A Service Publication of Lockheed Martin Air Mobility Support
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VOL. 29, NO.2, 2004 L ServiceService NewsNews Images—Lockheed Martin Archives A SERVICE PUBLICATION OF LOCKHEED MARTIN AIR MOBILITY SUPPORT Volume 29., No. 2 Click to Return to Table of Contents Page 1 L From the Editor’s Desk SERVICE NEWS s the Service News and Lockheed Martin are focused on the A SERVICE PUBLICATION OF LOCKHEED sustainment of all Hercules aircraft, it is only appropriate that MARTIN AIR MOBILITY SUPPORT A we dedicate this issue to celebrate the Hercules and reflect on the significance of its contributions over the years and across the www.lockheedmartin.com/ams globe. In August of this year, the Hercules reaches a huge milestone in Volume 29, No. 2 2004 aviation history, the 50th anniversary of the first flight. CONTENTS Given the truly remarkable significance of this achievement, we have asked Joseph Dabney, a Lockheed veteran and noted Hercules historian, to provide us his interpretation of this milestone. Joe has also been kind enough to give us permission to reprint selected paragraphs from his detailed, colorful, and very popular history of the Click on Entry to Go Directly to the Article Hercules aircraft, “HERK: Hero of the Skies.” From the Editors 2 Desk The United States Postal Service will also salute the Hercules on this significant anniversary. Description of their activities is shown C-130 Reaches 3 on pages 4 and 5. Major Milestone US Postal Service 4 In keeping with the historical flavor of this issue of the Service News, Honors C-130 we have included Part 2 of the multi-part article on the history of the Hercules Hercules wing. A Mating of the 6 And as always, we have included the latest Service Bulletin updates. Jeep, The Truck and The Airplane We continue to strive for a publication that is both informative and History & Overview 11 entertaining. Let us know what you think. Please forward your of Wing Improve- suggestions and comments to the Service News Editor, Mark ments (Part 2) Braunstein, at ams.portal@lmco.com Operators Corner 12 Service Bulletin 13 Updates Address all comments or ques- tions pertaining to the Service News, to the Service News Editor at ams.portal@lmco. RESTRICTION NOTICE This publication is intended for infor- mation only. Its content neither re- places nor revises any material in Image—Lockheed Martin Archives official manuals or publications. Copyright © 2004 Lockheed Martin Corporation. All rights reserved. Permission to reprint articles or photo- graphs must be requested in writing from the editor. VolumeVolume 29.,29, No.No. 2 2 Click to Return to Table of Contents Page 2 C-130 Reaches Major Milestone Written by Joseph E. Dabney, Retired Lockheed Employee and C-130 Hercules Historian any historic milestones have been recorded by the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules, but in August 2004, a major milestone will occur – the 50th anniversary of the prototype Hercules M aircraft’s first flight. This will be a world record as far as aircraft production longevity is concerned, a testimony to the plane’s rugged design, continued evolvement, and unmatched versatility. It was shortly after 2:45 p.m. on August 23, 1954, at Lockheed’s Burbank, California, facility, when the first YC-130 prototype took to the air. Test pilot Stan Beltz was in the left hand seat. Eight seconds down the runway, at 855 feet, the airplane leaped into the air in a spectacular 30 degree climb out. During the 61- minute test flight, mostly at 10,000 feet, Beltz and crew were amazed at the airplane’s power and ease of handling. Image—Lockheed Martin Archives Since that auspicious beginning, the C-130 has become one of the world’s truly classic airplanes, being operated around the world in more than 70 versions, including the L-100 civil derivative. Starting out primarily as a tactical military airlifter, delivering troops and supplies into and out of short strips of sand, grass, and snow, the C-130 quickly became one of the world’s most effective ambassadors of goodwill, as a hefty “flying pickup,” hauling relief goods to disaster areas around the world, hunting hurricanes, fighting forest fires, and refueling helicopters. Living up to its namesake, mythology’s legendary Greek strong man, the Hercules airlifter revolutionized the scientific exploration of Antarctica (on one-ton skis) and helped develop oil fields in Alaska, Peru, and Mexico. In recent years, in addition to its key roles in Iraq and Afghanistan where it operates routinely, the C-130 has provided vital airlift for Allied peacekeeping efforts in Yugoslavia and Bosnia. Volume 29., No. 2 Click to Return to Table of Contents Page 3 U.S. Postal Service Honors C-130 HERCULES! By John Conti — Senior Flight Operations Analyst n August 23, 2004, the United States Postal Service ( ) will honor the 50th Anniversary