What is the name of the C 130 gunship?
Hell in the Sky
The AC-130 is the world’s biggest flying artillery gunship, nicknamed “Hell in the Sky.” With three side-firing weapons—a 25mm gatling gun, a 40mm Bofors cannon, and a 105mm howitzer—it’s easy to see why it got its name.
Can a civilian buy an AC-130?
The Super Hercules is finally available to the public. Like the legendary “legacy” C-130 Hercules series of ridiculously versatile military cargo haulers that was offered in civilian form under the L-100 designation, the C-130J Super Hercules now has a civilian variant of its own—the LM-100J.
What does the A stand for in ac130?
attack-cargo
The gunship’s AC identifier stands for attack-cargo. The aircraft is powered by four turboprop engines and has a flight speed of 300 mph and a flight range of 1,300 miles, depending on weight.
When was the last time a AC-130 was used?
The AC-130H “Spectre” gunships were fielded in 1972 and retired in 2015. The last AC-130U was flown to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, June 26, 2020, for retirement.
What will replace the AC-130?
AC-130J Ghostrider, a modified version of the MC-130J aircraft, is the replacement for the AC-130H/U aircraft of the US Air Force. Lockheed Martin will deliver 37 AC-130J Ghostrider aircraft to the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) by 2021.
What was the purpose of the AC-130 gunship?
AC-130s were also used during Operations Continue Hope and United Shield in Somalia, providing close air support for United Nations ground forces. The gunships played a pivotal role during operations in support of the NATO mission in
Is the AC 130 Spectre a cargo plane or a gunship?
AC-130 Spectre / Spooky II Gunship The Lockheed AC-130 is a C-130 cargo plane converted into a gunship. The port side of the AC-130 houses firing ports for an array of cannons, howitzers and gatling guns. AC-130 – Role
What kind of Gunship is the C-130H Spooky?
The Spooky (U-model) is the third generation of C-130 gunships. The AC-130 gunship has a combat history dating to Vietnam. Gunships destroyed more than 10,000 trucks and were credited with many life-saving close air support missions.
What kind of Cannon does an AC 130 have?
AC-130 Variants. The 2 variants of the AC-130 Featured on this page are: AC-130H (Spectre) operated by the 16th Special Operations Squadron armed with: 2 x 20mm M61 Vulcan cannon; 1 x 40mm L60 Bofors cannon (120 rpm) 1 x 105mm M102 howitzer (6-10 rpm) AC-130U (Spooky II) operated by the 4th Special Operations Squadron armed with: