C-130J Tac Demo

[Good Mickey]

Just found out that the 'J' has taken on the role of Tac Demo this season and that the boys have already started the work-up...any truth in this? If it is true, what are the chances of displaying at RIAT? Should be one to watch!

[Wycombe]

....I would say that they are more than "working up", as I'm sure I saw one from my N Hants vantage point transitting VFR towards Biggin on Sunday afternoon.

[DamienB]

No demo at Biggin - just a fast pass and landing. Think it was the Falcons deciding discretion was the better part of 30+ knot gusts.

[Wycombe]

...ah, assumption made on my part that this was the Tac Demo aeroplane

[SET 18]

Surely the J model's "Tac Demo" will consist of turning up at an airfield and then sitting on the pan all weekend.

That's about all the "Tac" work it does at Lyneham.....

You know lads that it is back to route Sqn life soon.

I am quite looking forward to another few C-17s.

[RedFlag]

SET 18

Not one to usually bite but you caught me at a weak moment...

"Surely the J model's "Tac Demo" will consist of turning up at an airfield and then sitting on the pan all weekend.

That's about all the "Tac" work it does at Lyneham.....

You know lads that it is back to route Sqn life soon."

What planet have you been on recently?
Lets think... NVG low level, thats pretty "tac" wouldn't you say?
NVG low level in Iraq during the war, thats got to be "tac", no? 12 missions into Iraq on NVGs in virtually zero ambient, getting shot at by the bad guys and still making the TOT, and not needing an F-18 escort to get out again afterwards, thats got to be a little bit "tac"? Surely?

Or maybe SKE 3-ship in the South West on the same route thats been flown a thousand times over for years and years is the true definition of "tac"?

Wait, what about Para Wedge? Is that classed as "tac", or dropping harness packs at Keevil (all within 30 yds of the RAM), that must be "tac"? No?

Hang on I've got it... have to do a "Tac" Demo to be "Tac". Any other "Tac" Demos this year? Not sure let me check...

As for turning up at an airfield and sitting on the ground all weekend, thats what K's do in Southern Africa, and J's dig them out of the dwang and drop the troops (a lot more accurately). Hang on thats "Tac" too isn't it....?

Hang on I've got it for sure this time, there has to be 5 people on the crew for it to be truly "tac", I should have known. 2 pilots and an ALM can never be "Tac", of course.....

I'll get my coat. I'll never be "Tac", hurrumph...

[SET 18]

Well Red Flag, it's all relative as they say.

12 missions. Well done. How many sorties into Iraq did the K do? And without so many of your gucci MAWS kit. The F18 escort was required because the K was in a particularly dangerous area too.

Para Wedge. Again, well done. How many times have you dropped since SA? And were any of the troops weighing more than 300LB? I trust not; not with that painfully thin static line of yours.

SA. The J got the K out of the dwang because the K was sent to an area where there is seasonal high winds at that time of the year. Hence, it got way behind on the drop schedule. The J was based further inland were no such problems existed and so never got behind the programme.

Harness Packs at Keevil. Well, you got me there. Now I am impressed. And all within thirty yards of the marker!!! What an impressive bit of kit you have.

As for the ME, B8,12,16,22 AE, MSP, BOAT etc, well ; oh sorry you never mentioned them did you?

[Mr C Hinecap]

Fight Fight Fight Fight Fight!

You boys are SO macho when you are like this!

Tell me - is ANYONE happy to be a Route Queen any more, or has this pervasive masculine attitude swamped the Secret Wilts Air Base? Has everyone traded the Samsonites in for bergens? Or at least traded the pastel shaded ones in for black?

:rolleyes:

[Good Mickey]

Red Flag,

thanks for the info, I didn't know that the J had been sausage side during the war, well done to all the crews involved. Sounds like the J is becoming the unsung hero of the Herc world just quietly getting on with doing the business.

SET 18,

thanks also for your comments, I haven't heard such jealous/bitter/twisted/ill informed rubbish for ages!!

...still waiting for an answer to the Tac Demo question.

[RedFlag]

Good Mickey,
RIAT is a distinct possibility, so I'm told...

SET 18,
A particularly dangerous area, give me a break. We all know what happened. And does going sausage side without 'Gucci' MAWS kit make you more 'Tac'? Glad I'm not on your crew.
That painfully thin static line is actually a K static line, by the way.
SA. "The K was sent to an area of high seasonal winds", ahhh bless! Its a shame the Navs couldn't assess these high seasonal winds, more troops might have made the DZ...
The J was never meant to be on the programme, and only came to help out when the K kept going tits.

I think what you guys seem to forget is that most J people have done many years on the K, clocking up many hours in many (if not every) roles. How many of these tedious threads deteriorate into this kind of banter as a result of J blokes slagging off the K? Not many, because we all have a great affection for the old XV Battlebus, and see no need to hammer it to bits. Unlike those of you without knowledge of the J, or a seat.

God help us all when you guys find out that mixed formations are going to happen, I think I need to take some leave....

[Mach the Knife]

Giddy up.........the SH1T haulers are getting uppity. Pull up arm chair, open beer, sit back and watch 2 breeds of trash hauler argue about how "tac " they are, now where was my pillow I feel a sleep coming on.

[T_Handle]

Hi guys....

I saw the J Tac Demo work-up the other day (or atleast I think I did!) and very impressive.

