Ancientaviator62:
When we bought the C130K (basically an E model with the uprated H engines- a mixed blessing !) it was decided to fit certain items of UK kit into it to provide work for UK firms. Some of it was Avionics the other was in the cargo handling/airdrop roles
It was a good deal more than that originally, AA. The main UK proposal was to hang RR Tynes on them in place of the Allison T56's. It was only after the Lockheed Reps managed to stop their hysterical laughter and pick themselves up from the floor that other ways of "investing" in the project came about
:-
1. Increased sized Flight Deck Escape Hatch incorporating an Astrodome for the Force Commander to review his formation. This was put back into its crates when it was found on initial delivery that it tended to crack when pressurised.
2. Downwards Looking Periscope for Nav to use when supply dropping. This was put back into its crates when it was found that the purpose built windows at floor level allowed him to CARP far more conveniently (as the USAF had been doing since the Model A).
3. "Some of it was avionics" included the Decca Area Nav System that told you where you were on a weirdly distorted roller map, as long as you kept channelling the appropriate keys in a revolver chamber type selector and reset the stylus to where it should be so that it could tell you where it thought you to be! Other avionics included triple radios where doubles would have sufficed.
4. The crowning glory was the Smiths Auto Pilot. Once connected to the American wiring looms it went into a deep sulk which meant that its supply circuit breakers had to be collared off permanently (well for a year at least). The result was that the aircraft had to be hand flown on legs of up to 14 hours on the CENTO route to Singapore. All aspiring pilots within the crew lent a hand over the ogg!
All this so that Harold Wilson, our beloved leader at the time, could tell the HoC that he was pleased to announce that half the cost of these new aircraft would be in Pounds Sterling.
"Here Here"
Rustling of order papers.
"Hurumph Hurumph".
"I didn't get a hurumph from that member!".
Give the Prime Minister a Hurumph!".
"Hurumph".