54–1626, the original prototype AC-130 named "Gunship II" is on display at the outdoor Air Park at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. By December 1968, most AC-130s flew under F-4 Phantom II escort (to protect the gunship against heavy and concentrated antiaircraft fire) from the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron, normally three Phantoms per gunship. When targeted by enemies it deploys its own system of countermeasure flares to keep it safe that resembles an angel. The AC-130U is equipped with the AN/APQ-180, a synthetic aperture radar, for long-range target detection and identification. On 25 October 1971, the first "Cadillac" gunship, the AC-130E, arrived in Vietnam. Additionally, the second plane is a “regular” one and is equipped with flare decoys aka Angel Flares. 54–1630, is on display in the Cold War Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. This is the Angel Flight’s flare salute. [18][19] Regardless of their project names, the aircraft were more commonly referred to by the squadron's call sign, Spectre. The witch trial shall start. The gunship's navigational devices include inertial navigation systems and a global positioning system. [28], The Air Force was also interested in acquiring a glide bomb that can be launched from the common launch tubes capable of hitting ground vehicles traveling as fast as 120 km/h (70 mph) while above 10,000 ft (3,000 m). Subsequent inquiries led to punishment of 16 military personnel and cited "human error" as the root cause. [48] Dynetics was awarded a contract to deliver an initial batch of 70 SGMs in June 2017, with plans to buy up to 1,000. Crews added a 105 mm cannon, 20-inch infrared and electro-optical sensors, and the ability to carry 250-lb bombs on the wings. It inspires terror in the terrorists with its massive arsenal of weaponry. The crew included two pilots sitting inline, both in open-air cockpits, with the co-pilot seated ahead nd doubling as the flight bombardier. On 17 February 1972, the first 105 mm cannon arrived for service with Spectre and was installed on Gunship 570. Ac 130 Spectre Wallpaper Share Angel Flight Military Aircraft Gunship . [33] The first AC-130J gunships achieved initial operational capability (IOC) on 30 September 2017. | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com. [11], The AC-130 has an unpressurized cabin, with the weaponry mounted to fire from the port side of the fuselage. Post Mar 06, 2013 #1 2013-03-06T21:44. [22], Plans were made to possibly replace the 105 mm cannon with a breech-loading 120 mm M120 mortar, and to give the AC-130 a standoff capability using either the AGM-114 Hellfire missile, the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (based on the Hydra 70 rocket), or the Viper Strike glide bomb. This aircraft was a conversion of the first production C-130. The primary interdiction targets were early-warning/ground-control intercept sites along the southern border of Iraq. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. Try to know everything about her. During an attack, the gunship performs a pylon turn, flying in a large circle around the target, therefore being able to fire at it for far longer than in a conventional strafing attack. [21] Brigadier General Bradley A. Heithold, AFSOC's director of plans, programs, requirements, and assessments, said on 11 August 2008 that the effort was canceled because of problems with the Bushmaster's accuracy in tests "at the altitude we were employing it". [citation needed]. A lone Iraqi with a Strela-2 MANPADS shot Spirit 03 down, and all 14 crew members were killed.[65]. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. The deadliest gunship in the United States by far the AC-130. On 12 April 1975, the Khmer Rouge was threatening the capital of Phnom Penh and AC-130s were called on to help in Operation Eagle Pull, the final evacuation of American and allied officials from Phnom Penh before it was conquered by the communists. 54–1623, c/n 3010, named "Ghost Rider" served in Southeast Asia and later conflicts until being retired in 1997 to Dobbins AFB, Georgia. [6], The airframe is manufactured by Lockheed Martin, while Boeing is responsible for the conversion into a gunship and for aircraft support. The modifications were done at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base by the Aeronautical Systems Division. 69-6567, call-sign Spirit 03, opted to stay to continue to protect the Marines. Azrael meets souls and helps them in the transition of death, in addition to helping newly crossed over souls adjust. [90][91], A second aircraft, AF serial no. The Lockheed AC-130 gunship is a heavily armed, long-endurance, ground-attack variant of the C-130 Hercules transport, fixed-wing aircraft. [7] Developed during the Vietnam War as "Project Gunship II", the AC-130 replaced the Douglas AC-47 Spooky, or "Gunship I". 93-S3040, E10630 8/93. [28], The Air Force launched an initiative in 2011 to acquire 16 new gunships based on newly built MC-130J Combat Shadow II special-operations tankers outfitted with a "precision strike package" to give them an attack capability, requesting $1.6 billion from fiscal years 2011 through 2015. [20] In 2007, the Air Force modified four AC-130U gunships as test platforms for the Bushmasters. [52] The AC-130H's unit cost is US$132.4 million, and the AC-130U's cost is $190 million (fiscal 2001 dollars).[11]. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Left side top view of the Boeing B-9 in flight, Front right side view of the Boeing B-9 at rest, Rear left side view of the Boeing B-9 on display, Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: Angels of Death is horror anime series that is based on the Japanese video game of the same name. [13] The AC-130 was later supplemented by the AC-119 Shadow (Project Gunship III), which later proved to be underpowered. The fuselage was well-contoured and streamlined with a specially-developed cowling sat over the engine at front. Capable of flying faster than helicopters and at high altitudes with excellent loiter time, the use of the pylon turn allowed the AC-47 to deliver continuous, accurate fire to a single point on the ground.