Ground role = about 3ft 6in! was that a tac rotate or normal?
Climb rate = tick VG
Nice wingover (not the 60deg K limit)
KaySan (or however it is spelt!) also so very impressive! Who said the J can't do steep approaches!

If it looks as good at RIAT as it did from the carpark then great stuff guys! Keep it up.... and don't let the ones with no vote and slight aroma of wee bitch about it!!!!!!!:ok:

T

(I've got the cat, anybody know who's got some pigeons??!):oh:

[Always_broken_in_wilts]

Set 18..........care to tell us which seat you occupy? You can't be a pilot as i have yet to meet one who is not impressed with the J, doesnt meen they are not out there:O

Most Loadies I have spoken to like the concept as well, so guessing by the obvious bile in your replies I am left to assume you either "own a caravan" or sit in the corner stinking of........

Whilst i have been guilty in the past of rising to the bait, and it would seem i am doing it again why can't you heed the words of the neutrals in here and lay of the J v K thing as it does none of us any favours.

This thread started off asking a serious question so why not wait and find out the answer::mad:

all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced

[Good Mickey]

ABIW, well said my friend, I asked an honest question about the J but as usual the thread managed to get hijacked by some muppet, in this case - Age 18. Anyway, changing the subject slightly, I've also heard that not only will the J perform the Tac Demo this season, but that it is going to combine the TD with dropping the Falcs at the same display. Has this ever been done before?

[WhichWay?]

It might have been done, however, there migth be 2 problems with doing this.

1. The role of the ac if the Tac Demo is being conducted with live loads, and more importantly,

2. The schedules for the Falcs are usually very tight and to have the aircraft waiting for its Tac Demo slot might cause some Falcs slots to be missed.

However, if they are dropping the Falcs then flying straight into the Tac Demo after the flypast that might work...

WW

[adrian mole]

ABIW/WW

Dead on! I did one in 1981 at Staverton carrying two landrovers for the display, we dropped the Falcons first, spiralled down for the flypast and then went straight into the Tac Demo. Harry 'B' AFC with the parrot was Captain...

[T_Handle]

Sounds like a great idea to me!!!

As I understand it, the J is the drop platform for the falcs this year.

Drop the boys.... fly the flypast and salute..... run and break to start the Tac Demo..... works a treat for the punter!

Can it be done? Falsc do ramp despatch so shouldn't be a snag. The only snag I can see is when the Falcs need their minibus with them.... but on special occations like RIAT if they are based from there that weekend it would be great.

Keep on truckin with style lads!

T:ok: :O :O

[Always_broken_in_wilts]

15:50Z, Junc 16 to Junc 17, approx 95mph in Megane soft top - hood down, gorgeous blonde wife, mine obviously, with wind swept hair sat beside me spots Albert, no probe a:O, pointing toward the ground at a tremendously steep angle................so perhaps the rumour is true............will post more during the week if I get some more positive gen :ok:

all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced

[adrian mole]

T-Handle

Same year as Staverton did Tac Demo on three consecutive days at RIAT Greenham Common. We flew straight into a practice on the Friday from Lyneham carrying a Scorpion CVRT which we deplaned as part of the demo. What the punters didn't know was that strapped up front was a brand new white minbus loaned for the weekend by Lye MT. (less than 50 miles on the clock). We finally landed on at Greenham and the frame stayed and flew from there each day. Excellent weekend only marred by the fact that when we returned the minibus it had a 20in decal on the bonnet saying "FLY NAVY" and we couldn't get it off!

[Always_broken_in_wilts]

Observed guys with "slightly off red" badges practicing TALO off loads, in bl :mad: :mad: dy quick time I hasten to add, from our all singing and dancing Rear Crew Trainer today:ok: ...............so maybe the mighty J is taking on this new mantle;)

all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced

[RedFlag]

C130-J Tac Demo gets ratified Tuesday, first show Waddo, end of June. 'Slightly Off Red' huh? Must get my eyes tested!:hmm:

[Good Mickey]

Waddo should be a great display especially as the J is doing the Tac Demo, the Falcs and the static. It should be good for the J to get in the public eye so much - just wonder why these frames are not being tasked?

[scroggs]

Did Falcs and Tac Demo in same frame in Malta in 94 or 95. Worked fine, but didn't want to advertise it too much as that would have meant even more weekends away without any time off in lieu!

Best one we did was the two-ship Tac Demo at RIAT Fairford in '94. That went down a treat, but was never allowed to happen again. Be nice to see it ressurrected by the 'J' peeps.

[sad sad sad]

Hmm, yes the J could go back to back displaying coz it's unlikely to suffer the seized engine syndrome post -ve g pushover. (Remember Biggin Hill Scroggs !!!)

[SPIT]

HI
i saw the demo at Waddo on Sat 28 and it was nothing exciting and there did not seem to be anything new or out of the ordinary (might be as I was in the SOUTH car park and so far away to see anything special.
And talking of Waddo GET SOME BOG'S NEAR THE S/CAR PARK, I DID NOT ENJOY HAVING TO GET THE F******* BUS IF I WANTED A LEAK:mad: :mad: :: but beside that A SUPER DISPLAY.:ok: :ok:

[scroggs]

Yes, I remember Biggin - a good night stop! Wasn't it Duxford where we shut down 3 during/after the Khe Sahn, and taxied in on one, much to the astonishment of the crowd?