The Curse of the Cargomaster

Air and Space Magazine ^ | 9/01/2010 | John Sotham

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

They’d fly it again, if they had the chance. Among the group gathered at Delaware’s Dover Air Force Base, there’s a man for every crew station at the ready. They flew, maintained, navigated, and sometimes cursed one of the least understood aircraft in the history of the U.S. Air Force, the Douglas C-133 Cargomaster. In a conference room at Dover’s Air Mobility Command Museum, papers are shuffled—Where was that article from the base news? Smudgy documents, their margins trailing off the page from copy-of-a-copy-of-a-copy Xeroxing, are offered. A small stack of VHS tapes forms a centerpiece. The men, some slowed by age and ailment, chatter and argue. A clamor of “There I was” stories fills the room, accompanied by hand flying. Then, with quiet authority, Hank Baker, a retired C-133 flight engineer, holds his hand up, as if to take an oath.

[AlaskaErik]

Interesting aircraft. I did all my time in the C-130. Now there is a damn fine airplane.

[rockinqsranch]

bflr, and PING!

[MichaelP]

I once flew in one from Ft Campbell, Ky to McCoy AFB, Orlando, Fl. It took what seemed like 7 hours and was so noisy and bouncy that I flew back commercial. I'm sure it hauled troops and equipment well, but it was no airliner!

Mike

[Eye of Unk]

Just a little bit of a side thought and some humor, what does everyone think of the sizable amount of Korean Air commercials lately? The girls from other countries and such.

I am assuming its broadcasted outside Alaska as well but I see that commercial almost every 20 minutes, especially on FOX.

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

Ah yes, what memories that brings back.

Served as Crew Chief on ol' Shakey in 1963 - 66 both at Tachikawa, Japan and Hickam AFB in Hawaii.

What a pig and miserable SOB to work on, but we loved the ol' gal just the same

A spark plug change (all 56) was an all day job and being able to read the Sperry Engine Analyzer was an accomplishment in itself

Traveled to just about every conceivable location in the Far East, S.E. Asia and throughout the Pacific on those old Birds and to this day (after almost 50 years) still remember a lot about her, the engines, systems, etc.

[Gritty]

C-133

[ConservativeWarrior]

Isn’t that a C-124 in the bottom photo?

[Oztrich Boy]

C-124 Globemaster (with spark plugs)

C-133 Cargomaster (with new fangled turbines)