have and my role as Loadmaster was as much fun as you have.
In 38 and bit years of service I did about 13 as an Avionics Technician, then 9 years as a Helicopter Crewman before finishing as a C130 ALM, great life and I don't regret a minute of it.
Please, please help me. My wish is to become a pilot and I studied commercial aviation, but my dream is not complete because I studied in my country and studying aviation in it is very bad, and after that my financial situation is difficult. We are from a poor family. We have nothing and we are from an Arab country in Africa, and I cannot collect money and study aviation, as this is my only dream. In life, please fulfill this dream for me. I want to go to America to study aviation and become a pilot in one of the American companies. We are in the poor Arab countries. No one helps you with anything. They are all liars and deceivers. I wish I were not Arab 😪😪 Is there anyone who can help me to study aviation and become a pilot? Even if in exchange for anything, I am of Sudanese nationality, but I have lived in Qatar for years, but my financial situation is very bad. Who among you wants to help me? I am ready.
Having used those "facilities" myself mid flight, I can say, it isn't the most enjoyable thing to do lol
Haha I can’t imagine
At least it's chemical toilet. Our H2 models were the last eight to come from the factory with the honey bucket toilet.
Especially if there is turbulence. Been there. That seat was an upgrade to the Honey Bucket we used to have in the older "B" models, just a sliding bucket on the wall and a plastic bag.
You already know what us older combat vets are going to say getting dropped into shitholes all over the world having to piss in bottles, we don't have any sympathy
@@SamEckholm Sign says, "Do Not Flush Over Residential Area".
I was a C-130H Crew Chief, seeing how advanced the 'J' model was incredible. Thank you for this video!
Bruh, I’m in the dep for Marine Corps and that is my job, I’m not sure if I wanna do this plane or a helicopter. Could you tell me about your time?
I was a C130E crew chief for the 317th at Pope AFB back in the 70s. I see a 3rd seat, but it doesn't look as if there is a flight engineer on this aircraft. Did they move to a 2 man crew???
@@eugeniustheodidactus8890 It's just the two pilots. There are seats for the engineer and navigator like the Hs and older. However, no one filling those roles. Also, all the CB panels are just blank plastic panels. Electronic Circuit Breakers on the Js. Coming from H2s and H3s myself, the Js don't seem like a C-130 from the inside. More like a flying computer than a traditional cockpit.
@@lukesdoings7150 Thanks !
@@eugeniustheodidactus8890 It depends on what mission C-130J you're flying in. The MC/HC-130Js have a CSO (Combat System Officer). A little different flight deck, no bunk/"back seat" upstairs and instead of one diagonally sliding seat you have 2 side facing seats, one relatively unused other than load toad or FCC hanging out during flight and one for the CSO. But I'm unfamiliar with what crew flies the AC-130J now.
This was BRILLIANT! Ideally filmed and hosted! And Capt Vargas and the crew are incredible!! Thank you all!
Dad was a Seabee with 3 tours in Vietnam and one of the few things he told us about being over there was when a C-130 taking his unit and some heavy gear had to "expedite" their takeoff out of Hue when mortars began hitting the runway in front of them. He remembers the crew yelling on the PA for everyone to hang on and the incredible noise of the jato rockets and a steep climb and turn. He said it was a terrifying experience.
My father flew planes in three wars. In Vietnam, his last one, he flew C130s in & out of every dirt landing strip in SE Asia. He flew many different kind of planes in his 26-year Air Force career but called the C-130 best of them all.
You are really good at what you do!! Thanks for everything. These videos are so well done!!
Appreciate that!
Sup Bryan bros!!
For over 17 years, my father flew the C-130 in Bolivia, in a time when the US was an ally and many joint operations took place. He has incredibly fond memories of this aircraft, as do I as I pretty much grew up inside one. I showed him this video, and it brought tears to his eyes, not a very common thing! Wonderfully shot video and a real delight to know these work horses still grace the skies. Hopefully in the future our countries will be able to work side by side again, until then our C-130s will continue to do their work tirelessly.
Light infantry veteran here, spent a fair bit of time up in them, longest flight was down to Panama for the invasion. C-130's were indispensable, both for troop transport and hitting ground targets. I flew down in one and cleared the barracks and other buildings, which the C-130 gunships hit. WOW did they do some amazing damage to buildings, walking threw them right after they were hit was beyond bizarre. Roofs just Gone, pipes and stuff everywhere, even the flooring was pockmarked from impacts. I could not image being one of the people inside when that happened.
