Personal photos/text taken in/out of Vietnam combat zone from perspective of copilot on USAF C-130 345th Tactical Airlift Crew. Not just about the war, but also about the people/places of the region during 1972. This is where I got my first Nikon film SLR which turned into lifelong passion albeit now Canon digital SLR. The photos are recent digital scans from old 35mm slides wasting away in hot/cold attic for 40 years. Extensive Photoshop editing has been used to make them somewhat presentable.
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Wednesday, February 16, 2011
C-130 short final
C-130 on short final approach … SEA 1972. Although not the case here the C-130 was capable of landing on very short, unpaved runways. The large balloon-like tires and mammoth landing gear struts were designed to absorb high impact landings … often referred to as “assault” landings whereby the aircraft would basically be driven into the ground with slight flare at the runway threshold maintaining a fairly steep angle. Full flaps would be used to minimize approach speed. Hard braking and prop-reversal would accompany the touchdown as all prayed with end of runway quickly approaching. I recall a few assault landings with Captain Ed on dirt runways that were well under 3000 feet somewhere in Cambodia … quite a wild ride with clouds of red dust everywhere. Naturally gross weight of aircraft dependent on cargo load was always a major factor in calculating acceptable takeoff and landing distance limits. C-130s have even landed on aircraft carriers … very brave souls.
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Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteThe C-130E does not have speed brakes or spoilers. Deceleration on Assault landings is provided by maximum reverse and heavy braking only. Assault landings are flown at 1.15 Vstall instead of the normal Flaps 100 speeds of 1.3 Vstall. Some amount of landing flare is desirable during assaults.