C-141 approaches historical conclusion as last flight near

Air Force Links ^ | Sep 28, 2005 | Gene Vandeventer

[SandRat]

Deep freeze MCMURDO STATION, Antarctica -- In this 1997 photo, cargo is offloaded from a C-141B Starlifter from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., while parked on a runway of ice here. The cargo and passengers transported by C-141s as part of Operation Deep Freeze were flown from New Zealand to Antarctica in support of scientific research at McMurdo and the South Pole. (U.S. Air Force photo)

[SandRat]

Last flight of the C-141 nears.

[FormerACLUmember]

[Paleo Conservative]

Since its first flight Dec. 17, 1963, the C-141 Starlifter has enjoyed a prestigious history.

That was the 60th aniversary of the Wright brother's first powered flight at Kity Hawk, North Carolina.

[ChadGore]

140, 141 whatever it takes.

[Yasotay]

My "Cherry Blast" was out of a C-141 .... Battalion Mass Tac at night .... Abrams DZ .... Hooah RLTW!

[RightWinger]

My father was a flight engineer on a C-141, he retired 30 years ago, Charleston AFB, SC.

The 141 was a great plane and served this country well.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Here is a different photo and part of the reason they are being scrapped.

Here is the site

[wizr]

I remember pilots doing "touch and go" (learning to takeoff and land) C5A's at Travis around 1970. Biiiiiig bird.

[Knuckledragger]

Hope their maintenance shop is ready for some “hangar queens” as the C5’s currently have a 46% mission available rate, down from 50% a year or so ago. Engines are usually the weak link.

[pctech]

I flew on several C-141s while in the military. Noisy plane but very reliable. While the C-5A is definitely bigger and more graceful, the C-141 will be missed.

[elcid1970]

Gonna miss the Starlifter. Howcum the C-130 which was fielded a decade earlier than the C-141, gets to go on being modded and retrofitted forever?

I rode the wonderful C-17 Globemaster to Uzbekistan. Some said: notice the resemblance to the Hercules fuselage.

[elcid1970]

Gonna miss the Starlifter. Howcum the C-130 which was fielded a decade earlier than the C-141, gets to go on being modded and retrofitted forever?

I rode the wonderful C-17 Globemaster to Uzbekistan. Some said: notice the resemblance to the Hercules fuselage.

[jimtorr]

I think the wing-root cracks are the entire reason they are being scrapped at so young an age. They've seen a limited role since late 1992 because of that.

I had to fly on a KC-135 to accompany special, high-priority cargo in Feb. 1993 because the entire C-141 fleet was grounded for inspection. I did not enjoy that trip, I can tell you.

[jimtorr]

Do you know the date of the last flight, and if there will be any ceremonies? I'd like a chance to be there if there are.

[AlaskaErik]

Howcum the C-130 which was fielded a decade earlier than the C-141, gets to go on being modded and retrofitted forever?

Better plane...more versitle. First C-130 flew in August 1954 and plenty of them should still be flying when every last C-17, C-5, C-141, KC-135 and KC-10 are in the boneyard.

[AlaskaErik]

I had to fly on a KC-135 to accompany special, high-priority cargo in Feb. 1993 because the entire C-141 fleet was grounded for inspection. I did not enjoy that trip, I can tell you.

I'll second that. My absolute most miserable flight was in a KC-135. It was pure hell.

[pctech]

The C-130 is more of a multi-use aircraft. It has been retrofitted for numerous different missions from cargo to hurricane watchers. While it is uglier than the C-141, the C-130 has more uses than the C-141.

Though I would have loved to seen the C-130 retired instead, the C-141 has served her counrty with honor and I will take this moment to salute her!

[NCC-1701]

Not sure of the AW, but not on that list is the C-141 transfered the Apollo's 11, 12, & 14 crews while quarentined in the Mobile Quarentine Facility from Hawaii to Houston. Damn, I;ll miss seeing that plane. It's one of the sleekest planes to have flown.

[pctech]

I've flown on C-5, C-141, C-130, KC-135 tanker, KC-135-R tanker, and C-9 aircraft. By far the worst trip was on the orignial KC-135 tanker aircraft because the engines were SOOOOOOO loud. Once the Air Force remodeled the tankers with the newer engines the ride was better, the plane more powerful, and yes it still had the same ole web seats!