I wish they had used the C-130 gunships on Rio Hato instead of trying out their new stealth fighter toy, which missed and cost the lives of some good soldiers including my former Platoon leader, who jumped in with the Rangers. I went threw those barracks too, they were only hit with small arms fire but the tennis court and an open field got nailed good with 5,000 pounders. And by missing their targets they have the PDF time to do a lot of damage and the C-130's had to drop the men from only 300 feet which caused about fifty really bad jump injuries, including broken backs and blown out knees.
Then they used Seals to try to sneak up on a small Airport instead of wacking it with C-130's, because they thought they might catch Noriega I guess. Hew wasn't there and instead a bunch of Seals ended up dead. They should have sent us straight up infantry guys in with a gunship for backup and nobody would have died except some guards. I was at that airport on Christmas day, pulling guard and getting shot at. Eery unit wanted a part of the action I guess, so some good guys had to die instead of letting us infantry do what we do best, which includes ground support from our Gunships. Marines were lucky their showing off didn't get a bunch of them killed to. For some unknown reason they decided to do a beach landing and got stuck in the mud, Panamanian civilians formed a chain and pulled them out while under fire. No reason on earth to do a beach landing when we already controlled the beach.
Enough ranting, but it does go to show that when you have a tool like that to use, it's best to stick with it, rather than trying to get fancy. KISS The C-130 might be a simple platform but it Works. (Which means they will probably get rid of it in favor of a some boondoggle.)
Disclaimer: Airdrop operations were NOT conducted on the portion of the mission depicted from 11:40-12:50 and all safety precautions were followed in accordance with AFMAN 11-2C-130JV3 para. 15.6
Where does it state loads are allowed to wear only headsets? 15.6.1 states the only exception to be personnel performing water jumps.
@@ezjobe loads only have to be on headset, from the pre-slowdown airdrop checklist until the beginning of the post drop checklist. In accordance with the -1 book airdrop portion.
@@MrWeshill you tube. Rolling stones
@@ezjobe Yeah, my thoughts exactly.... C-130J flying crew chief here, flown under ACC, AFSOC and AMC and I have never ONCE seen it okay under any circumstances to not have a helmet on while the ramp is open
in 1999, I was on this plane. takes 8 hours, from Jakarta to Biak Papua. it was an experience that I will never forget. feel the transit experience on several islands in Indonesia.
What a blast. Got my adrenaline going again. I was already an old man when this 130 was built! Flew in the earlier models out of Pope AFB over 40 years ago. God Bless the USAF!
I was stationed at Pope AFB 63 years ago when the 464th Troop Carrier Wing was the main tenant and the planes they flew were the C-123 Provider.
And the US Army, come on now...lol 43 years ago for me.
@@axatax57 Yep, arrived there in November, 1959, my first assignment.
@@axatax57 There were never any Army troops stationed on Pope AFB while the AF was there, it went to the Army years later after the AF left.
My father was a C-130 guy...he was commander of the 317th, the unit at Dyess currently, when it was at Pope...he loved this airplane...
I was in the Air Force in the tail end of the Viet Nam war and was a Crew Chief on the C-130 aircraft. Flew with the aircraft and got to see several countries I will never get to see again. Was in Viet Nam, Cambodia, South Korea, Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Hawaii, and my last year was at Edwards Air Base. Quite an experience for me.
The C-130 was quite a versatile aircraft and we carried just about everything and anybody to different destinations.
Thanks for the video. Take care.
flew on one of those crates once...once in the USAF and that was enough. 9 goddamn hours on troop seats with the sound of a droning propeller filling my ears and vibrating my internal organs. The lavatory was quite lovely too. Best rides of my time in Big Blue were on the C-5, I'd fly a C-5 over commercial any day.
Those troop seats suck. At least the ones in the 141 did. If I remember right it was 14 hrs one way.
My dad was command pilot of c-130 in 5th Air Force in Vietnam out of Tachikowa. I had opportunity to ride with him flying when I was 6. It was an amazing adventure. To this day I remember well.
Sam I truly enjoyed this video. I've often felt that the C-130 is the most underrated aircraft in the US Military Arsenal and I lived vicariously through you during the video sequence. Thanks to our Military Men and women for their years of dedicated and courageous service to our country! It's because of all of you that I am able to be free to enjoy my life and take care of my family. Best wishes and thanks to all.
Yes fighters take the glory but these are incredible machines too. Wish I got to work on them
Watching this brought back so many memories of my life in the Military. Was lucky enough to do everything that is being shown.
