Ac130 Puff The Magic Dragon
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. Lockheed AC-130A 'Spectre' GunshipThe 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.SPECIFICATIONSSpan: 132 ft. 7 in.Length: 96 ft.
– The original and unofficial nickname for the AC-130 gunship was “Puff the Magic Dragon” or “Puff.”– The AC-130H Spectre was introduced in 1969 and was used for 46 years in service; the longest service time of any AC gunship.– Air Force Special Operations Command plans to install combat lasers on AC-130 gunships within a year. The fixed-wing AC-130 gunship started as a “Gooney Bird” and became the terror. Puff, the Magic Dragon! When Puff unleashed that first six-second burst. The birth of the gunship: When Puff ruled the night by NEWSREP March 23, 2017 Using side-firing weapons on aircraft can be traced back to 1927, when a concept was demonstrated by fixing a.30 caliber machine gun to the side of a biplane and flying a simple maneuver known as a pylon turn.
10 in.Weight: 124,200 lbs. Max.Armament: Two 7.62 miniguns plus two 20mm and two 40mm cannonEngines: Four Allison T-56-A-9D turboprops of 3,750 equivalent shaft horsepower ea.Serial number: 54-1630PERFORMANCEMax. Speed: 380 mph/330 knotsCruising speed: 335 mph/291 knotsRange: 2,500 statute miles/2,172 nautical milesService ceiling: 33,000 ft.More AC-130A images. Click the above links for additional views of Azreal. 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. 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 suiteconsisting 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.
AC-130H: US$46.4 million (1992)AC-130J: US$115 million (2016)AC-130U: US$210 million (2016)Developed fromThe Lockheed AC-130 is a heavily armed, long-endurance variant of the transport. It carries a wide array of anti-ground oriented weapons that are integrated with sophisticated,. Unlike other military fixed-wing aircraft, the AC-130 relies on visual targeting. Because its large profile and low operating altitudes (around 7,000 ft) make it an easy target, it usually flies missions at night.The airframe is manufactured by, while is responsible for the conversion into a gunship and for aircraft support. Developed during the as 'Project Gunship II', the AC-130 replaced the, or 'Gunship I'. The sole operator is the, which uses the AC-130U Spooky and AC-130W Stinger II variants for close air support, and, with the upgraded AC-130J Ghostrider entering service. Close air support roles include supporting ground troops, escorting, and urban operations.
Air interdiction missions are conducted against planned targets and targets of opportunity. Force protection missions include defending and other facilities.
AC-130Us are based at, Florida, while AC-130Ws are based at,; gunships can be deployed worldwide. The squadrons are part of the (AFSOC), a component of the (SOCOM).The AC-130 has an cabin, with the weaponry mounted to fire from the of the fuselage.
During an attack, the gunship performs a, flying in a large circle around the target, therefore being able to fire at it for far longer than in a conventional attack. The AC-130H Spectre was armed with two 20 mm cannons, one cannon, and one 105 mm; after 1994, the 20 mm cannons were removed. The upgraded AC-130U Spooky has a single 25 mm cannon in place of the Spectre's two 20 mm cannons, an improved fire control system, and increased ammunition capacity. The new AC-130J was based on the special operations tanker. The AC-130W Stinger II is a modified C-130H with upgrades including a precision strike package. AC-130H Spectre near Hurlburt Field, Florida in 1988In 1967, JC-130A 54-1626 was selected for conversion into the prototype AC-130A gunship (Project Gunship II). The modifications were done at by the Aeronautical Systems Division.
A direct view was installed in the forward door, an early device in the forward part of the left wheel well, with miniguns and rotary cannons fixed facing down and aft along the left side. The prototype was handcrafted by Wing Commander Tom Pinkerton at the USAF Avionics Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB. Flight testing of the prototype was performed primarily at, followed by further testing and modifications. By September 1967, the aircraft was certified ready for combat testing and was flown to, for a 90-day test program. The AC-130 was later supplemented by the (Project Gunship III), which later proved to be underpowered.Seven more were converted to the 'Plain Jane' configuration like the AC-130 prototype in 1968, and one aircraft received the 'Surprise Package' refit in 1969. The Surprise Package upgrade included the latest rotary autocannons and but no 7.62 mm close support armament. The Surprise Package configuration served as a test bed for the avionic systems and armament for the AC-130E.
