Terror War's Workhorse Falling Apart

Exclusive: Crucial AC-130 Gunship May Be Most Overworked Part Of The American Arsenal

(CBS)  It's a prop plane in a jet age and an ungainly one at that. But the AC-130 gunship may well be the single-most overworked piece of equipment in the American arsenal, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports.

When it takes on a full load of ammunition, it becomes a flying tank, and every time special operations forces conduct a mission in Iraq and Afghanistan, an AC-130 covers them from air.

"We are the No. 1 aircraft for percentage of combat time and total time over the course of the year," Lt. Col. Mark Clawson said.

The gunship Clawson flew for a training mission has been in service for 17 years, but the war is making the gunship old before its time.

"We've been flying at a rate four times what they ever anticipated. So effectively, this is a 40-year-old C-130 in the way it reacts," he said.

The back of the plane is filled with crew members, instruments, computers, guns and ammo - so full it's at maximum gross weight.

"That basically means I'm at max throttles, max gross weight and it's max wear and tear on the aircraft on a daily basis," Clawson said.

You rarely see an AC-130 gunship in action, because they operate in secret and at night. But they are seeing so much action in Iraq and Afghanistan that it is getting harder and harder to keep them flying.

"We're flying the wings off them, literally," Captain James May said.

May said cracks are already starting to show in the wings, which will have to be replaced five years ahead of schedule. And that's just the wings. For every hour of flying, it takes 14 hours of maintenance.

"These air frames are getting so old that we've got stuff breaking on them that has never broken before," May said.

But on one flight, it was the guns that broke down. First the 40-millimeter canon jams.

"This is horrible," one crewmember said.

Then, the big 105-millimeter horowitzer refused to fire on automatic. A few love taps with a wrench, but still, no go.

"They're just old and tired," another crewmember said. Another: "It's all right, old girl."

There's one way that it does work - the old fashioned way.

Even firing manually the AC-130 is a fearsome weapon.

The one gun that does work flawlessly, the 23-millimeter gatling gun, fires at the rate of 1,800 rounds per minute.

If special operations forces ever get a chance to capture or kill Osama bin Laden, an AC-130 gunship will almost certainly be part of the operation. That is, if it's still flying by then.

[forthepeopl1]

AP) Top current advisers to Sen. John McCain''s presidential campaign last year lobbied for a European plane maker that beat Boeing to a $35 billion Air Force tanker contract, taking sides in a bidding fight that McCain has tried to referee for more than five years.

Two of the advisers gave up their lobbying work when they joined McCain''s campaign. A third, former Texas Rep. Tom Loeffler, lobbied for the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. while serving as McCain''s national finance chairman.

EADS is the parent company of Airbus, which teamed up with U.S.-based Northrop Grumman Corp. to win the lucrative aerial refueling contract on Feb. 29. Boeing Co. Chairman and CEO Jim McNerney said in a statement Monday that the Chicago-based aerospace company %u201Cfound serious flaws in the process that we believe warrant appeal.%u201D

McCain, the Republican presidential nominee in waiting, has been a key figure in the Pentagon''s yearslong attempt to complete a deal on the tanker. McCain helped block an earlier tanker contract with Boeing and prodded the Pentagon in 2006 to develop bidding procedures that did not exclude Airbus.

DONT WORRIE MCCAIN WILL COME TO HE RESCUE,AND HAVE CHINA BUILD US NEW ONES

[feelfree1]

David Martin sounds like he is jacking off here:

"Even firing manually the AC-130 is a fearsome weapon."

"The one gun that does work flawlessly, the 23-millimeter gatling gun, fires at the rate of 1,800 rounds per minute."

And he doesn''t miss an opportunity to prop-up a boogie-man.

"If special operations forces ever get a chance to capture or kill Osama bin Laden, an AC-130 gunship will almost certainly be part of the operation. That is, if it''s still flying by then."

Osama is most likely long-dead, but without him the Western corporate media scare-mongering really makes no sense at all, so they need to keep him alive, at least in the minds of their U.S. victims.

[alphaa10-2009]

Feel Free said, "Osama is most likely long-dead..."
---
If Bush couldn''t nail him after several tries (some Bush aborted), OBL is probably still out there.

Consider the level of intelligence, such that it is-- Bush claimed Iran had an ongoing "nucular" weapons program as late as last year.