بااا
Hello, I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, and love all over the world, I would love 💚us to be good friends in honesty and in trust if you don't mind. I'm david steve by name im a military surgeon general from San Francisco, California, where are you from if I may ask🥰🥰
Excellent video, very well produced! I had the (ahem) privilege of flying in the C-130 from Maryland to Iceland, and on to Germany. Also did a combat landing in an RAF C-130, 1993 in the Balkans which was a memorable experience. It's a pleasure to see our great Air Force professionals at work. Thanks!
That’s awesome! Glad you got to experience it as well.
Heh...yeah, a "combat takeoff" and especially a "combat landing" will make you question the wisdom of flying on that particular aircraft!
Loved the 130. When I was in the AF I was attached to a tactical fly away hospital and clinic. Loadmasters took care of all our equipment, ambulances and our personnel Much respect to that aircraft. Nice video.
Four years in the AF back in the 1960s. Worked in a GEEIA squadron out of Athens Greece. Flew TDY mostly to Turkey and usually in a C-130 with the cargo. Yes they are that old. From your video, they haven't changed much inside. Other transportation was the C-124 Globemaster, better known as Shaky Jake. Great memories. Thanks.
This brought back good memories. My Dad was in USAF 24 years, and worked as a Civilian on Flight Simulation and Training 26 years after he retired. Gorgeous ladies these are, unmistakable sound from the ground, and definitely something everyone should experience.
Please, please help me. My wish is to become a pilot and I studied commercial aviation, but my dream is not complete because I studied in my country and studying aviation in it is very bad, and after that my financial situation is difficult. We are from a poor family. We have nothing and we are from an Arab country in Africa, and I cannot collect money and study aviation, as this is my only dream. In life, please fulfill this dream for me. I want to go to America to study aviation and become a pilot in one of the American companies. We are in the poor Arab countries. No one helps you with anything. They are all liars and deceivers. I wish I were not Arab 😪😪 Is there anyone who can help me to study aviation and become a pilot? Even if in exchange for anything, I am of Sudanese nationality, but I have lived in Qatar for years, but my financial situation is very bad. Who among you wants to help me? I am ready.
I was stationed at Dyess AFB in the 70's and worked on the C-130E model. Great airplane.
I was there from 73-85. Crew chief and FTD instructor.
E and h🇬🇧 ROYAL AIR FORCE ...... hurc can do it .. even in 2022
@@keithchesser8452 Hey Keith 🥰🙁👋
After active duty on F-15Cs, I went into the reserves in '95 and worked on Herks. When I started we still had Vietnam era E models (complete with subtle bullet hole patches), but eventually new H models arrived and I was able to go to the factory for training, where I saw the impounded Libyan C-130s and the new C-130J production line. My unit, the 302nd in Colorado, had MAFFS (fire fighting system), which is a really cool peacetime mission. However because of the war in former Yugoslavia we often practiced combat approaches through the mountains to simulate landing in Kosovo, so they took maintainers with them to act as SAM or aircraft spotters. Looking out a bubble window as the aircraft banked violently through Rocky Mountain passes at near tree-top level...it was the closest I ever got to hurling in an aircraft. I loved both the F-15s and C-130s, prime examples of aircraft perfectly designed for their missions.
Absolutely loved my Air Force career. Flew Aeromedical Evacuation on C-130s, C-17s, C-9A, etc. Glorious years!
Hello, I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, and love all over the world, I would love 💚us to be good friends in honesty and in trust if you don't mind. I'm david steve by name im a military surgeon general from San Francisco, California, where are you from if I may ask🥰🥰
I remember getting to fly in a C-130 back in 94 when I was a kid. Probably one of the coolest things I ever got to experience as a military brat.
I was stationed at Dyess AFB two different times as an aircraft mechanic / crew chief, and at that time we had the C-130 E. I was in the 516th TAW assigned to the 348th TAS on the first tour. Then to Clark AFB in the Philippines in the 463rd OMS on the C-130 B working in the phase dock doing 150 hour / phase inspections.
Then back to Dyess and back to my old squadron. During the second half of that tour we transitioned from the 516th TAW to the 463rd OMS. After my discharge from active duty i returned home to the New Orleans area. I found out they were looking for flight engineers for the C-130 at the Belle Chase Naval Air Station, now Belle Chase Joint Reserve Base. So I went into the Air Force Reserves as a flight engineer for around 3 years. Then the C-130s were replaced with A-7s. No flying seat for me so I got out.
