Mc-130p

[psysicx]

I did a search but the info was dated. Going off of the last post do they still sit alert most of the time? Just waiting and not really flying?

 

[fredthead]

My guess is they will be sitting alert a lot more once they leave AFSOC and go back to ACC.

 

[stonewall]

Where do they sit alert? I happen to have a really good friend who's flown MC-130Ps for about 10 years and he's never sat alert...anywhere. Also no plans for them to go to ACC anytime soon.

 

[Pirate]

I think your talking about HC-130 P/N. They do sit alert, but depending on the unit; you can still get a decent amount of fliying. There is one rescue unit that flys MC-130Ps, CA guard. They fly MCs in an HCs role. Rescue is returning to ACC from AFSOC, but the straight SOS papas are in AFSOC to stay.

 

[fredthead]

Magnum, maybe I'm reading something wrong.

www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123018516

 

[psysicx]

So the MC never sits alert? The reason I said that was the old thread mentioned it. It sounds like a cool mission do refueling at night at low level.

 

[Goose17]

Combat Shadow

I flew the MC-130P in AFSOC for 3 years before I switched to the MC-130H Talon II. When I was in MC-130Ps we flew alot and we also had alert commitments. Anytime you hang a helo refueling hose on a 130, you are tied to them and thus get to sit alert with them. The flying was fun - lots of NVG low level - crazy low level formation, but I must admit that I much preferred the MC-130H.

If you chose to go -Ps, you will have a good time.

Goose17

 

[Deuce130]

The HC-130P/N is a CSAR tanker for the CSAR helos. They primarily sit alert, but are capable of doing a wide variety of special ops missions. The MC-130P Combat Shadow is AFSOC's primary helo refueler, mostly dealing with MH-53s and Army SOF helos. In the AOR, the primary alert tanker is the HC-130P/N. The MC-130P will assume an alert role on occasion, but not for CSAR. When deployed, they primarily fly SOF missions but will sometimes tag a non-flying crew to act as an alert bird in case they need to launch for SOF related missions. The recent shakeup has to do with the HC-130's returning to ACC. A couple of years ago they switched from ACC to AFSOC, where I and many others felt they belonged. For reasons much higher in rank than me, they've been switched back to ACC. If I had my way, which I don't, the HC-130P/N would be redesignated an MC-130P Block XX and the crews would be interchangeable with some slight differences training, kind of like the difference between flying Block 30 F-16s and Block 50 F-16s.
And, yes, refueling helos at 500' AGL on NVG's at 115 KIAS is cool to do. So is the low level, the airdrops, the NVG max effort landings, refueling behind a tanker, flying formation, and working with some pretty elite SOF dudes.

 

[Deuce130]

I but I must admit that I much preferred the MC-130H.

Goose17

Most homos do.









Just kidding!! Some of my best friends are Talon II pilots.

 

[Deuce130]

And I must say I'm honored that my beloved Shadow finally has its very own FI thread. And I didn't even have to start it.

 

[Goose17]

What can I say?

Most homos do.









Just kidding!! Some of my best friends are Talon II pilots.

The Talon II and the Shadow are like apples and oranges. They are both AFSOC assets, but the T-II has a lot more toys and is fun to play with.

Pilots going into either weapon system will have a good time though.

Goose17

 

[Laughing_Jakal]

MC-130P Posers

Deuce and Goose,

What the heck do you know......don't believe a word they say, they are just a couple of Posers.....they just fly trash at night.

 

[Goose17]

I know where you live!

Deuce and Goose,

What the heck do you know......don't believe a word they say, they are just a couple of Posers.....they just fly trash at night.

Ahh the memories, but you are correct sir. I am now a night trash hauler.

Back to studying the Airbus...

Goose17

 

[psysicx]

Awesome information. The person at the Cal guard I talked to said that new copilots fly 300 hrs a year as a bum. That seemed low what are AD newbies getting?

 

[Deuce130]

Awesome information. The person at the Cal guard I talked to said that new copilots fly 300 hrs a year as a bum. That seemed low what are AD newbies getting?

Not that much normally. The stateside MC-130P unit Copilots get around 250 hrs/yr in peacetime. My first year overseas, I got 400. Of course, one 90 day deployment (figure twice a year these days) will get you around 150 to 200 hours. So, depending on how much you deploy, you could get to the 300 hour mark.

 

[dtfl]

Of course...I had more fun shooting crap! I remember us sitting alert in the war...and we flew on 50% of them. The poor HC b__tards sat alert 90% of the time and flew off that - about - what...0% of the time?

Alert wasn't so bad...except when some hotshot flew over the camp at 200'. Who would do such a thing?

Ahem.

 

[Goose17]

too funny

I vaguely remember the same thing on one deployment. We night flyers/day sleepers were growing tired of the fighter guys making a ruckus during the day when we were trying to sleep. Our answer - we did a pass on the camp sometime around 1 or 2 in the morning low enough to wake them all.

Memories...

Goose17

 

[psysicx]

300 hrs seems low. Is that because its Specops?

 

[slacker]

Questions

300 hrs seems low. Is that because its Specops?

Dude, what gives? Do you try to make a question for every post or what? You must be a fountain of knowledge with all the questions you ask.

 

[dtfl]

Dude, what gives? Do you try to make a question for every post or what? You must be a fountain of knowledge with all the questions you ask.

Why are you asking questions about people asking question?
Fountain? I would think Plethora of Knowledge would sound cooler.

BTW my low pass joke was a private joke. Lets just say someone on THIS post got the base CC pissed and he banned our tac arrivals. I slept thru it but guys in the shower tent said they thought the plane was going to crash into the tent city.

 

[Deuce130]

Why are you asking questions about people asking question?
Fountain? I would think Plethora of Knowledge would sound cooler.

BTW my low pass joke was a private joke. Lets just say someone on THIS post got the base CC pissed and he banned our tac arrivals. I slept thru it but guys in the shower tent said they thought the plane was going to crash into the tent city.

We didn't need to do anymore tac arrivals anyway. I do remember the tower controller and his angry letter to the boss. In retrospect, however, I learned a little lesson there - just b/c I thought something seemed like a good idea doesn't mean it actually was. The crew liked it, though, and I got some good feedback from the bros who actually saw it! It was planned for 300' AGL, but the dam HH-60 on downwind drove me a little lower....

 

[dtfl]

We didn't need to do anymore tac arrivals anyway. I do remember the tower controller and his angry letter to the boss. In retrospect, however, I learned a little lesson there - just b/c I thought something seemed like a good idea doesn't mean it actually was. The crew liked it, though, and I got some good feedback from the bros who actually saw it! It was planned for 300' AGL, but the dam HH-60 on downwind drove me a little lower....

I dunno...the night the crash happened - some dork was out there shooting small arms at us...so...I like the arrivals.
Heck when I heard you did that my response was..."....so?...and?" Never thought some REMF would write an angry letter. It was a war. Maybe a little low....live and learn.

 

[stonewall]

We didn't need to do anymore tac arrivals anyway. I do remember the tower controller and his angry letter to the boss. In retrospect, however, I learned a little lesson there - just b/c I thought something seemed like a good idea doesn't mean it actually was. The crew liked it, though, and I got some good feedback from the bros who actually saw it! It was planned for 300' AGL, but the dam HH-60 on downwind drove me a little lower....

Rogue pilot! Rogue pilot!