Bush seemed unaware Iran scrapped its nuclear weapons effort back in 2003.

So, take your pick-- the Bush statement on Iran is a load of strategic ignorance, or it is a big lie, to excuse an invasion of Iran?

In any case, how much could Bush know? (Never mind...)

[gatrfan]

This story, as well as recent stories about the issue of a lack of AC-130 gunships and other essential Air Force aircraft just illustrates how out of whack our priorities are. The Air Force is more focused on getting F-22 Raptors into service than taking care of our most essential weapons like the AC-130. Their usefulness is seen everyday in the fight against extremists, which perplexes me even more why very little is being done to get more of them on the flight line and repair their center-wing boxes faster. Our priorities are screwed up, and it frustrates me that if we just put money where it needs to be and take money away from the useless programs, we could be killing more of the bad people and saving more of the good. Please, keep more articles like this coming so the problem will never go away for the one''s who call the shots. If they see this issue being pushed consistently, something will eventually be done. The stakes are to high to do nothing, especially now.

[alphaa10-2009]

The C130-- as an aircraft-- is a beautiful, reliable piece of work. This thing still carries cargo around the world, under various governments, and miserable, difficult airfield conditions. It is a standard of efficiency unto itself.

And when our DOD keeps C130s flying, it is a tribute to that reliability. If in the future we need more short-field transports like the C130, DOD needs simply to restart production of an improved model. Some designs never reach the end of their useful life.

The AC130 fought in Vietnam, back when firebases faced human-wave attacks at night, and needed whatever they could call in.

Yes, the AC130 is a terrible weapon, but a lot of guys are around today because of that plane. And while many of them may disagree with Bush about Iraq, they have only gratitude for the AC130.

[alphaa10-2009]

AC130guy said, "This story... illustrates how out of whack our priorities are. The Air Force is more focused on getting F-22 Raptors into service than taking care of our most essential weapons like the AC-130..."
---
Eisenhower warned about the military-industrial complex, but lobbies in Washington thrive like pigs on bloated DOD budgets and weapons systems that are horrendously expensive, but largely irrelevant. To the lobbies, especially, the terms military and intelligence are oxymorons, and very profitable ones.

In contrast to "high-tech" budgets, pilots flying A10s value their aircraft on close support because the thing was designed for its mission-- it features a titanium tub surrounding the pilot, and nothing but a headshot can harm him. It carries a tremendous weapons load, and great hangtime over target. In contrast, B1s and B2s must acquire, drdp and scoot before they run out of fuel.

[slpdisk]

If special operations forces ever get a chance to capture or kill Osama bin Laden, an AC-130 gunship will almost certainly be part of the operation. That is, if it''s still flying by then.
You would have to dig him up first cause last I heard he was dead!

[cyberus-2009]

----
The C130-- as an aircraft-- is a beautiful, reliable piece of work. This thing still carries cargo around the world, under various governments, and miserable, difficult airfield conditions. It is a standard of efficiency unto itself.

And when our DOD keeps C130s flying, it is a tribute to that reliability. If in the future we need more short-field transports like the C130, DOD needs simply to restart production of an improved model. Some designs never reach the end of their useful life.
(snipped)
Posted by alphaa10 at 09:09 PM : Mar 12, 2008
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AMEN!

I''ve been saying for many years that there a few pieces of equipment that don''t really need improvement .. just dust off the plans and tweak in some modern materials keep on trucking with what works .. to hades with these multi-billion dollar *development* contracts.

I mean think about it ... the C-130 is just a start ... think about what an old thunderbrick like the F-4 could do with modern metal airframes and modern engines? the freaking thing could carry monster payloads at fighter speeds, take ugly damage and still crawl home what it might be able to do as a fast attack light bomber buggers the mind.

[blackwater66-2009]

Flew on this one many times in the Nam and it is still around doing good stuff. What a plane !! It''s about like the Huey ! I still see them out flying around..
They were well made in the USA !!

[blackwater66-2009]

Flew on this one many times in the Nam and it is still around doing good stuff. What a plane !! It''s about like the Huey ! I still see them out flying around..
They were well made in the USA !!

[rushlimbaug4]

I''''ve been saying for many years that there a few pieces of equipment that don''''t really need improvement .. just dust off the plans and tweak in some modern materials keep on trucking with what works .. to hades with these multi-billion dollar *development* contracts.