While in the Air Force I made it to all 50 states, a couple Provences in Canada, 11 countries in Europe and one in North Africa and the Philippines. I got more useful education in my first 2 to 3 years in the Air Force than I did in 14 years of schooling before I joined the Air Force. It also boosted my self esteem by a lot. Joining the Air Force was the second best life decision I have ever made!!!
Hi Bill
Babara Hello and good morning.
@@billmorris2613 Good Morning Morris.. 😎🤠❤️
I used to fly in and out of Sarajevo during the siege 30 years ago. Always on a Herc. It's such a great airplane! Back then they had a bench seat high above and behind the crew in the cockpit. A great view of everything. And when we'd land in Sarajevo with a Khe Sanh approach it was spectacular! Thanks for this video!
314th Airlift Wing, Little Rock right here! Man, look at her go. Miss watching them fly over our heads.
My first flight on a C-130 was in 1975 during the Apollo-Soyuz mission. We were flying with a newly installed direction finder system for tracking the rocket. I was with the 55th ARRS.
A rescue squadron. I was an avionics guy for the C-130's and the HH-53's. Many adventures.
Well, looks identical to the 130s we flew in 50 years ago...from the outside!
Outstanding footage, "fastest" 15 minutes!
yeah that cockpit control panel dashboard has changed, its no longer the round analog dial and gauge systems anymore
@@Shannonbarnesdr1 - yup, but not only the pilot interfaces, obviously avionics, interior cargo configs/layouts/mechanics/electronics, etc. Engines as well. Again, the only thing that looks the same on these beasts is the exterior. Oh, and these had heads? Never knew that (but then probably wasn't Marine Corps "issue" for these!).
@@DJWRailroad hehe yeah, its like a time or culture shock type thing when you see the old school familiar high tech and modernized .
Yeah the C 130 when I was at Dyess was 1974 models
That's because a lot of it is still the same. I worked on submitting a lot of the c130 prints for a fabrication shop to Lockheed Martin. A lot of these prints have very little revisions. ..
And the mechanical prints hand drafted whoa!!!! Not a lot of people can thoroughly read these and understand what is being communicated - rough blueprints in comparison to modern day prints and standards.
I flew economy in the cargo bay of this beast in 1975 after the fall of Vietnam. It was one hulluva an experience that any kid could go through. Thank you US Airforce.
How is first class?
@@dc10fomin65 we sat on the floor packed in like sardines. No chairs, no seat belts. When the plane took off, we were bunched together, and my mom said some of the men took advantage and grab onto some of the women (men can be sick bastards, speaking as a man). I did not cry but I recall a lot of toddlers were crying. Landed in Philippines, then to Guam, then to Cali. My dad and an uncle went before us because those who worked directly with the CIA got the highest priority second only to the high ranking South vietnamese generals (some of whom were corrupted as hell) and some high ranking polictians (again corrupted as hell). Another uncle decided that he didn't want to go to America and stayed back and eventually did 10 years in jail in Ha noi. Then another uncle decided to stay back and eventually joined the new communist regime (because some of his friends were actually on the Northern side and despite fighting each others, they were school mates back in Ha noi and that relationship apparently trumped their hatred for each other during the war, but this is rare). Whenever any of my uncles talked about the war, the one theme they always seem to agree on is that US policy was like "helicopter blades" (their words translated to English), it could change direction, spin out of control, start, stop, at any time and nobody really knew what to predict. Of course, there was also the constant endemic corruption within the Southern government that in many ways caused to demoralize the southern army frontline troops. I grew up pretty much after the war in the US, so my point of view of this war tend to be neutral (which doesn't sit well with many the older Vietnamese Americans of that generation who can be rabid anti-commie at times). But I have relatives on both sides of the war, some eventually talk with each others, but many have disavowed each other too to this day. I tend to be neutral and talk to relatives on both sides. And to be honest, every time i see/hear the under 50'something people in America talking/debating about wars, or hearing American politicans talking about wars/conflicts, I sense that these folks have never been through hell. Wars tend to make killers more then it makes heroes, and should never be glorified.
@@WanderingSword I feel for you, I went thru something similar but not as dramatic as your story, you can find my comments under Why so many German officers went to Argentina after WW2" It takes a lot of courage saying what you did here and I am really proud of you for doing it. My story was short, but with much information I hold in memory I could have written a book. Good luck to you your family and friends, wish you the best always, Alex from Chicago........................
C130 Hercules is totally one of the best planes in our whole entire Air Force fleet! it’s so great when it comes to airlifts, fuel drops, and medevacs 👍🏽
I had a friend who was a pilot in the air force during Korea and Vietnam war and flew a c130 and told me 100's of stories what it was like to fly one. Very good video!!