In 1970, ten more AC-130As were acquired under the 'Pave Pronto' project. In the summer of 1971, Surprise Package AC-130s were converted to the Pave Pronto configuration and assumed the new nickname of 'Thor'.
Conversion of C-130Es into AC-130Es for the 'PAVE Spectre' project followed. Regardless of their project names the aircraft were more commonly referred to by the squadron's call sign 'Spectre'.Recent and planned upgrades. AC-130U armed with two 30 mm Bushmasters, 2007In 2007, (AFSOC) initiated a program to upgrade the armament of AC-130s.
The test program planned for the 25 mm GAU-12/U and 40 mm Bofors cannon on the AC-130U gunships to be replaced with two Mk 44 cannons. In 2007, the Air Force modified four AC-130U gunships as test platforms for the Bushmasters.
These were referred to as AC-130U Plus 4 or AC-130U+4. AFSOC, however, canceled its plans to install the new cannons on its fleet of AC-130Us. It has since removed the guns and re-installed the original 40 mm and 25 mm cannons and returned the planes to combat duty. Brigadier General Bradley A. Heithold, AFSOC's director of plans, programs, requirements, and assessments, said on 11 August 2008 that the effort was canceled because of problems with the Bushmaster's accuracy in tests 'at the altitude we were employing it'. There were also schedule considerations that drove the decision, he said.There were also plans to possibly replace the 105 mm with a 120 mm, and to give the AC-130 a standoff capability using either the missile, the (based on the rocket), or the.In 2010, the Air Force awarded a $61 million contract to add precision strike packages to eight special-mission aircraft to give them a gunship-like attack capability; such-equipped MC-130Ws are known as Dragon Spears. Air Force Special Operations Command is arming these aircraft to relieve the high operational demands on AC-130 gunships until new AC-130Js enter service.
The MC-130W Dragon Spear was renamed AC-130W Stinger II in 2011. The precision strike packages consist of a 30 mm gun and several (PGMs). Rails are mounted on the out-board pylon of the wing for four Hellfire missiles, SDBs, or under each. 10 Common Launch Tubes (CLTs) are mounted on the rear ramp to fire Griffin A missiles; additional missiles are stored in the aircraft that can be reloaded in flight. CLTs are able to fire other small munitions able to fit inside the 6 in (15 cm)-diameter, 48 in (1.2 m)-long tubes.The Air Force launched an initiative in 2011 to acquire 16 new gunships based on new-built special operations tankers outfitted with a 'precision strike package' to give them an attack capability, requesting $1.6 billion from Fiscal Years 2011 through 2015. This would increase the size of the gunship fleet to 33 aircraft, a net increase of eight after the planned retirement of eight aging AC-130Hs.
The first aircraft would be bought in Fiscal 2012, followed by two in Fiscal 2013, five in Fiscal 2014, and the final eight in Fiscal 2015. The decision to retain the C-130 came after funding for 16 was removed from the fiscal 2010 budget.The AC-130J will follow the path of the program.
On 9 January 2013, the Air Force began converting the first MC-130J Combat Shadow II into an AC-130J Ghostrider and delivered it to AFSOC on 29 July 2015. The first AC-130J gunships achieved initial operational capability (IOC) on 30 September 2017. The AC-130J has two planned increments: the Block 10 configuration includes an internal 30 mm gun, small diameter bombs, and laser-guided missiles launched from the rear cargo door; and Block 20 configuration adds a 105 mm cannon, large aircraft, wing-mounted Hellfire missiles, and radio-frequency countermeasures.The Air Force decided to add a 105 mm cannon to the AC-130J in addition to the 30 mm cannon and smart bombs, the shells being more accurate and cheaper than dropping SDBs. AFSOC is interested in adding a to the AC-130J by 2020, similar to the previous program. It is to produce a beam of up to 120 kW, or potentially even 180–200 kW, weigh about 5,000 lb (2,300 kg), defensively destroy anti-aircraft missiles, and offensively engage communications towers, boats, cars, and aircraft.
