Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
Chickenlover,
I presume the very skilled gentleman to whom you refer is Al H......
I presume the very skilled gentleman to whom you refer is Al H......
Chickenlover, I had the great pleasure of some Fighter affil and LL (very) whilst occupying the RH para door with the Captain you mention in the run up to GW1. I certainly remember his use of vertical, few did it as I recall, but rumour amongst the GE's was that he was an ex Harrier jock, do you know if there was any truth in that one? And, were you the Co in those days? I never kept any record of either crew or fellow GE's on those dets.
Smudge
Smudge
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Smuj
He was indeed, and did several tours on them including I think a tour as QWI / instructing. He was a great mentor and I learnt so much from flying with him. He was also one of the few pilots on the Herc that made 'prodding' look easy. I was a skipper by GW1 so didn't fly with him out there. ( other than in formation)
lots more GW1 pics to come yet
He was indeed, and did several tours on them including I think a tour as QWI / instructing. He was a great mentor and I learnt so much from flying with him. He was also one of the few pilots on the Herc that made 'prodding' look easy. I was a skipper by GW1 so didn't fly with him out there. ( other than in formation)
lots more GW1 pics to come yet
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Tonights offering;
thought these may be interesting to those that never got 'down the back' during a para sortie. Taken by a photog for use in some briefing or other. When I first did the TS course as a captain, we were made to go down the back during a drop to see the effect of over zealous use of rudder on blokes stood up carrying mountains of kit. Very useful insight..... never seen so much vomit.
I'm sure AA62 or one of the experts can confirm, this was a 'wedge' load, dropped moments before the sticks of para were released-it cut down on the enormous weights they had to carry on operational drops.
thought these may be interesting to those that never got 'down the back' during a para sortie. Taken by a photog for use in some briefing or other. When I first did the TS course as a captain, we were made to go down the back during a drop to see the effect of over zealous use of rudder on blokes stood up carrying mountains of kit. Very useful insight..... never seen so much vomit.
I'm sure AA62 or one of the experts can confirm, this was a 'wedge' load, dropped moments before the sticks of para were released-it cut down on the enormous weights they had to carry on operational drops.
Ahh well, the GE' s did know something then
look forward to your GW1 shots, AH was certainly a smashing Captain to work for too, always found him a complete gentleman.
Smudge
look forward to your GW1 shots, AH was certainly a smashing Captain to work for too, always found him a complete gentleman.Smudge
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Yes CL, the last pic is Wedge. For those who don't know the wedge was a structure that sat on the ramp to give a slide for the load to roll down. without the need for a climb or nose up. The parachute is an Sc15 in the pillow bag. We developed a version of the Sc15 called the SC20 with extra lines and strengthening. Also a lightweight load attachment strop made of some fantastic new fibre material. previously we bent shackle pins due to opening shocks. Most of these mods were rolled into the later versions of SC15 including a square bag with a diaper to better control the line deployment. The height of the load was restricted compared to CDS or a standard 1 ton but the chute was mounted on the vertical face. We could get down to 250 ft to match the Low Level parachute.
We made adaptors to fit the old Marshall wedge to the J. The Australians and Canadians have their own version.
I recognise the Despatcher on the left. He has done well and a nice chap. Not sure about the bird but I think I know who she is.
In the first picture the middle loads were harness packs to go out the side doors before the troops. the chutes are 28 ft as shown in some of AA62 photos. I think the youngest one we had was made in 1972. Others went back to the early 60's. War stocks were such that we had difficulty consuming them. The guys insisted in bringing them back for re packing. Clearly the natives did not like the cloth.
We made adaptors to fit the old Marshall wedge to the J. The Australians and Canadians have their own version.
I recognise the Despatcher on the left. He has done well and a nice chap. Not sure about the bird but I think I know who she is.
In the first picture the middle loads were harness packs to go out the side doors before the troops. the chutes are 28 ft as shown in some of AA62 photos. I think the youngest one we had was made in 1972. Others went back to the early 60's. War stocks were such that we had difficulty consuming them. The guys insisted in bringing them back for re packing. Clearly the natives did not like the cloth.
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Al H was a flight commander on 24 during my one month on the squadron, total waste of that ability. Glad to see he got across to Goatacre - must have been after I left 47.
Completely concur, what a lovely bloke.
Completely concur, what a lovely bloke.
Chickenlover,
great pics. As dragartist has confirmed it is indeed wedge. We had 'fun' at JATE on the 'K' trails with this. Even loading it was a faff. When the MK3 was cleared for this the aft trim of an a/c at 'Action Stations' was VERY close to the limit. This was when the paras were stood up, the door bundles were in place and the wedge ready. If you had all these then on an ABEX you needed rather long DZ.
great pics. As dragartist has confirmed it is indeed wedge. We had 'fun' at JATE on the 'K' trails with this. Even loading it was a faff. When the MK3 was cleared for this the aft trim of an a/c at 'Action Stations' was VERY close to the limit. This was when the paras were stood up, the door bundles were in place and the wedge ready. If you had all these then on an ABEX you needed rather long DZ.