[13][14]. The new AC-130J was based on the MC-130J Commando II special-operations tanker. The gunships attacked Iraqi positions and columns moving south to reinforce their positions north of the city. [43] Called the Tactical Off-board Sensor (TOBS), the drones would be expendable and fly along a programmed orbit to verify targets the aircraft cannot see itself because of bad weather or standing off from air defenses. The J-variant is lighter and more fuel efficient than previous versions, able to fly at 416 mph (669 km/h) with a range of 3,000 mi (4,800 km) and service ceiling of 28,000 ft (8,500 m). 10/23/2017 41 192 views. The pilot was able to crash land the aircraft safely. The Stinger gunships have been deployed to Afghanistan to replace the aging AC-130H aircraft and provide an example for the new AC-130J Ghostrider. The retirement also marked an end to the Air Force Reserve Command flying the AC-130A. A radio operator held a position with the fuselage and the remaining two crew were dedicated machine gunners seated forward and aft along the fuselage spine in open-air cockpits. [13][95] This aircraft served in Southeast Asia from 1967 to 1972, then served in JC-130A test configuration. It is the well-known member of Navy`s elite squadron The Blue Angels – Fat Albert! In June 1968, AC-130s were deployed to Tan Son Nhut AB near Saigon for support against the Tet Offensive. 53–3129, named First Lady in November 1970. Guidance is provided by a GPS receiver with antispoofing software and four Distributed Aperture Semiactive Laser Seeker apertures adapted from the WGU-59/B APKWS for terminal guidance. Rating: +5. Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era. [38][39][40] However, laser armament may only be installed on a few aircraft rather than the entire AC-130J fleet;[41] the laser will be mounted on the side in place of the 30 mm cannon. On 25 March 1971, it took an anti-aircraft artillery hit in the belly just aft of the nose gear wheel well over the Ho Chi Minh trail in Laos. The AC-130H Spectre was armed with two 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannons, one L60 Bofors 40 mm cannon, and M137 105 mm cannon and M37 recoil mechanism from the M102 howitzer; after 1994, the 20 mm cannons were removed. 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. Between assignments, Jonathan and Mark drive to a small town to visit an old buddy of Mark's. The remaining AC-130s were refitted with upgraded similar equipment in the summer of 1970, and then redeployed to Ubon RTAFB. Azrael instructed his Servitors to also teach humans to accept Death; that it was merely a transition to their next state, and that if they lived their lives well, they had no need to fear it. It is to produce a beam of up to 120 kW, or potentially even 180–200 kW, weigh about 5,000 lb (2,300 kg), defensively destroy antiaircraft missiles, and offensively engage communications towers, boats, cars, and aircraft. [10] The squadrons are part of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), a component of the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM). [17] In the summer of 1971, Surprise Package AC-130s were converted to the Pave Pronto configuration and assumed the new nickname of "Thor". [30], The AC-130J will follow the path of the Dragon Spear program. Josef Mengele ([ˈjoːzɛf ˈmɛŋələ] (listen); 16 March 1911 – 7 February 1979), also known as the Angel of Death (German: Todesengel) was a German Schutzstaffel (SS) officer and physician during World War II. Episode 10. [16] The Surprise Package upgrade included the latest 20 mm rotary autocannons and 40 mm Bofors cannon, but no 7.62 mm close-support armament. Gunships also were part of the buildup of US forces in 1998 to compel Iraq to allow UNSCOM weapons inspections. The AC-130 is a playable aircraft in many Call of Duty games, either as kill/scorestreaks in multiplayer or in missions in the campaigns. Night after night, at least one AC-130 was in the air to fulfill one or more air-support requests (ASRs). One day later, three more gunships provided further aid to Marines participating in the operation. The cockpit position (seating one) was at midships with a conventional tail unit fitted at the rear of the fuselage. The military has used AC-130 gunships during the humanitarian operations in Somalia (Operation Restore Hope and Operation United Shield) in 1992–93 and Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti in 1994. Death On April 17, 1956, Angel suffered a head injury whilst landing his plane at David, Chiriquí, Panama. The Spectre participated in countless operations within Afghanistan, performing on-call close air support and armed reconnaissance. Nicknamed the ‘Angel of Death’, this massive combat plane has been used to support U.S. troops since the Vietnam War Azrael was also assigned to the 919th Special Operations Wing and retired to the museum in October 1995.[93][94]. You have the chance to see this plane`s jet take off at night! [27] CLTs are able to fire other small munitions able to fit inside the 6 in (15 cm)-diameter, 48 in (1.2 m)-long tubes. It carries a wide array of ground attack weapons that are integrated with sophisticated sensors, navigation, and fire-control systems. This 13-hour mission with two in-flight refuelings from KC-135 tankers proved the validity of flying long-range missions outside the contiguous United States to attack targets then return to home base without intermediate stops. 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