C141B Starlifter now a historic.

Background information on the Hanoi Taxi

Lockheed C-141C Starlifter 66-0177 “The Hanoi Taxi”, Starlifter number 66-0177 was the first to carry American POWs from Hanoi to freedom in 1973. during Operation Homecoming when American POWs left Hanoi inside specially marked C-141A Starlifters.
Starting February 12 of that year, special C-141s with red crosses on their vertical fins flew to Hanoi to repatriate the first of 590 released U.S. prisoners of war in a drama filled with emotion. On the first day of Operation Homecoming, C-141A 66-0177, then operated by the 63rd Military Airlift Wing, was followed into Hanoi by Starlifters from the 62nd and 60th Military Airlift Wings. For their special efforts to bring Americans home safely after the ordeal of imprisonment, the aircrews of the Military Airlift Command were honored by the presentation of the prestigious Mackay Trophy for their homecoming efforts in 1973.
This Starlifter still flies two of its primary missions, carrying cargo outbound and medical evacuees back home from Iraq and Kuwait. With about 35,000 hours on its airframe, Hanoi Taxi is nearing a well-deserved retirement. If plans work out, this historic airlifter will make its final hop from an active runway at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, to the runway that serves the adjacent U.S. Air Force Museum on February 12, 2006, marking the 33rd anniversary of its first flight from Hanoi by retiring to a place of honour in the museum.
Permission was received to give Hanoi Taxi a retro paint scheme like the one it wore when carrying POWs to safety in the 1970s. This is the only active Starlifter in two-tone gray-and-white paint, which makes it easy to tell when the Hanoi Taxi comes to town.

Hanoi Taxi nose at Oshkosh this year.

I might have shared this here before but here it is again. I took this picture of the Hanoi Taxi about a year ago.

One of the memories of the C-141 was how it seemed to “levitate” into the air on take off. No “rotation” as is very apparent on the C-5.

Anyway here is one that caught a bird:

There is a nice C-141A picture on this thread too:
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=31880

Thanks for the picture Papa Lima. The A model seemed to be better proportion than the stretched B’s

C-141A

Here’s a picture from page 167 of “Lockheed” by Bill Yenne

Has anyone got pictures of a C141A with the short fuselage? I first saw one in Jan 1966 at the opening of Auckland airport in NZ. As a mere wisp of a lad it was the largest thing I had ever seen, and the short take-off and climb-out is still etched in the memory banks. 🙂 🙂 🙂

Similar thread:
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=31685
(because I put a photo up on it!)

I always thought the the C141 was a nice looking jet. We were over at Lakenheath on July 28th and saw this AFRC machine from Wright Patterson AFB taxi out and take off.

Indeed I did, just wonder how long until the C5 is also classed as a historic curio ? A shame to see the Starlifter’s go, I’d hoped to get a few more snaps of them transiting through Prestwick Airport.

Get out your camera…the first batch of C-5As are headed for Davis-Monthan.
I believe less than 20 are being retired, the majority of the As and all Bs will be kept. One “A” is being disected to assess the airframe viability for the fleet.

I expect you saw the thread on the Commercial forum with 25 C17s on the ramp at one base and one of the forum members starting his training on them (for the reserve?)
mmitch.

Indeed I did, just wonder how long until the C5 is also classed as a historic curio ? A shame to see the Starlifter’s go, I’d hoped to get a few more snaps of them transiting through Prestwick Airport.

I expect you saw the thread on the Commercial forum with 25 C17s on the ramp at one base and one of the forum members starting his training on them (for the reserve?)
mmitch.

Edged out by the C-17 no doubt?