Thanks for making the video about the bird I used to make a living working on and crewing on. I am a retired Coastie, and in the Coast Guard, we were the mechanics on the ground and performed ALL aircraft maintenance there were NO fixers and flyers and yes we changed a few engines on remote locations with a rented boom tow truck, but we also had an aircrew position in the air. I was an Aircraft Structural Mechanic and in the air, I was the Loadmaster / Dropmaster. Loved my job on this very dependable bird. HC-130-H LoadMaster / DropMaster Instructor 21 years.
The J Model has less crew. We had a crew of 7. Pilot, Co-Pilot, Engineer, Nav, Radio, and in the back was the Loadmaster and/or Dropmaster and extra crewman.
We had some Coast Guard C-130’s come through Pemco Aeroplex in Birmingham when I worked there. Periodic depot maintenance. Lovely plane, enjoyed the bit of work I did on them. Pemco is not there, anymore.
I’ve been on the C-130 several times. It’s actually awesome to be a passenger in country flying from one FOB to another. We had to do a “combat landing” a few times and it was the best rollercoaster ride ever. I was weightless for a long time and nothing beats that sensation on a flight.
Thank you for your service to our nation
The first plane I ever flew in ....then jumped out of. Ex British Army , & passed Para Selection & did my jumps course nearly 32 years ago. What can be said about the Hercules, apart from Lockheed created a best selling masterpiece , which is a smooth ride for longer distances too. Only the huge B 52 has been in service longer. Also a US aircraft using Rolls Royce engines ...it worked all too well for the P-51 Mustang. Cheers to Sam for making this vid & the USAF air & ground crews for their hard work.
I was stationed at Dyess AFB for 13 years. I then PCS'd to Kessler AFB to be a part of the C-130 J test cadre. I was Jack Supervisor on the first JJ/-30 acceptance inspection at Edwards AFB. We put in numerous hours of hard work on Test Phase A and B. One Crew Chief among the best C-130 Specialists and Flight Crew the Air Force had to offer. A fantastic group of dedicated Women and Men. A lot of the technicians did not appreciate 94-8153, but It was the best C-130 I've ever flown and turned a wrench on.
The airframe had a rough start with software and avionics. The Mississippi heat was a killer. It's a good thing we had A/C on the flightline to keep the flight decks cool.
I hope the current generation of maintainers and flight crew appreciate the aircraft for what it is today.
Nice video. I spent 13 years flying into hurricanes on H and J models with the 53rd Weather Recon Squadron (aka the Hurricane Hunters), and seven years working at the Marietta plant as a C-130J avionics software engineer. When your life depends on your plane being built tough (and the software working right), it's a confidence boost to see planes like yours being built from scratch. I'll always have the hum of those engines in the back of my mind!
I always wanted to be an avionics software engineer. What is the job like and what qualifications do you need? Is it fun?
What an awesome career, thanks for sharing.
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I will bet taking on Mother Nature , when she spits out a huge hurricane, is more scary than being under enemy fire !! Nowhere to hide in a hurricane. Salute from an ex British Army airborne soldier.
My father was a crew chief for the c-130 in the US Air force. He served in Vietnam. His stories are pretty incredible and interesting.
Last time I was in a C-130 was in Northern Thailand and Central Laos, around 1970. That's it, a "C-130" used by a contract air freight company called "Air America". I was in a "C-130A", circa 1971. That extra blade on each prop made it so much quieter from the older "C-130". About 1999 I had a ground your on the C-130K in Martinsburg, WV. It was impressive. Have fun when you can.
1966-67 on a Marine Corps C-130 flying down to Danang from Phu Bai, the loadsmasher showed us the "facilities" before we took off. He held up a metal bucket, highly polished. He announced that if anybody had to use it, they will have to hang onto it until we land, then exit the aircraft to clean out the bucket, and polish it again. That absolutely prevented anyone from having to relieve themselves in flight. Oh, and no seats either. Everybody sat on a bare metal cargo pallet on the floor with straps crossing every few fee to hang onto.
Hi Sam. I have fly a few times...amazing aircraft
, and I parachuted dozens of times, i did military service in the Portuguese Air Force paratroopers, the C130 was and i think still is our aircrafat for that. I miss it so much. Just thinking about it makes me shiver. Nice video, nice memories. Best regards from Portugal
This was ABSOLUTELY GREAT! Thank you and the crew SO MUCH!
Grew up overseas and this, the f 16, a 10, and c17 are all I ever heard everyday for 15 years.
