You know, I’d imagine it may take quite a few 20mm rounds to down a Cessna. Considering how much of the structure is un-fighterlike (not packed with fuel/electronics/weapons) it’d be mor difficult hitting a spot that actually does damage. Heck, some of the C152s I’ve flown might actually benefit from a well placed cannon round!

Yeah I was curious since the Mighty Mouse was 2.75 inch. Could it be loaded instead with a Hydra type weapon (choose your own warhead), or were these tubes completely incompatable?

Would be an interesting loadout though… 4x20mm, 8 Zuni, and 32 FFAR

The quick and dirty info: C-130B 56-0518, 452 people on board, including 32 in the cockpit.

from http://members.aol.com/mkonvalin/fave/herk.htm

A SHORT HISTORY OF C-130A, TAIL # 56-0518 “LAST HERK OUT OF VIETNAM”

The C-130A Hercules, tail # 56-0518, was the 126th built by Lockheed Aircraft corp. of Marietta, Georgia. It was accepted into the Air Force inventory on 23 August 1957.

It was assigned to the 314th Troop Carrier Wing at Sewart AFB, Tennessee, from 1964 to 1972. On 2 November 1972, it was given to the South Vietnamese Air Force as part of the Military Assistance Program. A few years later, the aircraft would be involved in a tremendously historic flight.

On 29 April 1975,this Herk was the last out of Vietnam during the fall of Saigon. With over 100 aircraft destroyed on the flight line at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, some of them still burning, it was the last flyable C-130 remaining. In a very panicked state, hundreds of people were rushing to get aboard, as the aircraft represented a final ticket to freedom.

People hurriedly crowded into the Herk, packing in tighter and tighter. Eventually, the loadmaster informed the pilot, Major Phuong, a South Vietnamese instructor pilot, that he could not get the rear ramp closed due to the number of people standing on it. In a moment of inspiration, Major Phuong slowly taxied forward, then hit the brakes. The loadmaster called forward again stating he had successfully got the doors closed.

In all, 452 people were on board, including a staggering 32 in the cockpit alone. Using a conservative estimate of 100 pounds per person, it translated into an overload of at least 10,000 pounds. Consequently, the Herk used every bit of the runway and overrun before it was able to get airborne.

The target was Thailand, which should have been 1:20 in flight time, but after an hour and a half, the aircraft was over the Gulf of Slam, and they were clearly lost. Finally, a map was located, they identified some terrain features, and they were able to navigate. They landed at Utapao, Thailand after a three and a half hour flight.

Ground personnel were shocked at what “fell out” as they opened the doors. It was clear that a longer flight would almost certainly have resulted in a loss of life. In the end, however, all 452 people made it to freedom aboard this historic C-130.

Upon landing, the aircraft was reclaimed by the United States Air Force and was assigned to two different Air National Guard units for the next 14 years. On 28 June 1989, it made its final flight to Little Rock Air Force Base, current home of the 314th Airlift Wing, and was placed on static display.

– Author Unknown

Anyone have more information on the Mig-19s and Mig-21 used as aggressors?

Never paid a cent, bit i’ve had mine over 5 years.

The missing country for 3A should be Afghanistan. 3C should be the US, as the USS Stark was hit by an Exocet.

A bit more info on the 2 MI-17s lost in Jan. They collided midair during a training mission, all 5 on board sadly died.

What is the MI-8/17 inventory in Mexico now?

Who (which “hard” source) can confirm that it was the “XV179”? And if there is so which kind of C-130K was the mentioned Herc, a C1 or a C3?

BBC reported “XV179”, and that would make it a C-130K C1, one of the oldest in the fleet. This was the same bird that held the record for longest C-130 flight when it flew from Asencion, airdropped over the Falklands, and then returned to Asencion. Refuelled by Victor tankers.