Posted by cyberus at 09:47 PM : Mar 12, 2008

First, Greetings to all my loyal listeners.

Second, Cyberus, enough of all the commie talk. Do these planes have lasers or will they look cool when they hit the ground in a fireball of jet fuel and high-tech explosives? Only a socialist LIB would suggest reusing a design that is cost effective and efficient!!!

We need new, shiny, titanium alloy planes with all the high-tech gadgetry and flashing lights with switches that do nothing that Boeing engineers can think up. Because it is American to spend money on shiny things that do nothing!! That is how we prove to the world that we are successful!! Just like a billionaire who purchases a 200,000 dollar watch that does not tell time!! It is how you show the LIB Terrorists that YOU are more successful and intelligent than them!!

How better a way to win a war against a people that Hate our Freedom to buy garbage and not have to worry about where our next meal is going to come from!!!!!!

God bless America!

[artatl]

I''m puzzled by the story... the C130 is still in production... I think the J model is the current model and it is a greatly improved version. Normally the modifications for AC130''s happen after the production line. I guess we need to fast track a J model version of the AC130... taking positive action in response to this story.

SIDENOTE... I read how the gunship came into being... Would you believe the inspiration came from remote mail delivery? Seems someone figured out that if you had an airplane at the right altitude... and a rope with a bucket on the end... you could put the airplane in a tight turn... put mail in the bucket... lower the rope... and the buket could be held at a spot in the air where a person on the ground could walk up... take out the mail... put in outgoing mail... and then hoist the bucket back into the plane. Some bright person thought... imagine replacing the rope with the firing path of bullets... concentrating fire at the "point" on the ground where the bucket would have been. I think the original airframe was the military version of the DC-3... the C47... or AC-47 for the gunship version... I think they were know as Puff the Magic Dragon.

[artatl]

I''m puzzled by the story... the C130 is still in production... I think the J model is the current model and it is a greatly improved version. Normally the modifications for AC130''s happen after the production line. I guess we need to fast track a J model version of the AC130... taking positive action in response to this story.

SIDENOTE... I read how the gunship came into being... Would you believe the inspiration came from remote mail delivery? Seems someone figured out that if you had an airplane at the right altitude... and a rope with a bucket on the end... you could put the airplane in a tight turn... put mail in the bucket... lower the rope... and the buket could be held at a spot in the air where a person on the ground could walk up... take out the mail... put in outgoing mail... and then hoist the bucket back into the plane. Some bright person thought... imagine replacing the rope with the firing path of bullets... concentrating fire at the "point" on the ground where the bucket would have been. I think the original airframe was the military version of the DC-3... the C47... or AC-47 for the gunship version... I think they were know as Puff the Magic Dragon.

[artatl]

I''m puzzled by the story... the C130 is still in production... I think the J model is the current model and it is a greatly improved version. Normally the modifications for AC130''s happen after the production line. I guess we need to fast track a J model version of the AC130... taking positive action in response to this story.

SIDENOTE... I read how the gunship came into being... Would you believe the inspiration came from remote mail delivery? Seems someone figured out that if you had an airplane at the right altitude... and a rope with a bucket on the end... you could put the airplane in a tight turn... put mail in the bucket... lower the rope... and the buket could be held at a spot in the air where a person on the ground could walk up... take out the mail... put in outgoing mail... and then hoist the bucket back into the plane. Some bright person thought... imagine replacing the rope with the firing path of bullets... concentrating fire at the "point" on the ground where the bucket would have been. I think the original airframe was the military version of the DC-3... the C47... or AC-47 for the gunship version... I think they were know as Puff the Magic Dragon.

[gatrfan]

------

"...I guess we need to fast track a J model version of the AC130... taking positive action in response to this story."

-----

The problem isn''t necessarily with the actual age of the aircraft; The newer U-model gunships were built in the 1990s. The problem is that there are very few AC-130 gunships and each is constantly being used beyond their intended usage. If we are to continue fighting terrorists in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere, there must a initiative to put more gunships on the flight line. Currently, a prototype C-27B is in the works as a "gunship lite" concept, which would have only 30mm cannons. (All gunships are having their 25mm and 40mm guns replaced by 2 modern 30mm canons.) The technology aboard the gunships are the most advanced used in any aircraft. The age is not the problem. Their overuse per airframe is.