My father flew many kinds of planes in his 26 year USAF career. That's includes three wars from Bombers in WW2 to C-130s in & out of every dirt landing strip in Southeast Asia. He called the Hercules the best of them all.
I had the opportunity to support the C-130J during my assignment at Ramstein AB, Germany. Definitely an amazing experience with amazing pilots.
Going to ramstein next month to help out glad to hear positive feedback
Years ago, here in the UK, in the mid 1970's I bought a Triumph TR5 sports car. The soon to be ex-owner and I chatted while we went through the documents. Turned out that he was a pilot, and flew Hercules based at the nearby RAF Lyneham. He said that flying the Hercs was like driving a bus.
As a Navy Corpsman FMF(medic), I flew with the Marines on these aircraft back in the 70s. I remember sitting in a web sling seat, with my back plastered to the plane's bulkhead on one flight from training on Hawaii back to Oahu. My knees touched the rear wheel of my 4WD ambulance all the way. Very tight fit. A little bumpy too.
The loadmaster was a grumpy, not pretty, staff sergeant carrying an M-16. As we loaded double-time from the rear, there were guards at each prop to make sure no one accidentally ran into any of them. I enjoyed (?) it more than flying on the old Huey rattletrap choppers.😎
first time I ever heard of a C 130 was when I was in basic training.
"C 130 going down the st rip. . . . airborne daddy gonna take a little trip. . . "
A few months later i was jumping out of them routinely. I LOVE this plane.
Enjoying your videos! I am a USAF Vet from the late 60"s. Love to see videos on the many support squadrons found on a typical military base.
Great stuff! I was stationed at Dyess in 1997-1998, but on the B-1B Lancer side. I've got a bunch of passenger hours on C-130s and it is great fun. Thanks for posting the videos.
I went to an airshow once, and got to sit inside of a C-130, was the best cockpit I have ever seen
It almost looks like pilot and co-pilot hold hands, it's very sweet. I'm going to cry.
Awesome! That's what I've always heard of the Hercules. It's a real rugged, versatile plane for rough areas⚠️
Informative and cool, finally long wait ended. As an aerospace engineer, it's cool and inspiring to see such content on RUclips with the inclusion of defense forces.
Sam, could you pass on a message to Captain Vargas that we LOVE when the two C-130s come in low over Possum Kingdom Lake on their way to the Fort Worth base and buzz the homes by the cliffline! Great memories! Lots of talk of them amongst our circle of patriots out there! Salutes to you all, thank you all for serving our country! Blessings, BKH
70 years later and people who have flown them and flown in them still say the only replacement for a Hercules is another Hercules!
I've flown in them down to the ice, Fiji and back twice, along with many other shorter flights including jumping out of them! Love Hercs!
Hi Sam, Thanks for sharing this I was an air radar engineer back in the 1980s on the C130 it had a 5 man crew back then (Pilot, Co-pilot, flight engineer, Navigator, and Loadmaster) Just listening to the drone of the 4 engines took me back to my days in the royal air force at RAF Lyneham (the home of the british C130 hercules). Most of the time my career was on the ground servicing the many radar systems that the hercules had installed but you can bet your life that i got as many experience flights that i was able to get on a herc The 2 years I was at RAF Lyneham was the happiest of my life so i understand the buzz that you got from your flight experience
I have just under 5400 hours as a C-130H loadmaster. Most awesome job in the enlisted ranks.
Ditto. I retired as a Coast Guard Aircraft Structural Mechanic / Loadmaster / Dropmaster Instructor, loved my job, took many extra flights I did not have to just because it was fun.
C-130 Herky Bird - Green and Brown airlines - C-130/OV-10 CC from 1972-1974 - These planes are great,I got to fly all over europe, USA, SE Asia between bases in Thailand and Vietnam - TDY in Europe was a lot of fun. I once got to fly the C-130 for 45 minutes from the Bahamas to Patrick AFB- Best part was we had a civilian pax on board and came up to the crew cab to see me airman 1st class flying the plane with head set on and the Navigator giving me heading and altitude changes, he went back to his jump seat and put on his seat belt. The Captain was warming up his lunch in the oven, Great seen. Hardest part of flying a C-130 is they tend to climb when not on autopilot, the Nav reminded me a couple of times to watch the alt - everyone has an assigned alt and it would climb a 1000 feet in a second. It was a great experience.
Man, you are so fortunate to have had that experience!
In approximately 1982 my NJROTC unit/class had the honor of flying in one of these from Maguire Air Force base in New Jersey to Macdill Air Force base in Tampa Florida. It was an awesome experience for this sixteen year old kid!
