After almost 32 years of Government Service with the USAF and the FAA, I retired in 2004. 12 years Active Duty with one break and Two years Active Reserves, I served in Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and Ten CONUS assignments as a Jet Engine mechanic (B52's and KC135's) an Air Traffic Controller ( Tower/ Radar and the MOB) and an Airfield Management Specialist (Reserves) and I can say I enjoyed all of them. I just enjoyed some more than others! I left the Air Force in 1984 when the FAA gave me an offer I couldn't refuse. I spent two more with the Air Force Reserve at Greater Pitt. After 30 years of telling pilots where to go, I hung up my headset and now I watch my 16 year old son grow up. And Yes he wants to be an Air Force Fighter Pilot. He's a Plane nut just like his dad!
Other Comments:
The Aircraft in this profile I either worked on as a mechanic, or controlled as an Air Traffic Controller in the US Air Force or the FAA. Some have interesting stories if you click on the photo.
Flew around Thailand on one of these crates to work on B-52 diverts.
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C-123 Provider Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
Model Fairchild C-123K Provider Length 78.48 ft | 23.92 m Width 110.01 ft | 33.53 m Height 33.99 ft | 10.36 m Engine(s) 2 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-99W Double Wasp 18-cylinder radial piston engines generating 2,300hp each; 2 x General Electric J85-GE-17 turbojet engines developing 2,850lbf each. Empty Weight 35,367 lbs | 16,042 kg MTOW 59,525 lbs | 27,000 kg Max Speed 228 mph | 367 km/h | 198 kts Max Range 1,035 miles | 1,666 km Ceiling 28,871 ft | 8,800 m | 5.5 miles Climb Rate 1,150 ft/min Hardpoints 0 Armament None. Accommodations 3 + 62 Operators Cambodia, El Salvador, Laos, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Vietnam (South), Thailand, Venezuela and the United States of America.