Currently totally retired. Prior to that I was the Eglin AFB, FL Government Special Security Officer (GSSO).
Other Comments:
After I retired from the USAF, I worked for the Dept of Energy Strategic Petroleum Reserve in New Orleans. Then onto General Motors, Detroit. Left Michigan for the sunshine of Florida. I was employed at Eglin AFB for the next 16 years and enjoy each day. Lots of former co workers here and the USAF's finest, Air Force Cops, working, living and retired in this area. Always time for a good story or two. :>)
Many TDYs involved being transported by C-130s. Nothing like a a jump seat for 5+ hours. Plus, those are earplugs not bubble gum.
Image
C-130 Hercules Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
The C-130 series began as a 1951 requirement for a military transport with Short Take-Off and Landing capabilities. The series was born as the YC-130 and performed well in the latter part of 1954 with its Allison three-bladed turboprop engines. With successes encountered throughout the war in Vietnam and furthermore in peacetime, the C-130 Hercules spawned a plethora of variants that would include special forces insertion, arctic patrol, meteorological research, communications, close-support and modernized variants of the base transport.
Model Lockheed C-130H Hercules Length 97.77 ft | 29.80 m Width 132.55 ft | 40.40 m Height 37.40 ft | 11.40 m Engine(s) 4 x Allison T56-A-15LFE turboprop engines generating 4,508hp each. Empty Weight 76,505 lbs | 34,702 kg MTOW 175,003 lbs | 79,380 kg Max Speed 386 mph | 621 km/h | 335 kts Max Range 2,237 miles | 3,600 km Ceiling 33,005 ft | 10,060 m | 6.3 miles Climb Rate Not Available Hardpoints 0 Armament None. Internal payload of up to 42,637lbs of supplies, personnel and vehicles. Accommodations 4 + 92 Operators Australia, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States of America among others (about 60 in all).