...oh great!...i used to be a skydiver and jumping out of that similar aircraft was so exciting but scary as well!....that was way back in the early 90s...i remember my co-divers laughing really really loud because i was sort of clinging to the sides and screaming my insides out before i finally found the courage to jump out...
I shared this video with my SASI in jrotc. I’m doing ROTC in college this fall and majoring in aviation for professional pilot. I’m super excited. Amazing job as always, Sam!
Thanks! Best of luck to you
Please, please help me. My wish is to become a pilot and I studied commercial aviation, but my dream is not complete because I studied in my country and studying aviation in it is very bad, and after that my financial situation is difficult. We are from a poor family. We have nothing and we are from an Arab country in Africa, and I cannot collect money and study aviation, as this is my only dream. In life, please fulfill this dream for me. I want to go to America to study aviation and become a pilot in one of the American companies. We are in the poor Arab countries. No one helps you with anything. They are all liars and deceivers. I wish I were not Arab 😪😪 Is there anyone who can help me to study aviation and become a pilot? Even if in exchange for anything, I am of Sudanese nationality, but I have lived in Qatar for years, but my financial situation is very bad. Who among you wants to help me? I am ready.
I loved watching this plane in flight. My father worked on one of the C-5 and later C-130 production lines at Lockheed in Marietta GA, as a sheet metal mechanic.
Memories. I used to be a C-130E/H Flight Engineer out of Little Rock AFB between '78-'81. Then I went on to fly the C-141A/B & KC-10A out of Travis AFB '81-'98. I also noticed that (I guess) the J-models do not have Flight Engineers. Excellent video, keep it up.
Yeah, I find that concerning. Former FE on C141's myself.
The Herky Bird was my father's favorite aircraft to fly over his 20 year AF career ('53 to '73). He spent 2 years in Vietnam flying them, the scariest time being during the Tet Offensive in '68 when he made several LAPSE drops at Khe Sanh. Go watch the movie "Air America" and that's exactly the type of "seat of your pants flying" this aircraft is capable of doing.
It was fathers favorite to fly in the Navy, this video was so awesome to see
Always get happy when you post love seeing you fly and talk to us about these awesome aircraft
I grew up an Army brat and then joined the Royal Australian Army myself in 1997. I have absolute pure love for the Herc. She's a beast. Flying from one side of Australia to the other (RAAF Base Richmond to RAAF Base Pearce) is a looooong flight though!
Well, if you want to experience something similar, empty a cargo van, put an aluminum lawn chair in the back, make a seat belt that isn't long enough for you and your gear and strap it across as tight as possible, put two box fans right next to both ears to simulate noise, now have a buddy drive on a road with a lot of curves and dips in the road, continue this for 2 to 12 hours and then, drive straight down a large hill to simulate a "combat landing" and BAM!!! You now have 95 percent of the feeling down.
Nice video. Pilots get a lot of attention, but the load masters can make life or death decisions. Some very horrible crashes have occurred because load masters didn't take their job seriously. So great job to Chloe and Zane.
And without maintenance the best pilots and the best loads can't do anything
Awesome work. Great quality vid as ALWAYS 🔥
The J-model was just coming on line when I stopped working with the Herc. I cut my teeth on the old B-models (1957, 56) and worked on tankers after that (HC-130). I also spent a lot of time around the E-model. The cargo compartment looks pretty similar but the flight deck is totally different. I recall reading somewhere that when the J's first came on line they were having problems landing on unapproved runways because the composite blades on the engines were getting chipped up pretty bad. If that was a problem it looks like they fixed it.
For me, the Herc and the B-52 were the greatest aircraft in the inventory. I hear the B-2 and C-17 are pretty solid as well. Seeing the 130 flying around here brought back many memories, good and bad. As an old crew-chief, I rubbed the nose but only if the plane was behaving. They had a tendency to be temperamental and you couldn't afraid to kick it in the ramp now and again if it was acting up.
Thanks for posting this one. I never got to work on the J but would have liked to fly on it at least once. Come to think of it, the J-model's 30th anniversary isn't that far off and I've been retired for longer than I care to mention. Time certainly waits for no one.
Took a few trips in this classic myself back in the day - Vietnam era. Not the quietest ride, but smooth and sweet. I worked on the comms on lots of these. 130s are like a flying tank. Love 'em!