However, laser armament may only be installed on a few aircraft rather than the entire AC-130J fleet; the laser will be mounted on the side in place of the 30 mm cannon. Other potential additions include an to perform airborne crowd control, and small from the common launch tubes to provide remote video feed and coordinates to weapons operators through cloud cover. Called the Tactical Off-board Sensor (TOBS), the drones would be expendable and fly along a pre-programmed orbit to verify targets the aircraft can't see itself because of bad weather or standing off from air defenses. AFSOC will initially utilize the small UAV for the TOBS mission, as it is an design with a one-hour endurance, but plans to fulfill the role with a new drone capable of a four-hour endurance by 2019.The Air Force was also interested in acquiring a glide bomb that can be launched from the common launch tubes capable of hitting ground vehicles traveling as fast as 120 km/h (70 mph) while above 10,000 ft (3,000 m). In June 2016, was awarded a contract by SOCOM to integrate its tactical munition onto the AC-130. Designated the, the weapon weighs 27 kg (60 lb) and is armed with a 16 kg (35 lb) blast-fragmentation warhead that can detonate by direct impact or at a pre-selected height; despite being smaller, being unpowered allows more volume for its warhead to be heavier than those on the Hellfire and Griffin A missiles, 9 kg (20 lb) and 5.9 kg (13 lb) respectively.
Guidance is provided by a GPS receiver with anti-spoofing software and four Distributed Aperture Seeker (DASALS) apertures adapted from the for terminal guidance. Approval for fielding occurred in early 2017. Dynetics was awarded a contract to deliver an initial batch of 70 SGMs in June 2017, with plans to buy up to 1,000. The SGM can travel 20 mi (32 km). Future By 2018, AC-130 gunships will have been providing close air support for special operators for 50 years. Although the aircraft have been kept relevant through constant upgrades to their weaponry, sensor packages, and countermeasures, they are not expected to be survivable in future non-permissive environments due to their high signatures and low airspeeds.
Military analysts, such as the, have suggested that AFSOC invest in more advanced technologies to fill the role to operate in future contested combat zones, including a mix of low-cost disposable unmanned and stealthy strike aircraft. Underside of an AC-130U Spooky Overview The AC-130 is a heavily armed long-endurance aircraft carrying an array of anti-ground oriented weapons that are integrated with sophisticated sensors, navigation,. It is capable of delivering precision firepower or area-saturation fire over a target area over a long period of time, at night or in adverse weather. The sensor suite consists of a television sensor, sensor,. These sensors allow the gunship to visually or electronically identify friendly ground forces and targets in most weather conditions.The AC-130U is equipped with the, a for long-range target detection and identification. The gunship's navigational devices include and a. The AC-130U employs technologies developed in the 1990s which allow it to attack two targets simultaneously.
It has twice the capacity of the AC-130H. Although the AC-130U conducts some operations in daylight, most of its combat missions are conducted at night. The AC-130H's unit cost is US$132.4 million, and the AC-130U's cost is US$190 million (fiscal 2001 dollars).
Upgrades. AC-130U sensor suiteDuring the Vietnam War era, the various AC-130 versions following the Pave Pronto modifications were equipped with a system called Black Crow (designated AN/ASD-5), a highly sensitive passive device with a located in the left-front nose that could pick up localized deviations in the normally used to detect submerged. The Black Crow system was into the targeting computers of the AC-130A/E/H, enabling the detection of the unshielded of North Vietnamese trucks hidden under dense jungle foliage along the. It could also detect hand-held transmitter signals of air controllers on the ground to identify and locate targets.The PGM-38/U enhanced 25 mm round was created to expand the AC-130U gunships' mission in standoff range and survivability for its 25 mm gun. This round is a combination of the existing PGU-25 HEI and a M758 fuze designated as FMU-151/B to meet the MIL-STD-1316. The FMU-151 has an improved arming delay with multi-sensitive range. An AC-130 in Southern Laos circa 1970The AC-130 gunship first arrived in South Vietnam on 21 September 1967 under the Gunship II program and began combat operations over Laos and South Vietnam that year.
