AC-130 "Puff the Magic Dragon"

[Dirk McQuickly]

In case you haven't seen a picture of one of these in flight, here's a great image from The Aviation Zone.

Have any FREEpers seen this baby up close?

[Nick Thimmesch]

No, I ain't never seen one of these and hopefully, I never will have to in person, but it sure is beautiful!!!

[Katie_Colic]

Have any FREEpers seen this baby up close?

Some Afghanis have but I doubt they will be talking about it!

[lodwick]

1967 - 1969 I worked at LTV installing the gattling-guns. Awesome firepower, and I suppose they've updated the firepower since then. Nice pic, thanks.

[jsraggmann]

The taliban just opened the whole can of whup-ass!

[Galtoid]

It is so wonderful being superior to everyone else on the planet!

[opbuzz]

I've been in it, never flown tho. Did some nightime fire adjustment with it. At night you can hear the whirs and booms, then you see the results. Much better with NVGs.

[Blueflag]

Dirk--

You're likely to get some mild flaming on your post, as this is about the tenth post where the SPECTRE (C-130/H) and the SPOOKY C-130/U) are referred to as "Puff the Magic Dragon" which began life as a C-47 / DC-3.

http://www.theaviationzone.com/facts/ac130.htm

Otherwise, thanks for the cool pic.

[SLB]

I am not an Air Force type, but I think if you check you will find the AC-130 is a "Spectre" and the original AC-47 used in Vietnam was "Puff."

[Dirk McQuickly]

Thanks for the clarification. Here is an FAQ on tha AC-130 posted by The Times of London

[Dirk McQuickly]

Thank you -- I stand corrected.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"1967 - 1969 I worked at LTV installing the gattling-guns."

And YOU did a great job!
I saw Puff in action many a time.
At night we would get within 1/4-1/2 mile off shore and light up the night sky with starshells
so Puff could come in for strafing runs.

[Blueflag]

What that FAQ does NOT state, is that the AC-130 U/H leaves complete devastation and destruction in its wake, and can hit a vehicle on one side of the street while troops on the other side perform an extraction from a hot LZ. Like when you snatch a foreign minister out from under the nose of the (now dead) troops guarding him.

The pilot flies the aircraft in a very precise arc while the weapons guys pick AND DESTROY 'surgical' targets, or blanket an area for suppression and destruction. The Spectre and Spooky can be both discriminate and indiscriminate, but always devastating.

[deport]

Lockheed AC-130A "Spectre" Gunship

The crew of this AC-130A "Spectre" gunship, named Azrael--Angel of Death, (Azrael, in the Koran, was the angel of death who severed the soul from the body) displayed courage and heroism during the closing hours of Desert Storm. On February 26, 1991, the allied ground forces were driving the Iraqi army out of Kuwait. The crew of Azrael, Spectre #54-1630, was sent to the Al Jahra highway between Kuwait City and Basrah, Iraq, to intercept the convoys of tanks, trucks, buses, and cars that were fleeing the battle. Facing numerous enemy batteries of SA-6 and SA-8 missiles, and 37mm and 57mm radar-guided anti-aircraft artillery, the crew attacked the enemy skillfully, inflicting significant damage to the convoys. The crew's heroic efforts left much of the enemy's equipment destroyed or unserviceable, contributing to the defeat of the Iraqi forces. On February 28, 1991, Iraq agreed to a cease-fire.

During the 1950s the versatile C-130 Hercules was originally designed as an assault transport but was adapted for a variety of missions, including weather mapping and reconnaissance, mid-air space capsule recovery, search and rescue, ambulance service, drone launching, and mid-air refueling of helicopters. The C-130 could transport up to 92 combat troops and their gear or 45,000 pounds of cargo. Where facilities were inadequate, the Hercules could deliver cargo by parachute or by using the low altitude parachute extraction system (LAPES) without landing. The AC-130A "Spectre" is a C-130 that was converted to a side-firing gunship, primarily for night attacks against ground targets. In addition to its armament, it also possessed sensors, a target acquisition system, and a forward looking infra-red (FLIR) and lowlight television system.

The aircraft on display was assigned to the 919th Special Operations Wing (SOW) and was retired to the Museum in October 1995.

SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 132 ft. 7 in.
Length: 96 ft. 10 in.
Weight: 124,200 lbs. max.
Armament: Two 7.62 miniguns plus two 20mm and two 40mm cannon
Engines: Four Allison T-56-A-9D turboprops of 3,750 equivalent shaft horsepower ea.
Serial number: 54-1630

PERFORMANCE
Max. speed: 380 mph/330 knots
Cruising speed: 335 mph/291 knots
Range: 2,500 statute miles/2,172 nautical miles
Service ceiling: 33,000 ft.

More AC-130A images...

• The aircraft parked in the restoration area
• Front view
• Left forward fuselage detail
• The 7.62 miniguns
• The 20mm Cannon
• The 40mm Cannon

Click the above links for additional views of Azreal

[lodwick]

Did you ever see the 130 Light Plane? LTV also had that contract for "lighting up the night" for our troop. We had all the toys - Washington simply didn't have the stones.

Praying this time it will end differently, JL

[lodwick]

Thanks for the pics - brings back some memories of getting the planes back home, tying them down, placing the chocks, emptying the fuel cells, and then getting them patched-up and ready to fly and fight again.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Did you ever see the 130 Light Plane?"

Probably, but not sure.
And IT WILL be different this time!

[thucydides]

The newer version, the 130U, carries a 105mm cannon in addition to Gatling guns and 40mm Bofors. What is amazing is how they can mount such a high recoil weapon as the 105mm, which was originally a field artillery cannon. The effectiveness of artillery is very much a function of projectile velocity (in addition to explosive charge). Can you imagine the effect of the 105mm firing down at a 45 degree angle from a mile or so away, in effect point blank, at a target. With the computer aiming based on radar and infrared, it has first round accuracy. This is an unbelievably destructive weapons system.

[Robe]

I took my family to the “Freedom 2001” airshow at Pope AFB this spring. Among the various and sundry static displays were the AC-130/U gunship, a heavily armed Blackhawk (dont remember the designation) used for SAR. and another C-130 known as SNATCH JOB to the crew, all from Elgin AFB I believe.

The gun ship had 2 side firing 20mm Vulcan cannons (gatling guns) a 105mm cannon, and a 40 mm cannon , all individually targeted via a “suite”consisting of four crewmen sitting on the starboard side (right). Most of the monitors were covered with canvas covers and IDed by a crewman as “sensors”.

Snatch Job was VERY interesting, in the “Cargo Area” was configured to hold about 30 pax, in the ole “sling” seats. A VERY young crew chief explained that this a/c was designed to land and take off on about 1300ft. His quote” We can land this without any reference to the ground in any weather, day or night, we prefer the night” The cockpit had a impressive array of FLIR monitors.

I left feeling very proud of the crews, they were our very best and brightest, and VERY brave. My thoughts these days are with them, may God watch over them and keep them safe for they truly are the tip of the spear in this operation.

God Bless America

[XA-3Whaler]

This pic looks as though they maybe dropping flares used to fake out heat seekers. You should see it in action she'll really light up the sky.