The Air Force brings online the latest variant of the C-130 . The C-130 has been in survice since 1956 and has variants to do damn near anything that you'd want to do on the battlefield (cargo mover, emissions jammer, large scale radio transmissions, attack plane, bomber).
My father serviced this airframe over 30 years ago.
back in college i participated in a few polar research projects (Greenland & Antartica) and the C-130 was the workhorse of choice. these C-130's were equiped with skis for snow/ice landings. weren't the most comfortable or quite planes, but had some power and manuverability for their size.
Armament for the H:
2 M61 20mm Vulcan Cannons firing 6000 rounds per minute
1 L60 40mm Bofors
1 M102 105mm Cannon
Armament for the U:
1 GAU-12 25mm
1 L60 40mm Bofors
1 M102 105mm Cannon
Quote:
The AC-130U is the most complex aircraft weapon system in the world today. It has more than 609,000 lines of software code in its mission computers and avionics systems. The newest addition to the command fleet, this heavily armed aircraft incorporates side-firing weapons integrated with sophisticated sensor, navigation and fire control systems to provide surgical firepower or area saturation during extended loiter periods, at night and in adverse weather. The sensor suite consists of an All Light Level Television system and an infrared detection set. A multi-mode strike radar provides extreme long-range target detection and identification. It is able to track 40mm and 105mm projectiles and return pinpoint impact locations to the crew for subsequent adjustment to the target. The fire control system offers a Dual Target Attack capability, whereby two targets up to one kilometer apart can be simultaneously engaged by two different sensors, using two different guns. No other air-ground attack platform in the world offers this capability. Navigational devices include the inertial navigation system (INS) and global positioning system (GPS). The aircraft is pressurized, enabling it to fly at higher altitudes, saving fuel and time, and allowing for greater range than the AC-130H. Defensive systems include a countermeasures dispensing system that releases chaff and flares to counter radar infrared-guided anti-aircraft missiles. Also infrared heat shields mounted underneath the engines disperse and hide engine heat sources from infrared-guided anti-aircraft missiles.
Originally posted by Tony Soprano: the club liberal jerk circle would say that the air force should have to hold a bake sale to buy one of these...you've seen those bumper stickers
No, we'll just gut medicare and social security. We may even have to tax the middle class into oblivion.
Taking the thread to the next level just to give TS something to do today.
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Today's mighty oak was once just some nut who held his ground!
Originally posted by Tony Soprano: the club liberal jerk circle would say that the air force should have to hold a bake sale to buy one of these...you've seen those bumper stickers
And as long as the Girl Scouts and PTA moms are willing to blow up shit, I'll support that. Although as a proto-Marine, I can't be supporting the Air Farce too much...
:p 
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