Seriously C-17 v. C-141 (Page 2 of 2)
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Originally Posted By TimeOnTarget: My unit was the first in Army history to fly NVGs in combat with fixed wing aircraft. We were getting hit pretty hard during the day flying around at 100 AGL. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/432675/CIMG0441_JPG-3672158.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/432675/CIMG0444_JPG-3672159.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/432675/CIMG0662_jpeg-3672160.JPG Wow! Looks like "fun"...and bad ass. Ed said they used to have rear facing video cameras, but took them out after just a short time. The crews were getting rattled over the videos of the tracer fire behind them. I always though the tracer fire in front was scarier, but that's just me. |
Dave Funk
Past President and now a Board of Directors member Iowa Firearms Coalition.
Past President and now a Board of Directors member Iowa Firearms Coalition.
USAF C-141B Instructor Flight Engineer (Retired)
Joined:
Sep 2008
Posts:
5350
EE: 100% (56)
WA, USA
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5600+ hours as a FE and Instructor FE in the Starlifter. There was a lot of politics involved in the purchase of the C-17s. Lockheed offered to re-wing and re-engine the C-141s, fix the wing boxes etc to supplement the C-17s but the AF wanted new. Not unusual, everyone loves new, but there was some shady dealings going on, some of which I got to experience. They were not mothballed long, the AF directed AMARC to crush them all up to make sure they couldn't come back. There was nothing really wrong with them that couldn't be fixed, but the will wasn't there. Think about it, the B-52 and C-130s are almost a decade older, yet they can keep them in the air. The Russian copy, the IL76, still flys today. The AF needed a new airlifter, and the C-5s were not reliable. C-17s were a good purchase, but they wanted more of them so they needed the 141s to go away so they could get them. |
2Peter3:9
| I flew from Ft. Knox to Barstow in a 141, going to NTC. Mid way through the flight they had an airborne operation, didn't know they were hitching a ride with us, we were a Mech BN. They opened the side doors and deployed the shields, then the dudes jumped out and we continued on our way. |
Looking for my first .45. Satin nickel Colt Combat Commander serial # 70SC85412 sold at a gun show in Louisville KY sometime in 1985. My Avatar, my sweet princess girly girl Maggie. Got a nice 15 years with her, miss her a lot.