Another pic of ASI during Op Corporate.
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Hope you guys don't mind me asking ... but in CL's 2nd pic ... what are these ? They appear to be stowed for flight in some way ?
Just genuinely interested
Coff.
PS. CL Great pics ... thank you for sharing with us ... looking forward to more. You too AA62 ... your career photo library keeps on giving us little gems ... the recent ASI pic is quite dramatic and business like
Just genuinely interested
Coff.
PS. CL Great pics ... thank you for sharing with us ... looking forward to more. You too AA62 ... your career photo library keeps on giving us little gems ... the recent ASI pic is quite dramatic and business like
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Coffman, the exact name is gone from my head but they're tie-downs for the chains that were used on vehicles, etc. The bit at the bottom has a rotating collar that locks the chain in, the top has clamp/hook system that locks into the rings in the floor and then the orange bit is rotated like a turnbuckle to tension the whole thing.
Coff,
they are 10000lb tie down tensioners. The tie down chains were locked in at the top, the claws at the bottom locked onto tie down points in the floor and then the tensioner was tightened to restrain the load. We also carried 5000 lb ones for use on the ramp. If you were going to do a squadron move etc then another half set of lashings would be carried in addition to the normal always carried set.
There was a procedure for tying down the main gear in the event of an emergency using these tensioners and chains.
they are 10000lb tie down tensioners. The tie down chains were locked in at the top, the claws at the bottom locked onto tie down points in the floor and then the tensioner was tightened to restrain the load. We also carried 5000 lb ones for use on the ramp. If you were going to do a squadron move etc then another half set of lashings would be carried in addition to the normal always carried set.
There was a procedure for tying down the main gear in the event of an emergency using these tensioners and chains.
A few posts ago Coffman (this thread is all his fault ) asked about strange loads we have carried in the 'K'. So every now and then as memory stirs I will tell a few tales. Not long after we got the first a/c I did a trip to Kelly AFB near San Antonio in Texas. We were to pick up Herc ground equipment that MOD had ordered. We arrived and the kit duly turned up outside the a/c after a bit of hassle with Base Ops. Engine stands. prop stands etc. It was all two tone. Yellow and rust ! Whether it was new or secondhand I know not but it had obviously been standing outside for some time. Anyway I start to load it. Now the electric cargo winch for the 'K' was to be the 'refurbished' ex Beverley HD winch. However there were none available. All we had was a manually operated Tirfor winch, which was hard work in those hot and humid conditions.
Job done we go down to the hotel. Now San Antonio was home to the Alamo, so off we all went to see this US icon. A bit disappointing as it was smaller than we had pictured and was surrounded by some tatty buildings. Still another tick on the board.
What did not disappoint was the Gate Guardian. It was a cargo version of the B36 bomber of which only a few were built. Even in that large expanse of the base it still looked enormous. Wonder if it still exists ?
Job done we go down to the hotel. Now San Antonio was home to the Alamo, so off we all went to see this US icon. A bit disappointing as it was smaller than we had pictured and was surrounded by some tatty buildings. Still another tick on the board.
What did not disappoint was the Gate Guardian. It was a cargo version of the B36 bomber of which only a few were built. Even in that large expanse of the base it still looked enormous. Wonder if it still exists ?
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Well, I never thought I'd have any knowledge I could post in this superb thread (thanks, all) but here goes:
AA62, the Convair XC-99 was developed from the B-36, and was the largest piston engined land-based aircraft ever built. (Hughes Spruce Goose trumps it as a flying boat). Only one was built, and it still exists at the USAF Museum at Wright-Patt, having been moved there from Kelly in sections about 10 years ago.
AA62, the Convair XC-99 was developed from the B-36, and was the largest piston engined land-based aircraft ever built. (Hughes Spruce Goose trumps it as a flying boat). Only one was built, and it still exists at the USAF Museum at Wright-Patt, having been moved there from Kelly in sections about 10 years ago.
DaveW,
welcome and glad you are enjoying our memories of the 'K'. It must have been an interesting job moving an a/c that size that distance. Hats off to the USAF.
welcome and glad you are enjoying our memories of the 'K'. It must have been an interesting job moving an a/c that size that distance. Hats off to the USAF.
Chickenlover,
AH coming to Hercs from Harriers reminds me that in the early days at least there was a steady trickle of pilots from the Herc doing the FJ conversion. At least one did very well and I think ended up commanding a FJ station. Another of Obi Wan's compatriots I believe.
AH coming to Hercs from Harriers reminds me that in the early days at least there was a steady trickle of pilots from the Herc doing the FJ conversion. At least one did very well and I think ended up commanding a FJ station. Another of Obi Wan's compatriots I believe.