of the First Flight of the C-130 Hercules with a Commemorative Pictorial O Cancellation. A Pictorial Cancellation is a unique postmark offered by the U.S. Postal Service to commemorate special events. Items that are cancelled using a commemorative design are usually in very limited quantity and are highly sought after by stamp collectors and others interested in U.S. postal history. Pictorial Cancellation Design This commemorative cancellation uniquely depicts aircraft serial number 53-3397 as it lifts into the air at 2:45pm on August 23, 1954. Also depicted in the pictorial cancellation design is the Lockheed Star logo of that era which appeared on the side of the airplane as the prototype YC-130 transport lifted off from Burbank, California, with Stan Beltz and Roy Wimmer at the controls and with flight engineer Dick Stanton and flight test engineer Jack Real as crew. The Lockheed airplane took flight that day powered by four Allison T56 turboprop engines and four AERO Product 3 bladed propellers as portrayed in the design. The prototype C-130 used just 855 feet of runway to take-off and climbed to an altitude of about 10,000 feet as the flight crew set about completing the scheduled test objectives for the first flight. The C-130 Hercules Pictorial Cancellation can be applied to an addressed or unaddressed envelope, postcard, a favorite C-130 photo, or any similar item desired as a commemorative of this historic event. A familiar postal “bull’s-eye” located in the upper left corner of the design reflects the long time Marietta, Georgia, home of the Hercules, where production C-130s are still rolling off the assembly floor. The zip code “30063” is unique to the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Marietta. Postal Pictorial Cancellation Service There are several ways to participate in this historic event. One option is to be present at the temporary philatelic C-130 Hercules First Flight Station on August 23, 2004, within the Lockheed Martin facility. Once there, you can take advantage of the Hand-back service for the pictorial cancellation offered by the Marietta Postmaster on that day only, from 9am to 5pm. The Hand-back service is free of charge for quantities less than 50 items. The Postmaster will make available this unique pictorial cancellation on any material that bears un-canceled postage at the U.S. First-Class rate of 37 cents. These items do not require an address, as once cancelled, the item is immediately returned to the individual. (Continued on page 5) Volume 29., No. 2 Click to Return to Table of Contents Page 4 (Continued from page 4) Another way to participate is through the Mail-back TO: ITEMS service offered by the Marietta Postmaster. This SEND method permits Hercules enthusiasts to submit TO: Postmaster envelopes, postcards, photographs, posters, and ATTN: C-130 Hercules First Flight Station other materials through the mail directly to the 257 Lawrence Street Marietta Post Office for cancellations over a 30 day Marietta, Georgia, USA 30060-9998 period, from August 23, 2004, through September 23, 2004. Mail-in requests should be addressed to the Postmaster, Attention: C-130 Hercules First Flight Station and must be postmarked no later than September 23, 2004. Items submitted must also bear unused postage of at least the U.S. First- Class postage rate of 37 cents. Items must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope with applicable U.S. postage for the return of each item. If the item is an envelope or postcard and you wish for it to pass through the mail-stream, these individual items need to be addressed and must also bear unused U.S. postage of at least the First-Class rate, and sufficient postage to allow the item to be returned to you. Commemorative Pictorial Cancellation Proof Cards Available First Flight Proof Cards will be available in limited quantity through the Lockheed Martin Employee Association (LMEA) Gift Shop. These special cards will show a copy of the original first flight photograph and the C-130 Hercules Pictorial cancelled over the 100th Anniversary of the Wright Brothers First Flight Stamp, embossed lettering on the front, and a brief history of the first flight on the back. Each commemorative proof card is displayed in a Lockheed Martin embossed presentation folder commemorating this historic event. Also, in addition to the proof cards, LMEA Gift Shop will have several other commemorative items, such as shirts, hats, etc., available for purchase. This Gift Shop is open to the public. You can order by phone at 770-494-3922, or online at the LMEA WEB site, at www. lockheedmartingiftshop.com. Volume 29., No. 2 Click to Return to Table of Contents Page 5 A Mating of The Jeep, The Truck and The Airplane By Joseph Dabney. Excerpts* from the book: HERK: Hero of the Skies “The front of the C-130 resembles a goat, but it's nowhere near as stubborn.” - Major Joseph P.