Posted on 01/24/2011 6:08:46 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Boosting its Special Operations capabilities, the Indian Air Force will formally induct its first C-130 J ''Hercules'' transport aircraft on February 5.
Buzz up!The aircraft is likely to arrive in the country by theend of this month and would be formally inducted into the IAF at a ceremony at its home base Hindan air base near here on February 5, IAF officials said here.
The first of the six aircraft procured by India under a USD 970 million deal was handed over to IAF in mid-December.
The aircraft is expected to enhance IAF''s special missions capability along with transporting men and material.
India had purchased the aircraft under the US government''sForeign Military Sales route that includes an offset clauseunder which the firm will invest 30 per cent of the dealamount back in Indian defence industry.
The aircraft will be based at Hindan in Ghaziabad justoutside the capital, where the infrastructure for its deployment has been completed
(Excerpt) Read more at news.oneindia.in ...
One of the classic airframes of all time.
I've always said if I had the dough, my personal aircraft would be a fully modified and equipped C-130.
Fully equipped is a great idea!
Of course, I'm biased having earned my wings on an EC-130Q :)
You can equip them with just about anything that is...even the ability to Relay Emergency Action Messages from National Command Authorities to Strategic Forces at Sea.
There is something “soothing” to me about the sound of a piston engined aircraft at idle. Especially those big old WW2 radial engines such as on B17’s and B24’s etc.
On a recent visit to California, I had the pleasure of seeing a WWII C-47 transport being moved from it's home at the Lyon Air Museum at the John Wayne Int'l airport, out to the tarmac and readied for flight.
They had replaced one of the engines and needed to run it for about an hour so they took it out on a short flight.
I got to watch them fire it up, taxi it out and take off on a bright and beautiful day. What a sight.
I was speaking to one of the older gents who worked there and he said this plane had actually flown troops on D-Day.
My first memories of air planes was, as a kid, being taken to our small town air port and watching the regional air line come and go (c.1955). It was West Coast Airlines and, I did not know then, the DC3's they flew were likely re-furbished C-47's from WW2. The plane would arrive and taxi to the gate, leaving the outbound engine idling while unloading and loading. I've been in love with that sound ever since
We'd stand at the corner of the outside waiting area when the plane would make it's turn to taxi away and hang on to the chain-link fence for our life due to the passing prop wash.
http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/wc50/wc50-2.jpg
Hyannis Airport. Cape Cod. 1996. Summer vacation. Me, the Mrs. and our two kids standing at the chain link fence at the end of the main runway. I’ll never forget the look on my 6 year old son’s face as a Providence & Boston Airlines DC-3 on take off passed over our heads at no more than 100 feet. Loud and Proud. That’s the DC-3.
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