Piloting an AC-130 Spectre

The recent obliteration of the Somali chapter of Al Queda by an AC-130
gunship (See http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/ac-130.htm if you
don't know what one looks like) got me wondering how, exactly, one
would pilot such a craft during an attack.

Think about it. You've got a 155,000 pound, 4-engine transport
aircraft, making a continual left turn in order to keep your weapons on
the mark. It's pitch dark (darkness is your only defense, other than
ECM), and you've got 105 mm cannons firing right behind your ear.

I've watched C-130s turn, and they need a LOT of territory to turn
around. In order to keep their weapons on the target, I would think
the AC-130 would need to bank a lot more steeply than I've seen them do
in cargo-plane training. And, don't forget, you've got 14 guys and
gals seated behind you, working radar and weapons systems, most with no
view outside, so you can't yank and crank TOO hard or you'll have
barf-covered equipment from stem to stern.

In order to keep the weapons on target, I would think that you'd have
to hold altitude accurately, too, and your "track" would need to be
smooth enough so that the computers could figure deflection accurately.


In short, the pilot must have his hand's full during an attack run!
Even though you don't think of the C-130 as being a high-performance
aircraft, it's got to be a real trick keeping that pig over a
(relatively) small target.

Any former AC-130 pilots here? How'd you do it? Is there an autopilot
that holds you in a constant turn during an attack run, or is it all
hand-flown?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

On 11 Jan 2007 07:59:31 -0800, "Jay Honeck" wrote
in .com:

The recent obliteration of the Somali chapter of Al Queda by an AC-130
gunship (See http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/ac-130.htm

Sadly, your assertion about obliteration is not true. From what I've
heard so far, only _ONE_ confirmed Al Queda member has been killed
despite over 100 deaths there at the hands of the US military
presumably under orders of their commander, the eriadite Mr. Bush. :-(

Welcome to World War III.

Larry Dighera wrote:
On 11 Jan 2007 07:59:31 -0800, "Jay Honeck" wrote
in .com:

The recent obliteration of the Somali chapter of Al Queda by an AC-130
gunship (See http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/ac-130.htm

Sadly, your assertion about obliteration is not true. From what I've
heard so far, only _ONE_ confirmed Al Queda member has been killed
despite over 100 deaths there at the hands of the US military
presumably under orders of their commander, the eriadite Mr. Bush. :-(

Welcome to World War III.



Not even 1. http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa....ap/index.html

we've been in WW III since the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. You could
even argue the Iranian revolution back in '79.

As for piloting the AC-130, basic turn around a point that we all
learned early on. :^) Except in executing that ground reference maneuver
you are a cloudburst of lead.

KC

On 2007-01-11 08:29:50 -0800, Kevin Clarke said:

Larry Dighera wrote:
On 11 Jan 2007 07:59:31 -0800, "Jay Honeck" wrote
in .com:

The recent obliteration of the Somali chapter of Al Queda by an AC-130
gunship (See http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/ac-130.htm

Sadly, your assertion about obliteration is not true. From what I've
heard so far, only _ONE_ confirmed Al Queda member has been killed
despite over 100 deaths there at the hands of the US military
presumably under orders of their commander, the eriadite Mr. Bush. :-(

Welcome to World War III.


Not even 1. http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa....ap/index.html

we've been in WW III since the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. You could
even argue the Iranian revolution back in '79.

As for piloting the AC-130, basic turn around a point that we all
learned early on. :^) Except in executing that ground reference
maneuver you are a cloudburst of lead.

KC

World War III was the Cold War. This is World War IV.

Funny. Bet Mr. Bush can spell "erudite," even if Larry can't. Funny
also how heavily armed a lot of those "civilians" seem to be.

--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor

On 2007-01-11 08:20:20 -0800, Larry Dighera said:

On 11 Jan 2007 07:59:31 -0800, "Jay Honeck" wrote
in .com:

The recent obliteration of the Somali chapter of Al Queda by an AC-130
gunship (See http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/ac-130.htm

Sadly, your assertion about obliteration is not true. From what I've
heard so far, only _ONE_ confirmed Al Queda member has been killed
despite over 100 deaths there at the hands of the US military
presumably under orders of their commander, the eriadite Mr. Bush. :-(

Welcome to World War III.

Quit spouting the terrorist line, Larry, or tell us how to fight a war
without killing civilians.

--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor

Christopher Campbell christophercampbell wrote:
On 2007-01-11 08:20:20 -0800, Larry Dighera said:

On 11 Jan 2007 07:59:31 -0800, "Jay Honeck" wrote
in .com:

The recent obliteration of the Somali chapter of Al Queda by an AC-130
gunship (See http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/ac-130.htm

Sadly, your assertion about obliteration is not true. From what I've
heard so far, only _ONE_ confirmed Al Queda member has been killed
despite over 100 deaths there at the hands of the US military
presumably under orders of their commander, the eriadite Mr. Bush. :-(

Welcome to World War III.

Quit spouting the terrorist line, Larry, or tell us how to fight a war
without killing civilians.



I suspect there was a failure of intelligence here. I know if I had a
grudge against my neighbor I'd be sure to tell the local Special OPS
guys that they were Al Qaeda. :^)

KC

On Thu, 11 Jan 2007 08:47:55 -0800, Christopher Campbell
wrote in
2007011108475575249-christophercampbelldeletethis@hotmailcom:

Quit spouting the terrorist line, Larry, or tell us how to fight a war
without killing civilians.

I speak for myself alone.

I notice you didn't take issue with any of my assertions.

I guess you can't face the truth.

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message


I notice you didn't take issue with any of my assertions.

....Just as you chose not to address any of Jay's actual questions. As usual,
you take any opportunity to spout anti-Bush/anti-military rhetoric. Really,
it's OK. It's part of your persona we've come to expect.

--
John T
http://sage1solutions.com/blogs/TknoFlyer
Reduce spam. Use Sender Policy Framework: http://openspf.org
____________________

On Thu, 11 Jan 2007 14:36:47 -0500, "John T"
wrote in
:

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message


I notice you didn't take issue with any of my assertions.

...Just as you chose not to address any of Jay's actual questions.

I just thought Mr. Honeck might want to know that what he wrote was
incorrect. Does he really need you as a spokesman?

As usual, you take any opportunity to spout anti-Bush/anti-military rhetoric.

If you choose to infer that from what I wrote, it is you who is
characterizing the situation that way. I merely stated the facts as I
believed them to be at the time.

And why do you see calling Mr. Bush 'erudite as being anti-Bush?

Really, it's OK.

So now you're giving me your approval to exercise my right to free
speech? Please.

It's part of your persona we've come to expect.

Who are among the group you refer to as 'we'?

On 2007-01-11 09:22:49 -0800, Larry Dighera said:

On Thu, 11 Jan 2007 08:47:55 -0800, Christopher Campbell
wrote in
2007011108475575249-christophercampbelldeletethis@hotmailcom:

Quit spouting the terrorist line, Larry, or tell us how to fight a war
without killing civilians.

I speak for myself alone.
I notice you didn't take issue with any of my assertions.

I guess you can't face the truth.

Well, that one terrorist sure managed to put up a heck of a fight, eh?
Even the combined armies of Somalia and Ethiopia were unable to enter
the area. But, come on, even bin Laden claims to be a "civilian." No
doubt, when he is killed, you will be bewailing yet another "civilian"
death. The other assertion was that Bush was "eriadite," which I
understood to be a sarcastic reference to your belief that he is
stupid. It would help if you would learn to spell before you start
calling other people stupid.

Your anti-Bush rhetoric is extremely cynical. It would be interesting
to know if your views differ from that of the terrorists in any
material whatsoever. So far, on this group anyway, you have agreed with
them 100%.

You might want to think about some of the idiocy you and the rest of
the extreme left are spouting. With any luck at all, you all would get
elected and you would be left with the problem of actually having to do
something instead of heckling from the back rows.

--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor