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Aircraft Trading...

Posted by Joe Scheil on Sun Dec 08, 2002 07:08:47 PM

In reply top Re: Wing failure posted by david j burke on Sun Dec 08, 2002 05:54:41 PM

: Joe - Interestingly the wing failure of the C-130 happened
: within 6 inches of the original wing failure crack found
: on the Lockheed test specimen all those years ago. The cra
: ck itself was under a doubler and as such very hard to fin
: d.
I know a little about the cracks found, as one of my copilots changed out the first wing for that same aircraft when it cracked a few years ago. Seems the USAF felt that the wing was too weak and stopped using them for that reason. Too bad they didn't let on to us. The A model C-130 is what got Pensacola in so much trouble before...The trading and resale of surplus C-130's gave that program a black eye. The stored aircraft at DM are not flying or in some cases flyable ever, but they are an important part of the C-130 fleet. The USAF saves millions grabbing chunks from stored aircraft rather than asking Lockheed. Any removal of a servicable aircraft just as well can come off the frontline. Because it will have to be replaced by another parts bird. As for what I would like to see and what will happen, who knows. Its a good idea, but with a real solid late C-130 being worth 15-20 M to the govt, can they afford to give 10-15 aircraft to a high risk activity? At best the C-130 and P-3 tankers are sub par solutions to the problem. The best Tankers ever built by anyone are flying in BC. They have never lost a fire, carry 2 and 1/2 TIMES a C-130 and P-3 and are cheaper, longer ranged, AND HAVE NEVER LOST A FIRE.

All hail the mighty JRM MARS! Now why don't we build turbine versions of those?

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