[yt] The C-130 Hercules holds the record for the largest and heaviest aircraft to land on an aircraft carrier. In October and November 1963, a USMC KC-130F (BuNo 149798), bailed to the US Naval Air Test Center, made 21 unarrested landings and take-offs on the USS Forrestal at a number of different weights. The pilot, LT (later RADM) James Flatley III, USN, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his participation. The tests were highly successful, but the idea was considered too risky for routine "Carrier Onboard Delivery" (COD) operations. Instead, the C-2 Greyhound was developed as a dedicated COD aircraft. (The Hercules used in the test, most recently in service with Marine Aerial Refueler Squadron 352 (VMGR-352) until 2005, is now part of the collection of the National Museum of Naval Aviation at NAS Pensacola, Florida.)
5 Comments
enochsays...my ship was with the forrestal and the saratoga.i still have pictures of the two carriers.
Asmosays...There are two things that are impressive about this. That the good old Herc can do that at all, and that the cockpit was big enough to fit the combined balls of those pilots...
deathcowsays...takeoff from standstill would have been interesting
radxsays...*related=http://videosift.com/video/C-130-Hercules-Landing-Take-off-On-An-Aircraft-Carrier
siftbotsays...C-130 Hercules Landing & Take-off On An Aircraft Carrier has been added as a related post - related requested by radx.
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