More gunships must be more bought, and they must be bought before they start falling out of the sky and endangering our guys on the ground. These weapon systems are an essential asset in the fight against terrorists, without it, America will be become severely handicapped in terms of our ability to neutralize the enemy quickly and precisely without endangering the good guys.

[artatl]

I''m puzzled by the story... the C130 is still in production... I think the J model is the current model and it is a greatly improved version. Normally the modifications for AC130''s happen after the production line. I guess we need to fast track a J model version of the AC130... taking positive action in response to this story.

SIDENOTE... I read how the gunship came into being... Would you believe the inspiration came from remote mail delivery? Seems someone figured out that if you had an airplane at the right altitude... and a rope with a bucket on the end... you could put the airplane in a tight turn... put mail in the bucket... lower the rope... and the buket could be held at a spot in the air where a person on the ground could walk up... take out the mail... put in outgoing mail... and then hoist the bucket back into the plane. Some bright person thought... imagine replacing the rope with the firing path of bullets... concentrating fire at the "point" on the ground where the bucket would have been. I think the original airframe was the military version of the DC-3... the C47... or AC-47 for the gunship version... I think they were know as Puff the Magic Dragon.

[artatl]

I''m puzzled by the story... the C130 is still in production... I think the J model is the current model and it is a greatly improved version. Normally the modifications for AC130''s happen after the production line. I guess we need to fast track a J model version of the AC130... taking positive action in response to this story.

SIDENOTE... I read how the gunship came into being... Would you believe the inspiration came from remote mail delivery? Seems someone figured out that if you had an airplane at the right altitude... and a rope with a bucket on the end... you could put the airplane in a tight turn... put mail in the bucket... lower the rope... and the buket could be held at a spot in the air where a person on the ground could walk up... take out the mail... put in outgoing mail... and then hoist the bucket back into the plane. Some bright person thought... imagine replacing the rope with the firing path of bullets... concentrating fire at the "point" on the ground where the bucket would have been. I think the original airframe was the military version of the DC-3... the C47... or AC-47 for the gunship version... I think they were know as Puff the Magic Dragon.

[artatl]

I''m puzzled by the story... the C130 is still in production... I think the J model is the current model and it is a greatly improved version. Normally the modifications for AC130''s happen after the production line. I guess we need to fast track a J model version of the AC130... taking positive action in response to this story.

SIDENOTE... I read how the gunship came into being... Would you believe the inspiration came from remote mail delivery? Seems someone figured out that if you had an airplane at the right altitude... and a rope with a bucket on the end... you could put the airplane in a tight turn... put mail in the bucket... lower the rope... and the buket could be held at a spot in the air where a person on the ground could walk up... take out the mail... put in outgoing mail... and then hoist the bucket back into the plane. Some bright person thought... imagine replacing the rope with the firing path of bullets... concentrating fire at the "point" on the ground where the bucket would have been. I think the original airframe was the military version of the DC-3... the C47... or AC-47 for the gunship version... I think they were know as Puff the Magic Dragon.

[kissamaarse]

Is Bush''s mind the way it is from cocaine and alcohol, or from syphilis? Is McSame the way he is from his active cancer, from his manic temper, or just his old age?

[cbsblogger]

Remember in early 2001 when Cheney wanted to cut the regular old Army troops and replace boots on the ground them with Star Wars missile defense. He said that troops and AC130s were so out of date and old fashioned.

He wanted hundred billion dollar weapons systems instead of what the military needed.

What we should do is cut about 50% out of the military budget and remove our troops from around the world and then start defending our borders and ports.

[brianbwb-2009]

The really obscene part is that the press is still calling this a "war on terror", after all events subsequent to 9/11/01 show that it is not, it is in fact anything GUT a "war on terror".

The media helps keep the few war supporters in the belief that this is anything other than what it truly is, an attempt, via genocide, to establish American hegemony over oil producing nations, and steal, through markups, the money from the US treasury, and the future assets, which Bush has borrowed against.

There is no "war on terror", Bush and the press continue to call anyone who resists the illegal military occupation of their country "terrorists", and the death mongers cheer it on, without a single shred of evidence that the people dying are in fact "terrorists".

[brianbwb-2009]

excuse the typo, I meant anything BUT a "war on terror"

[iceman_1960]

"Terror War"s Workhorse Falling Apart"
-------

I thought the headline referred to Bush.

