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Posted: 4/27/2024 3:19:31 AM EDT
Good God, 26 hours in a Herc!
https://www.mcchord.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3756968/317th-aw-completes-first-c-130j-max-endurance-operation-with-external-fuel-tanks/ The 317th Airlift Wing achieved a significant milestone on April 20, 2024, by becoming the first unit in Air Mobility Command's history to complete a C-130J Max Endurance Operation (MEO) equipped with external fuel tanks. This operation, dubbed Hazard Leap, highlighted the wing's extended range capabilities and established a new standard in operational endurance. During the operation, one C-130J Super Hercules from the 40th Airlift Squadron embarked on a remarkable 26-hour and 33-minute single-aircraft mission to Andersen AFB, Guam, with only one fuel stop in Hawaii, demonstrating the C-130J’s ability to operate for extended periods without stopping. |
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Posted: 4/27/2024 3:27:52 AM EDT
[#1]
I'd rather fly in a KC130J for 26.5 hours than being in an AAV for the same amount of time. Source: I've actually spent more hours straight in an AAV plenty of times with a squad+ of dudes
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Posted: 4/27/2024 5:07:10 AM EDT
[Last Edit: raverill]
[#2]
Originally Posted By KA3B: During the operation, one C-130J Super Hercules from the 40th Airlift Squadron embarked on a remarkable 26-hour and 33-minute single-aircraft mission to Andersen AFB, Guam, with only one fuel stop in Hawaii, demonstrating the C-130J’s ability to operate for extended periods without stopping. 
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TX, USA
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Posted: 4/27/2024 5:21:50 AM EDT
[#3]
"Slow ride, take it easy!" I hope no poor Bastard got caught in the red web!
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TX, USA
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Posted: 4/27/2024 5:44:58 AM EDT
[#4]
Impressive range.
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Posted: 4/27/2024 5:54:15 AM EDT
[#5]
Surely the heft of a C130 would make Guam tip over.
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TX, USA
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Posted: 4/27/2024 5:57:53 AM EDT
[#6]
Operating for extended periods without stopping with only one fuel stop?
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Posted: 4/27/2024 8:47:33 AM EDT
[#7]
That "record" is weak as hell and they should feel bad for even telling anyone about it, non stop means non stop, not "It was non stop except for that one time we stopped for gas."
AC-130 Gunships actually did set some records for non stop flights and they did it years before those C-130J's had even been designed. In November 1979, four AC-130H gunships flew nonstop from Hurlburt Field to Anderson AFB, Guam, because of the hostage situation at the US Embassy in Iran. On 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 taken hostage on 4 November. 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 ill-fated hostage rescue attempt. 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 Hurlburt Field to Taegu Air Base (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 US forces in 1998 to compel Iraq to allow UNSCOM weapons inspections. |
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FL, USA
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Posted: 4/27/2024 9:01:38 AM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Skopsko07734: That "record" is weak as hell and they should feel bad for even telling anyone about it, non stop means non stop, not "It was non stop except for that one time we stopped for gas." AC-130 Gunships actually did set some records for non stop flights and they did it years before those C-130J's had even been designed. In November 1979, four AC-130H gunships flew nonstop from Hurlburt Field to Anderson AFB, Guam, because of the hostage situation at the US Embassy in Iran. On 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 taken hostage on 4 November. 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 ill-fated hostage rescue attempt. 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 Hurlburt Field to Taegu Air Base (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 US forces in 1998 to compel Iraq to allow UNSCOM weapons inspections. Yeah, but how diverse were those crews? |
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Posted: 4/27/2024 9:07:17 AM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Shadowgrouse: Yeah, but how diverse were those crews? Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Shadowgrouse: Originally Posted By Skopsko07734: That "record" is weak as hell and they should feel bad for even telling anyone about it, non stop means non stop, not "It was non stop except for that one time we stopped for gas." AC-130 Gunships actually did set some records for non stop flights and they did it years before those C-130J's had even been designed. In November 1979, four AC-130H gunships flew nonstop from Hurlburt Field to Anderson AFB, Guam, because of the hostage situation at the US Embassy in Iran. On 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 taken hostage on 4 November. 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 ill-fated hostage rescue attempt. 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 Hurlburt Field to Taegu Air Base (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 US forces in 1998 to compel Iraq to allow UNSCOM weapons inspections. Yeah, but how diverse were those crews? 