Great video Sam. As always you are a true inspiration to the forces. Also great to see Swain working his way into the left seat. By the way I grew up in Colorado and used to live in Aurora and had friends who worked out at Buckley Air Base which is the HQ for the Space Division of the Air Force. They are responsible for launching all missals. My brother in law actually had the chance to do some contract work inside some of those huge golf balls on base (telescopes). Maybe one day you could do a tour of that base along with NORAD at Pederson down in Colo. Springs. Glad to know we have the best in the world during these uncertain times.
Shoutout to the pilots for always trying to make me 🤮. (But hey I would do the same thing myself haha).
Love seeing the world through your eyes 🤍 thank you so much for sharing this. Truly beautifully shot and edited. Love your channel so much. Blue skies Sam!!
@@hausofsevenserpents8988 appreciate that!
In 1968 I thought it was the ugliest beast, when it dropped us in-country ... In 1969 I though it was the most beautiful angel sent from Heaven to take us out of country to return home back stateside.😇
Love your videos Sam, always amazing and well done. You did look a bit ‘green’ there. 🤣🤢🤮
@@SamEckholm thanks for the vid
MY son is a USAF Capt, C-130J driver. Loves the airframe..I’m VERY proud of my boy!
Wow. This is what I flew from Ali Al Saleem Air Base to Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2010. It was weird. Canvas seats, mesh backs, no windows. You had NO idea where you were. Thanks for taking me back!!!
Showcasing the 325. Dyess is a huge part of the Air Force and Abilene, and namely recognized for the B-1! But it’s really cool to see the Herc get some love!
I was always facinated by that plane, so thanks for this great video!
So i'm from germany and funnily enough the C-130 Hercules had to compete with the Transall C-160 as the future transport plane of the German Air Force in the 60's. So the German Air Force chose the Transall and the last of them were in service until last year. And now that the Transall is gone and the new Airbus A400M is too big for certain operations our Air Force needed a replacement. And which one did they choose? The C-130 Super Hercules of course. So at last we got some too, the first one was delivered in January.
Transall small, slow, a 50% hurc
Got drafted in 1969 . Later with the Military Airlift Command. C-130's unit . Love the C-130s . This video brought me back to many of the good old days. ❤☕️👍🏻😎🇺🇸
It was surprising that someone chose the Herk as a subject to tout.
I have 6840 (+/-) hours in this bird as a Command and Control Systems operator/tech.
We (TACAMO) provided 24 hour coverage as a survivable communications link to strategic forces (subs).
The US Navy kept one of these birds in the air (constant coverage) 24/7/365 from 1968 to 1989.
It was a pleasure and an honor to fly with these crews for 12 years (on/off). The pilots and 'my' crews were an extremely professional and dedicated lot.
Thank you for highlighting what a wonderful this aircraft has been for so long.
Real quality video, Sam. I really enjoyed this.
Everyone aspiring to join the armed forcess should watch this video. Great video 10/10
that depends on what field you're going into. This video is great for someone who wants to be aircrew either on the enlisted side (like the loadmaster) or the commissioned officer side (like the pilots), but not really for anything else. This doesn't show anything for any branches outside of the air force, and doesn't show the logistics involved, like the maintenance crew
That was great, reminded me of my dad as the flight engineer, showing my around and even checking out the weight of a parachute. I was an eighth grader than, almost did a back flip once he set the parachute on my shoulder’s. Last time I flew in one was my sophomore year in high school for our AFJROTC program, we needed to tell everyone not to drink soda water for breakfast, but we were in the air and I remember passing out sick bags to those in the back of the plane. But , as I moved back to the cockpit, we were allowed to look out over the pilot crew and look down below, that was cool. Thanks for the 433 Air Wing at that time Kelly AFB, what a smooth ride and great landing! Loved it!
In high school back in the ‘70’s in Minnesota my high school was a Catholic Military school. During interim week we could sign up for a flight on a C130 from MSP airport to International Falls, Mn and back. Besides having to shove wax in our ears for noise protection we were free to wander in the bay even jumping off the ramp in back to “ catch some air”. We also were invited to come up to the cockpit to view the flight deck while in flight. Coolest time ever for a 16 year old kid.
That's one of the best 15min videos I've ever enjoyed.
Great video Sam!
Always such a good quality! love it!
I served as Electro-Environmental system specialist on the 74 H models, from 1987-2000, at Dyess. I actually started in "Electro" only... but around 1989, we started cross training with the environmental group. They took care of LOX systems, pressurization, and environmental (Heating/AC). Combined with us, that took care of power systems, lighting, and, well anything that had wires.... unless it was radar, or GAC (guidance and control). Although the GAC troops were consistently wanting us to fix their wires..... but I digress....
I do miss my time fixing aircraft.