In June 1968, AC-130s were deployed to AB near Saigon for support against the. By 30 October 1968, enough AC-130 Gunship IIs arrived to form a squadron, the (SOS) of the (TFW), at, Thailand.
It was at this time that the C-130A gunship was designated the AC-130A.On 18 August 1968, an AC-130 gunship flying an armed reconnaissance mission in Vietnam's III Corps was diverted to support the. The ground commander quickly assessed the accurate fire and capabilities of this weapon system and called for fire on his own perimeter when the Viet Cong attempted to bridge the wire on the west side of his position.By December 1968, most AC-130s flew under escort (to protect the gunship against heavy and concentrated AAA fire) from the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron, normally three Phantoms per Gunship. On 24 May 1969, the first Spectre gunship was lost to enemy fire.In late 1969, under code name 'Surprise Package', 56-0490 arrived with solid-state laser-illuminated low-light-level-TV with a companion YAG, an improved (FLIR) sensor, video recording for TV and FLIR, an, and a prototype. The remaining AC-130s were refitted with upgraded similar equipment in the summer of 1970, and then redeployed to Ubon RTAFB. On 25 October 1971, the first 'Cadillac' gunship, the AC-130E arrived in Vietnam. On 17 February 1972, the first 105 mm cannon arrived for service with Spectre and was installed on Gunship 570.
It was used from mid-February until the aircraft received battle damage to its right flap. The cannon was switched to Gunship 571 and was used until 30 March when the aircraft was shot down.Summary of AC-130 Spectre gunships lost in the Vietnam War 1969–1972DateGunship modelUnitCause of loss / remarks24 May 1969AC-130A16th (SOS)Downed by 37 mm (AA) at 6,500 feet while on for enemy trucks.22 April 1970AC-130A16th SOSDowned while hunting by 37 mm AA28 March 1972AC-130A16th SOSDowned while truck hunting along the by a (SAM). Named ' Prometheus'.30 March 1972AC-130E16th SOSDowned while truck hunting by 57 mm AA at 7,500 feet. The 'E' model was armed with a 105 mm.
This (SAR) mission was 'overshadowed by the rescue mission.' 18 June 1972AC-130A16th SOSDowned by a shoulder fired SAM which struck the #3 engine and blew off the wing.21-22 December 1972AC-130A16th SOSDowned while truck hunting along the Ho Chi Minh trail at 7,800 feet by 37 mm AA.On 28 January 1973, the went into effect, marking the end of Spectre operations in Vietnam. Spectre was still needed and active in the region, supporting operations in Laos and Cambodia. On 22 February 1973, American offensive operations in Laos ended and the gunships became totally committed to operations in the Cambodian conflict.On 12 April 1975, the were threatening the capital of and AC-130s were called on to help in, the final evacuation of American and allied officials from Phnom Penh before it was conquered by the communists. The AC-130 was also over Saigon on 30 April 1975 to protect the final evacuation in. Spectres were also called in when the was seized, on the open sea, by Khmer Rouge soldiers and sailors on 15 May 1975.Six AC-130s and 52 air crew members were lost during the war.
AC-130s destroyed more than 10,000 trucks and participated in many crucial close air support missions in Vietnam.Cold War and later action. AC-130A performs a left-handWith the conclusion of hostilities in Southeast Asia in the mid-1970s, the AC-130H became the sole gunship in the regular Air Force, home based at, Florida, while the AC-130A fleet was transferred to the 's 919th Tactical Airlift Group (919 TAG) at Auxiliary Field #3/, Florida. With the transition to the AC-130A, the 919 TAG was then redesignated as the (919 SOG).In the late 1970s, when the AC-130H fleet was first being modified for in-flight refueling capability, a demonstration mission was planned and flown from Hurlburt Field, Florida, non-stop, to conduct a 2-hour live-fire mission over Empire Firing Range in the Republic of Panama, then return home.