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Posted: 4/27/2024 9:10:09 AM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By FloydGeneBallin: Operating for extended periods without stopping with only one fuel stop? |
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Posted: 4/27/2024 9:13:02 AM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By raverill: Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By raverill: Originally Posted By KA3B: During the operation, one C-130J Super Hercules from the 40th Airlift Squadron embarked on a remarkable 26-hour and 33-minute single-aircraft mission to Andersen AFB, Guam, with only one fuel stop in Hawaii, demonstrating the C-130J's ability to operate for extended periods without stopping. The purpose of the MEO, as Santori described, is to fly as far as possible with the external tanks, refuel only once, minimizing ground time and maximizing range. The preparation involved careful planning of the flight route, analyzing wind patterns, and devising contingency plans for unforeseen circumstances such as thunderstorms or modified flight paths |
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FL, USA
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Posted: 4/27/2024 9:28:58 AM EDT
[#12]
Why didn't they just refuel it in the air, then they could say it didn't stop.
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Posted: 4/27/2024 9:38:36 AM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Pallas: Why didn't they just refuel it in the air, then they could say it didn't stop. C-130 Flight Engineer motto: "No island too far, no prop within limits!" |
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Posted: 4/27/2024 9:47:10 AM EDT
[#14]
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FL, USA
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Posted: 4/27/2024 9:49:16 AM EDT
[#15]
That's a long time to hold the pee.
But quite impressive. |
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FL, USA
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Posted: 4/27/2024 9:51:02 AM EDT
[#16]
The webbing on the troop seats would have cut me in 1/2.
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Posted: 4/27/2024 9:51:40 AM EDT
[#17]
Wow! The new Hercules can finally do what the old Hercules already did! Neat!
I didn't realize that the Js didn't have external tanks like the legacy models did. Seems like those would be a no-brainer, but the military is dumb as fuck. Also, I've done a long flight with in-flight rigging and was never so glad to jump as I was that night. 1/10, would not recommend long flights as cattle in a C-130 |
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USA
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Posted: 4/27/2024 9:55:17 AM EDT
[#18]
Great now the poor paratroopers can do laps longer.
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Posted: 4/27/2024 9:56:24 AM EDT
[#19]
Impressive. Global reach bitches.
For a little context: the first non-stop transcontinental flight took place in 1923. |
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USA
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Posted: 4/27/2024 9:58:53 AM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Skopsko07734: That "record" is weak as hell and they should feel bad for even telling anyone about it, non stop means non stop, not "It was non stop except for that one time we stopped for gas." AC-130 Gunships actually did set some records for non stop flights and they did it years before those C-130J's had even been designed. In November 1979, four AC-130H gunships flew nonstop from Hurlburt Field to Anderson AFB, Guam, because of the hostage situation at the US Embassy in Iran. On 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 taken hostage on 4 November. 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 ill-fated hostage rescue attempt. 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 Hurlburt Field to Taegu Air Base (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 US forces in 1998 to compel Iraq to allow UNSCOM weapons inspections. And they managed to go that far with only seven other jets supporting them. |
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Posted: 4/27/2024 10:03:12 AM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By AR18: That's a long time to hold the pee. But quite impressive. |
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Posted: 4/27/2024 10:04:33 AM EDT
[#22]
Commercial flight is 15 hours. Why is this a big deal?
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Posted: 4/27/2024 10:06:07 AM EDT
[#23]
Guess they decided to catch up with what the Air Guard has been demonstrating for a while now.
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USA
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Posted: 4/27/2024 10:07:25 AM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By lokifox: Guess they decided to catch up with what the Air Guard has been demonstrating for a while now. It is kind of funny that they are doing something that was standard on H models. |
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Posted: 4/27/2024 10:14:39 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Skopsko07734]
[#25]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By SmilingBandit: And they managed to go that far with only seven other jets supporting them. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By SmilingBandit: Originally Posted By Skopsko07734: That "record" is weak as hell and they should feel bad for even telling anyone about it, non stop means non stop, not "It was non stop except for that one time we stopped for gas." AC-130 Gunships actually did set some records for non stop flights and they did it years before those C-130J's had even been designed. In November 1979, four AC-130H gunships flew nonstop from Hurlburt Field to Anderson AFB, Guam, because of the hostage situation at the US Embassy in Iran. On 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 taken hostage on 4 November. 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 ill-fated hostage rescue attempt. 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 Hurlburt Field to Taegu Air Base (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 US forces in 1998 to compel Iraq to allow UNSCOM weapons inspections. And they managed to go that far with only seven other jets supporting them. |
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TX, USA
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Posted: 4/27/2024 10:17:07 AM EDT
[Last Edit: USMC7382]
[#26]
So many questions.