[andrew_693]

These poor ignorants, the demise of the plane is simply overflying it. Bush has trillions of dollars to spend every month on both stupid wars and cannot defeat a bunch of bare foot ignorants carrying ak 47s. If the taliban had all the resources and weaponry the allies have they would have defeated the entire coalition probably.

[cyberus-2009]

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Posted by cyberus at 09:47 PM : Mar 12, 2008

First, Greetings to all my loyal listeners.

Second, Cyberus, enough of all the commie talk. Do these planes have lasers or will they look cool when they hit the ground in a fireball of jet fuel and high-tech explosives?
(much funny stuff snipped)
Posted by RushLimbaug4 at 10:43 PM : Mar 12, 2008
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(GRIN)

Been a long time since I''ve seen a good sarcastic response .. well done!
Only reason I''m responding is so nobody (moderators) misses the message buried in it.

[mcvet]

Can you honestly say Clinton or Obama would have the guts to go against popularity polls to do what is right for the US? Never in a million years, that''''s not the way Democrats are taught to act. Polls are everything to them.

What is it that you Nazi''s do NOT understand about the word REPRESENTATIVE?? We ELECT them to follow OUR wishes, you know WE the PEOPLE?? If they fail to do so, if they fail to REPRESENT us then they are thrown out. It''s called DEMOCRACY, you know GOVERNMENT of the PEOPLE, by the PEOPLE and FOR the PEOPLE. IF the American People find themselves LIED to 935 times to get into a War, a War that had NOTHING to do with any attack on this nation, then we should be able to get out, right? You Nazi''s do not want a REPRESENTATIVE form of Government, you want a dictator. God Nazi''s are so STUPID!! Sieg Heil Bush

[mcvet]

Oh, right, like Afghanistan has tons of oil for us to ''''steal''''

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik
i/List_of_oil-producing_states

It doesn''''t produce one single drop of oil, so quantify your lying a$$ statement now.


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Posted by TheGateway1 at 05:23 AM : Mar 13, 2008
+ report abuse

I don''t think he was talking about Afganistan Swastika Breath. You Nazi''s are so ready to pounce on anyone who, you think, has made even the slightest mistake in evaluating the performance of the Worst President in US History, you are getting rediculous. How about addressing the 935 lies told by the Bush Administration in the two years leading up to Iraq. THAT''s something you can devote time too. Sieg Heil Bush.

[watcher269-2009]

This is downright error - these planes are a REAL workhorse in protecting the troops and an amazing peace of military equipment - I LOVE these planes!

[colvinatch]

Necons = neonazis... PERIOD

[hillaryin08]

You all are so pathetic. Always harping on the President. What the fvck scares you so much?
-------

He''''s an idiot with power. Very Scary.


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Posted by FloydZepp at 05:30 AM : Mar 13, 2008

Your an idiot with a computer. Thats even more scary

[formrusmcsgt]

Mr. President, we''re wearing our our equipment faster than it can be replaced.

Just keep doing what you''re doing.

Mr. President, we''ve been here 5 years and are still where we were 5 years ago.

Just keep doing what you''re doing.

Mr. President, we''ve now spent a trillion borrowed dollars on this.

Just keep doing what you''re doing.

[hillaryin08]

Mr. President, we''''re wearing our our equipment faster than it can be replaced.

Just keep doing what you''''re doing.

Mr. President, we''''ve been here 5 years and are still where we were 5 years ago.

Just keep doing what you''''re doing.

Mr. President, we''''ve now spent a trillion borrowed dollars on this.

Just keep doing what you''''re doing.


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Posted by formrusmcsgt at 08:18 AM : Mar 13, 2008

Dont worry, when Obamma or Hillary gets in there, all the cool equipment will become "Hanger Queens" once again like the 90''s. If you dont use it you dont have to replace it right?

[prcdr]

I just love how you libs go on about how Neocons, Republicans, and Conservatives are all Nazis, blah blah blah.

Get a clue!
Nazis = National Socialists in German Language.
Socialists = Left Wing Political Party.
Democratic Party = Left Wing Political Party.
Republicans = Right Wing Political Party.

[petesis]

Bonehead. The Nazis were a ultra conservative movement. They were called National Socialists which is apparently all it takes to fool you and alot of Germany.

[danstarcher]

So I have been working on the AC130U model gunship for the last six years. Your article is a bit off. There is no 23 mm gatling gun. There is only a 25mm