This 13-hour mission with two in-flight refuelings from tankers proved the validity of flying long-range missions outside the to attack targets then return to home base without intermediate stops.AC-130s from both the and Special Operations Squadrons have been deployed in nearly every conflict the United States has been involved in, officially and unofficially, since the end of the Vietnam War.In July 1979, AC-130H crews deployed to, Panama, as a precaution against possible hostile actions against American personnel during the. New time aloft and non-stop distance records were subsequently set by a 16th SOS 2-ship AC-130H formation flight that departed Hurlburt Field on 13 November 1979 and landed on 15 November at, a distance of 7,200 nautical miles (13,300 km) and 29 hours 43 minutes non-stop, refueling four times in-flight. Refueling support for the Guam deployment was provided by KC-135 crews from the 305th Air Refueling Wing from, Indiana.In November 1979, four AC-130H gunships flew nonstop from Hurlburt Field to Anderson AFB, Guam, because of the. At Guam, AC-130H crews developed communications-out/lights-out refueling procedures for later employment by trial-and-error. This deployment with the 1 SOW/CC as Task Force commander was directed from the office of the CJCS for fear that Iranian militants could begin executing American Embassy personnel who had been. One early option considered AC-130H retaliatory punitive strikes deep within Iran. Later gunship flights exceeded the 1979 Hurlburt-to-Guam flight.
Upon return in March 1980, the four planes soon found themselves in Egypt to support the. Smoke visible from during twilight operations in 1988During in Grenada in 1983, AC-130s suppressed enemy air defense systems and attacked ground forces enabling the assault of the via and air-land of friendly forces. The AC-130 aircrew earned the Award for the mission.The AC-130Hs of the unit maintained an ongoing rotation to Howard AB, Panama, monitoring activities in El Salvador and other Central American points of interest, with rules of engagement eventually permitting attacks on targets.
This commitment of Maintainers and crews started in 1983 and lasted until 1990. The AC-130 is considered to have hastened the end of the in the 1980s. Crews flew undercover missions from Honduras and attacked guerrilla camps and concentrations. AC-130s also had a primary role during the (named Operation Just Cause) in 1989, when they destroyed headquarters and numerous command-and-control facilities, and provided close air support for US ground troops. Aircrews earned the for the most meritorious flight of the year, and the Tunner Award.Gulf War and the 1990s. USAF AC-130 in combat operationDuring the of 1990–91 (Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm), Regular Air Force and Air Force Reserve AC-130s provided close air support and force protection (air base defense) for ground forces, and battlefield interdiction. The primary interdiction targets were early warning/ (EW/GCI) sites along the southern border of.
At its standard altitude of 12,000 feet, the aircraft had a proven ability to engage moving ground targets. The first gunship to enter the helped stop a southbound Iraqi armored column on 29 January 1991. One day later, three more gunships provided further aid to participating in the operation. The gunships attacked Iraqi positions and columns moving south to reinforce their positions north of the city.Despite the threat of (SAMs) and increasing visibility during the early morning hours of 31 January 1991, one AC-130H, AF Serial No. 69-6567, call-sign Spirit 03, opted to stay to continue to protect the Marines. A lone Iraqi with a shot Spirit 03 down, and all 14 crew members died.The military has used AC-130 gunships during the humanitarian operations in ( and ) in 1992–93, in Haiti in 1994.
AC-130s took part in in Liberia in 1996 and in in 1997, the evacuation of American from.AC-130s took part in the missions in and during the 1990s.The AC-130U gunship set a new record for the longest sustained flight by any C-130 on 22 and 23 October 1997, when two AC-130U gunships flew 36 hours nonstop from, Florida to (Daegu), South Korea, being refueled seven times in the air by KC-135 tankers. The two gunships took on 410,000 lb (186,000 kg) of fuel. Gunships also were part of the buildup of U.S. Forces in 1998 to compel to allow weapons inspections.War on Terror. An AC-130U releasingThe U.S.