First ALL Marine KC-130’s have external tanks, so no slick wings in our inventory. I’ve done trips across the Pacific many times but always in a legacy. J model is more efficient and the stretched model has left drag and also they don’t have refueling pods on their wings. Were they step climbing the whole way? What altitude did they achieve? We were step climbing one time and ATC asked me to confirm aircraft type as they didn’t expect to see a Herc up that high. How much cargo did they have onboard? It’s great to fly long distances but if a cargo plane can’t haul anything while doing so you aren’t accomplishing much. Next time put a fuselage tank in there and see how far you can go. |
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Posted: 4/27/2024 11:25:41 AM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By USMC7382: Next time put a fuselage tank in there and see how far you can go. Fuck plumbing in fuse tanks on the legacy aircraft 
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Posted: 4/27/2024 11:42:01 AM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Skopsko07734: A little known fun fact about that non stop AC-130U flight from Hurlburt Field to Korea. Flight medicine was concerned that the crew members bringing their own food for the flight could become a problem with the potential for food going bad/food poisoning so our crews for that mission were told that food would be provided. The crews showed up, took off and started flying toward Korea. Eventually they got hungry and opened up the multiple coolers to grab some food to discover that the only food in the coolers were Hot Pockets...nothing but Hot Pockets. Our AC-130U Gunships had a convection oven on the flight deck for heating the Hot Pockets but still, nothing but Hot Pockets for two days...I'm glad I was not on that trip. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Skopsko07734: Originally Posted By SmilingBandit: Originally Posted By Skopsko07734: That "record" is weak as hell and they should feel bad for even telling anyone about it, non stop means non stop, not "It was non stop except for that one time we stopped for gas." AC-130 Gunships actually did set some records for non stop flights and they did it years before those C-130J's had even been designed. In November 1979, four AC-130H gunships flew nonstop from Hurlburt Field to Anderson AFB, Guam, because of the hostage situation at the US Embassy in Iran. On 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 taken hostage on 4 November. 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 ill-fated hostage rescue attempt. 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 Hurlburt Field to Taegu Air Base (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 US forces in 1998 to compel Iraq to allow UNSCOM weapons inspections. And they managed to go that far with only seven other jets supporting them. That liquid hot magma keeps you going.  Kharn |
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Posted: 4/27/2024 12:27:14 PM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By ZitiForBreakfast: Fuck plumbing in fuse tanks on the legacy aircraft Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By ZitiForBreakfast: Originally Posted By USMC7382: Next time put a fuselage tank in there and see how far you can go. Fuck plumbing in fuse tanks on the legacy aircraft Just don't fall asleep and run the tanks dry. |
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Posted: 4/27/2024 12:29:46 PM EDT
[#30]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By FloydGeneBallin: Operating for extended periods without stopping with only one fuel stop? Is it really a stop if the Earth, itself, is still moving through space? |
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Posted: 4/27/2024 2:52:37 PM EDT
[#31]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By FloydGeneBallin: Operating for extended periods without stopping with only one fuel stop? LOL, it's a USAF PAO thing. |
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Posted: 4/27/2024 2:55:20 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Skopsko07734: They were probably hoping to break in Hawaii, get stuck there for two weeks while awaiting parts, and collect that sweet per diem. C-130 Flight Engineer motto: "No island too far, no prop within limits!" That's why the Navy inop'ed the engine chip light. Hey, these C-130's are always breaking down in Hawaii, Thailand, Bermuda, England with a chip light. |
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Posted: 4/27/2024 3:01:53 PM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By ZitiForBreakfast: Fuck plumbing in fuse tanks on the legacy aircraft Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By ZitiForBreakfast: Originally Posted By USMC7382: Next time put a fuselage tank in there and see how far you can go. Fuck plumbing in fuse tanks on the legacy aircraft We had a fuse tank in an LC-130R that had an internal fire and then it popped it's "top". The Loadmaster said that the paint was bubbling off it and the vent line was glowing red. There was just enough air in the tank that it only had a "small" flash fire and then it went out. When it "popped" the skin near the top had blown outward, but it did not leak. That was the last time we used fuse tanks on our LC-130's. |
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Posted: 4/27/2024 3:17:22 PM EDT
[#34]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By KA3B: We had a fuse tank in an LC-130R that had an internal fire and then it popped it's "top". The Loadmaster said that the paint was bubbling off it and the vent line was glowing red. There was just enough air in the tank that it only had a "small" flash fire and then it went out. When it "popped" the skin near the top had blown outward, but it did not leak. That was the last time we used fuse tanks on our LC-130's. 
