Herky Bird update
Since grounding the -H fleet 27 September, the Ar Force has cleared two of their C-130Hs to return to operational status.
The inspection process includes figuring out if propellers have defects and, if they need to be replaced, installing unaffected 54H60 assemblies from the Air Force’s existing supply, or speeding up the installation of the newer NP2000, which has eight propeller blades.
The Air Force Reserve said earlier this month that Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Georgia, which already had new propellers installed on most of its C-130Hs and was largely unaffected by the groundings, was planning to ship the handful of propeller assemblies it had in stock to other reserve units to help get their planes flying again.
One of the planes was repaired with a new prop assembly, and one was inspected and found airworthy. One suspects they are hopefully doing emergency inspections on all of them, approving the ones they can and setting priorities for repairs on the rest. One good-news/bad-news item:
Collins Aerospace, which makes the propellers, said in a statement to Defense News earlier this month that the problems emerged after the company delivered them to the Air Force, following a maintenance procedure the company did not perform.
Sounds like Collins is saying this is an Air Force-caused issue – will be interesting to follow further developments. Grounding most of the type? Somebody got some ‘splainin’ to do.
I’d love to be snarky and mention they have almost 130 planes to go and at this rate, etc. etc., but setting up defect screening to wrap your arms around a major issue takes some time. Just speculating – I doubt they will want to mix 4-blade and 8-blade props, so replacements will be in lots of four props, right? If upon inspection they find 2 of 4 propeller assemblies bad, can they re-use the other good two on other 4-blade planes or is that a bad idea? C130 guys, please help out here!
Category: Air Force, Military issues
“The Air Force Reserve said earlier this month that Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Georgia, which already had new propellers installed on most of its C-130Hs”
Dobbins Air Reserve base just happens to be the location of the Lockheed Martin plant where new C-130’s are built.
I’ve always been able to identify a C-130 passing overhead by
it’s unique sound. . I’m curious if the eight blade props emit an
entirely different signature distinguishable from the four blade.
How long has the eight blade been in service?
I may have to re-think my whole P-3 engine mounting stance after this….NAAAAAH!🤣
As in, Lockheed finally got it right after the Herc?
*grin*
The company delivered them after not following a maintenance procedure the company failed to perform.
This sounds like one of those 600.00 toilet seats that were installed on C5’s many years ago.
Is somebody getting a kick back on each new propeller sold?
Or the Air Force performed a non-recommended maintenance and screwed them up. Ambiguous phrasing, can be read either way.
“This is an issue created after delivery following a maintenance procedure that was performed outside of the Collins Aerospace network,” a Collins spokesperson said in an email.
Looks like the AF is on the hook.
Glad that their prop erly checking out the props for defects….
Quit pointing fingers and fix the damn egg beaters on the Herky Bird. They gonna be needed…soon. As I commented last time this subject came up, at least it’s not wing box gas tanks blowing up.
My wingwiping brother (E-9 then) was on the Transition Team that brought the B-1Bs to RAFB from Ellsworth AFB back yonder. He had just finished all of that transfer when he got snagged to work on the 130J Program @ Dobbins/Lockheed and had a big hand in bringing that Aircraft on line. Got over like a fat rat, TDY/per diem $, ect ect ect. Upon completion, his next duty was to be on the AF One Crew. Said he didn’t want to spend the next few years waxing BJ Willie’s ride and put in his papers so a buddy could get his Chief’s Stripe.
Any of you double dipping ebil grubermint contractors know if Collins Aerospace used to be known as CISCO (Collins International Service Co)? I got a war story about a CISCO buyer.