Has used gunships with deployments to the (Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan) (2001–2014), and (Operation Iraqi Freedom) (2003–11). AC-130 strikes were directed by special forces on known Taliban locations during the early days of the war in Afghanistan. Special Operations Forces are using the AC-130 to support its operations. The day after arriving in Afghanistan, the AC-130s attacked Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces near the city of Konduz and were directly responsible for the city's surrender the next day. On 26 November 2001, Spectres were called in to put down at the prison fort of.
The 16 SOS flew missions over Mazar-i-Sharif, Kandahar, Shkin, Asadabad, Bagram, Baghran, Tora Bora, and virtually every other part of Afghanistan. The Spectre participated in countless operations within Afghanistan, performing on-call close air support and armed reconnaissance. In March 2002, three AC-130 Spectres provided 39 crucial combat missions in support of in Afghanistan. During the intense fighting, the planes fired more than 1,300 40 mm and 1,200 105 mm rounds.Close air support was the main mission of the AC-130 in Iraq. Night after night, at least one AC-130 was in the air to fulfill one or more air support requests (ASRs). A typical mission had the AC–130 supporting a single brigade's ASRs followed by aerial refueling and another two hours with another brigade or SOF team.
The use of AC-130s in places like Fallujah, urban settings where insurgents were among crowded populations of non-combatants, was criticized by human rights groups. AC-130s were also used for intelligence gathering with their sophisticated long-range video, infrared and radar sensors. In 2007, US Special Operations forces also used the AC-130 in attacks on suspected militants in Somalia.There were eight AC-130H and seventeen AC-130U aircraft in active-duty service as of July 2010. In March 2011, the U.S.
Air Force deployed two AC-130U gunships to take part in, the, which eventually came under as. External video on fromBy September 2013, 14 MC-130W Dragon Spear aircraft have been converted to AC-130W Stinger II gunships. The Stinger gunships have been deployed to Afghanistan to replace the aging AC-130H aircraft and provide an example for the new AC-130J Ghostrider. Modifications began with crews cutting holes in the plane to make room for weapons, and adding kits and bomb bases for laser-guided munitions.
Crews added a 105 mm cannon, 20-inch infrared and electro-optical sensors, and the ability to carry 250-pound bombs on the wings.On 15 November 2015, two days after the by, AC-130s and attack aircraft destroyed a convoy of over 100 ISIL-operated oil tanker trucks in Syria. The attacks were part of an intensification of the U.S.-led called (named after the original during, a failed attempt to raid German oil fields that resulted in heavy aircraft and aircrew loss) in an attempt to cut off oil smuggling as a source of funding for the group.On 3 October 2015, an AC-130 mistakenly the hospital in. In five separate runs, the gunship struck the hospital that was erroneously identified as the source of attacks on coalition members. Subsequent inquiries led to punishment of 16 military personnel and cited 'human error' as the root cause.On 30 September 2017, the Air Force declared the AC-130J Ghostrider had achieved initial operational capability (IOC), with six gunships having been delivered; the aircraft is planned to reach full operational capability by 2023 with a total of 37 gunships delivered.
The J-variant is lighter and more fuel efficient than previous versions, able to fly at 416 mph (669 km/h) with a range of 3,000 mi (4,800 km) and service ceiling of 28,000 ft (8,500 m). Variants AC-130A Spectre (Project Gunship II, Surprise Package, Pave Pronto) Conversions of C-130As; 19 completed; transferred to in 1975, retired in 1995. AC-130E Spectre (Pave Spectre, Pave Aegis) Conversions of C-130Es; 11 completed; 10 upgraded to AC-130H configuration. AC-130H Spectre Upgraded AC-130E aircraft; 8 completed; last aircraft retired in 2015.
