Hercules Tanker
sycamore is correct. There were six tankers and each of the four 'downstairs' tanks in the tankers held approx 7000 lbs of fuel.
XV203 airborne from MPA in 1989
The view from the flight deck: Teal Inlet
Nice to see more
pics appearing.
pics appearing.
And another,N of the Falklands....
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I was working in Eng Ops at Stanley in late 1982 when two QRA Phantoms were scrambled one afternoon, they were then followed by the Hercules tanker which taxied out of the dispersal next to the old air terminal but as it turned onto the runway there was a problem with the nose wheel which either jammed or snapped and the herc was stuck on the runway unable to move. there was great consternation as the phantoms would need refueling or return to Stanley and land but at that point they could do neither. I can't recall how the situation was resolved. I presume the Hercules was eventually towed back to the dispersal and the Phantoms landed without incident. does anybody else recall the incident?
Cracking shots. Jason Islands. We found the remains of an Argentinian Navy pilot and his A4 about 2/3rd of the way up of the first peak in the photograph. Heading East and presumably inbound to do his worst. What was left of him was repatriated home.
I was involved with the A&AEE trials of a JATE designed ASRA for the Herc tanker. The tankers were an obvious choice for a Search and Rescue aircraft in the Falklands and so JATE designed and built a platform that could be positioned in the port para door to despatch three linked MS10 containers. The trials were on the whole a success, but we never issued recommendations for a CA Release for the ASRA as it was pointed out that having three smoke floats secured to the cabin wall within feet of a single skinned fuel tank was probably not all that sensible. Also, as the aircraft itself didn't have a CA Release as result of the tanker mod we couldn't issue recommendations for the ASRA.
Incidentally every time we despatched the three life rafts two out of the three inflated inverted, I never complained about dinghy righting drills after that.
Incidentally every time we despatched the three life rafts two out of the three inflated inverted, I never complained about dinghy righting drills after that.
VX 275,
i find that very interesting as almost from day one of the C130K in RAF service we had a role to drop three containers from the port para door. These could be a mix of liferafts and/or supplies.They were linked together by rope in a plywood rope dispenser box. Certainly the tanker in the Falklands had such a role and the kit was available, Although my memory is not what it was I am sure we carried marine markers and smoke floats
i find that very interesting as almost from day one of the C130K in RAF service we had a role to drop three containers from the port para door. These could be a mix of liferafts and/or supplies.They were linked together by rope in a plywood rope dispenser box. Certainly the tanker in the Falklands had such a role and the kit was available, Although my memory is not what it was I am sure we carried marine markers and smoke floats
Pic shows the kit at the port para door and the cargo door open which is how we did it in FEAF. Normally the cargo door remained shut.
Forgot to mention that you can see the yellow smoke floats and a marine marker in a box to the left of the ASRA kit which has not yet been moved into the drop position.
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I was working in Eng Ops at Stanley in late 1982 when two QRA Phantoms were scrambled one afternoon, they were then followed by the Hercules tanker which taxied out of the dispersal next to the old air terminal but as it turned onto the runway there was a problem with the nose wheel which either jammed or snapped and the herc was stuck on the runway unable to move. there was great consternation as the phantoms would need refueling or return to Stanley and land but at that point they could do neither. I can't recall how the situation was resolved. I presume the Hercules was eventually towed back to the dispersal and the Phantoms landed without incident. does anybody else recall the incident?
I believe JADETU came up with another ASRA design for the J Herc, having failed to remember they had designed one for the Herc Tanker.
VX275,
thanks for the clarification.
thanks for the clarification.
I was working in Eng Ops at Stanley in late 1982 when two QRA Phantoms were scrambled one afternoon, they were then followed by the Hercules tanker which taxied out of the dispersal next to the old air terminal but as it turned onto the runway there was a problem with the nose wheel which either jammed or snapped and the herc was stuck on the runway unable to move. there was great consternation as the phantoms would need refueling or return to Stanley and land but at that point they could do neither. I can't recall how the situation was resolved. I presume the Hercules was eventually towed back to the dispersal and the Phantoms landed without incident. does anybody else recall the incident?
F-4 had launched, the original tanker I think went "inop" on taxi out and the nosewheel collapse happened on it's taxi back in (?).
Second C-130 was eventually despatched from the mid'ish point, entering via a clear intersection and then used reverse I think to back up to the stranded 130 to maximise runway length before power up, brakes off.
Some time later after a fair bit of tanking, the F-4 was recovered into the approach end cables with the stranded 130 still blocking runway.
FWIW the crew brief I believe was if they'd missed the wires the crew would have ejected, so we (Phandet) and others retired to a safe distance from the runway edge just in case.
C-130 I think went off to Montevideo.
Be very interesting to compare notes and see how others remember it.
Last edited by wiggy; 15th Nov 2022 at 13:12.
Mail Drop - Grytviken, South Georgia
Some time later after a fair bit of tanking, the F-4 was recovered into the approach end cables with the stranded 130 still blocking runway.
FWIW the crew brief I believe was if they'd missed the wires the crew would have ejected, so we (Phandet) and others retired to a safe distance from the runway edge just in case.