The Venerable C-130

[airborned]

I've been a passenger on C-130's having taken off some 40ish times. I've only landed in them twice.

lol I was about to post the same thing.

[jamminbutter]

Fat Albert JATO and backing.

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[Dragonfighter]

I've been a passenger on C-130's having taken off some 40ish times. I've only landed in them twice.

Jumping out of perfectly good airplanes, huh?

My step dad, a retired Air Force colonel with tens of thousands of hours, asked me, "Why would you jump out of a perfectly good airplane?" I let the illusion of a perfectly good airplane slide and said, "If you ever flew with a MAC pilot you'd know."

[K.Mooneyham]

I may have mentioned on here before, but I am an aircraft mechanic and electrician. I spent the middle years of the 90s working on C-130s over in England and a few other European locations. The model I worked is now retired, but they were tough planes that always got us in and out. The only way to replace a C-130...is to buy another C-130.

[gigag04]

My dad has fun stories from jumping out of the back of those with fun toys from high altitudes during his time with 10th group.

[RetNavy]

Jumping out of perfectly good airplanes, huh?

it wasn't a C-130 i jumped out of..... but the one plane i did jump from had LOTS of duct tape on the wing strut.....

[Keith B]

it wasn't a C-130 i jumped out of..... but the one plane i did jump from had LOTS of duct tape on the wing strut.....

Was it like this one?

[RetNavy]

it wasn't a C-130 i jumped out of..... but the one plane i did jump from had LOTS of duct tape on the wing strut.....

Was it like this one?

[ Image ]

Very similar

[Dragonfighter]

My dad has fun stories from jumping out of the back of those with fun toys from high altitudes during his time with 10th group.

I had detached to 5th group pending a transfer that wouldn't come before I got dinged up. I did get my five free falls from considerably lower altitudes than HALO or HAHO jumpers (7500'-12000') under the F1B canopy. That was cool and the regulars in the group I'd jump with would flare like an airplane and tippy toe onto the LZ. I would still hit with a PLF not confident enough in my judgement to attempt the run on landings. Yes I heard about it.

@RetNavy: The one civilian (outlaw) jump I have was out of an old straight tail Cessna 180. It had duct tape on the right strut as well. Everyone insisted it was for gripping when climbing out for the jump but the way that plane creaked and groaned, I was never completely convinced.