AC-130U Spooky Operational aircraft (active duty USAF); 17 in service. AC-130W Stinger II (formerly MC-130W Dragon Spear) Conversions of 14 MC-130Ws (active duty USAF). AC-130J Ghostrider Based on MC-130J; 32 aircraft to be procured to replace AC-130H. Operators. On AC-130A AF Serial No. 53-3129 at the USAF Armament Museum, Eglin AFB, FloridaOne of the first seven AC-130A aircraft deployed to was AF serial no. 53-3129, named First Lady in November 1970.
This aircraft was a conversion of the first production C-130. On 25 March 1971, it took an hit in the belly just aft of the nose gear wheel well over the in Laos. The 37 mm shell destroyed everything below the crew deck and barely missed striking two crew members. The pilot was able to crash land the aircraft safely. In 1975, after the conclusion of US involvement in the Vietnam war, it was transferred to the, where it served with the of the. In 1980, the aircraft was upgraded from the original three-bladed propellers to the quieter four-bladed propellers and was eventually retired in late 1995.
Ac 130 Attack
The retirement also marked an end to the flying the AC-130A. The aircraft now sits on display in the final Air Force Reserve Command configuration with grey paint, black markings, and the four-bladed Hamilton Sunstrand 54H60-91 props at the at, Florida, USA.A second aircraft, AF serial no.
56-0509, named the Ultimate End, was originally accepted as an C-130A by the Air Force on 28 February 1957and modified to the AC-130A configuration on 27 July 1970. The aircraft participated in the Vietnam War and the of the. Ultimate End demonstrated the durability of the C-130 after surviving hits in five places by 37 mm anti-aircraft artillery on 12 December 1970, extensive left wing leading edge damage on 12 April 1971 and a 57 mm round damaging the belly and injuring one crewman on 4 March 1972. 'Ultimate End' was reassigned to the 's at Auxiliary Field No.3 / on 17 June 1975, where it continued in service until retired in the fall 1994 and transferred to 's Heritage Air Park at, Florida. While assigned to the, Ultimate End served in Operations JUST CAUSE in Panama, in Kuwait and Iraq, and UPHOLD DEMOCRACY in Haiti.
After 36 years and seven months of service, 24 years as a gunship, Ultimate End retired from active service on 1 October 1994. It made its last flight from to on 20 October 1994. The Spectre Association dedicated 'Ultimate End' (which served with the 16 SOS in Vietnam) on 4 May 1995. Lt Col Michael Byers, then 16 SOS commander, represented the active-duty gunship force and Clyde Gowdy of the Spectre Association represented all Spectre personnel past and present for the unveiling of a monument at the aircraft and the dedication as a whole.A third AC-130A, AF serial no.
54-1630, is on display in the Cold War Gallery at the at, Ohio. Named Azrael for the in who severs the soul from the body, this aircraft figured prominently in the closing hours of Operation Desert Storm.
On 26 February 1991, Coalition ground forces were driving the Iraqi Army out of Kuwait. With an Air Force Reserve crew called to active duty, Azrael was sent to the (Highway 80) between and, Iraq, to intercept the convoys of tanks, trucks, buses, and cars fleeing the battle. Facing and surface-to-air missiles and 37 mm and 57 mm radar-guided anti-aircraft artillery the crew attacked and destroyed or disabled most of the convoys. Azrael was also assigned to the and retired to the museum in October 1995.Another AC-130A, AF serial no. 54-1626, the original prototype AC-130 named 'Gunship II' is on display at the outdoor Air Park at the at, Ohio. This aircraft served in Southeast Asia from 1967 to 1972, then served in JC-130A test configuration. It was transferred to the National Museum of the United States Air Force in 1976, and converted back to AC-130A configuration in the late 1990s.AC-130A serial no.
54-1623, c/n 3010, named 'Ghost Rider' served in Southeast Asia and later conflicts until being retired in 1997 to,. Ghost Rider eventually was transferred and displayed at the Aviation Wing Museum at, Georgia.Specifications.
^ – Cannon.AF.mil, 26 May 2015. ^. Retrieved 9 December 2017. ^.
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