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Posted: 4/27/2024 3:22:11 PM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By AR18: That's a long time to hold the pee. But quite impressive. With two augmented crews on board, I wouldn't be surprised if they had a comfort pallet. |
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USA
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Posted: 4/27/2024 3:29:56 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Bubbatheredneck]
[#36]
Air Force all giddy about 26 hours in a herc, stopping once.
How about 64 days in a Cessna 65 years ago? https://simpleflying.com/robert-timm-john-cook-endurace-record-cessna-172/  |
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Posted: 4/27/2024 3:31:37 PM EDT
[#37]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Skopsko07734: A little known fun fact about that non stop AC-130U flight from Hurlburt Field to Korea. Flight medicine was concerned that the crew members bringing their own food for the flight could become a problem with the potential for food going bad/food poisoning so our crews for that mission were told that food would be provided. The crews showed up, took off and started flying toward Korea. Eventually they got hungry and opened up the multiple coolers to grab some food to discover that the only food in the coolers were Hot Pockets...nothing but Hot Pockets. Our AC-130U Gunships had a convection oven on the flight deck for heating the Hot Pockets but still, nothing but Hot Pockets for two days...I'm glad I was not on that trip. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Skopsko07734: Originally Posted By SmilingBandit: Originally Posted By Skopsko07734: That "record" is weak as hell and they should feel bad for even telling anyone about it, non stop means non stop, not "It was non stop except for that one time we stopped for gas." AC-130 Gunships actually did set some records for non stop flights and they did it years before those C-130J's had even been designed. In November 1979, four AC-130H gunships flew nonstop from Hurlburt Field to Anderson AFB, Guam, because of the hostage situation at the US Embassy in Iran. On 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 taken hostage on 4 November. 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 ill-fated hostage rescue attempt. 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 Hurlburt Field to Taegu Air Base (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 US forces in 1998 to compel Iraq to allow UNSCOM weapons inspections. And they managed to go that far with only seven other jets supporting them. Nuclear hot cheese on the ends; ice crystals in the middle. Hooot Pooocckets! |
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Posted: 4/27/2024 3:48:56 PM EDT
[#38]
I’ve done 21.0 hrs, no stops. 4 Aerial refuelings. It was in a modified big ole jet airliner. Not in a herc.
For some reason I’m not too impressed by this “capability”. Seems like something that should already be happening. Plus, there’s probably a better way to actually move cargo halfway around the world than by c-130. Use a c-17 for the main part of the trip then use the c-130 for the last part if needed. At least the c-17 will get the cargo there in a relative timely manner. |
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Posted: 4/27/2024 4:00:49 PM EDT
[#39]
I'm old enough to remember when Dyess was upgrading from worn out Es to brand new C-130 H models. And I can remember riding back from deployments on a 130 instead of a tanker. OMG it took forever.
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Posted: 4/27/2024 4:01:01 PM EDT
[#40]
I guess that is impressive for an aircraft first flown in the Middle Kingdom of Senusret I.
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Posted: 4/27/2024 4:01:03 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Sparkvark]
[#41]
Double Tap
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Posted: 4/27/2024 4:14:16 PM EDT
[Last Edit: JAFFE]
[#42]
This thread...
 (parts of it) edited to add "parts of it" |
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Posted: 4/27/2024 4:37:13 PM EDT
[Last Edit: EDDIECRUM]
[#43]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By tripleshok: Surely the heft of a C130 would make Guam tip over. The external tanks alone would do it. |
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