Weekend Open Thread

Many TAH readers have flown on a C-130. But it’s possible few know the aircraft’s true maximum possible passenger capacity.

Oh, sure – the book says that the earlier models can hold “64 paratroopers or 92 combat troops”. But when push comes to shove, the bird can carry a few more than that.

As in over 350 more. And I am not joking.

. . .

Tan Son Nhut Air Base, 29 April 1975. The North Vietnamese were advancing on Saigon, and a massive evacuation of US and other friendly personnel was underway. Originally planned as an evacuation of 13,000, the evacuation is estimated to have moved nearly 130,000 persons to safety.

At the time Tan Son Nhut was literally a war zone. Over 100 aircraft were either damaged and/or destroyed on the air base flight line, with some still burning.

However, one C-130 – tail number 56-0518 – remained there in flyable condition. It has been a USAF asset from delivery in 1957 until 1972, but was then transferred from the USAF to the RVNAF.

Its pilot on 29 April 1975 was an RVNAF officer named Major Phuong (regrettably, I couldn’t determine the man’s full name). As he prepared to leave, his aircraft was being mobbed by literally hundreds.

So many people boarded the plane that while taxiing the loadmaster informed Maj Phuong that he couldn’t close the rear ramp. Phuong then slammed on the brakes, which pushed the mass of passengers forward. (Some accounts say he did this multiple times in order to make room for more evacuees.) The doors were closed, and the aircraft – though overloaded by an amount estimated to be at least 5 tons – successfully took off.

Accounts indicate the aircraft needed more than 10,000 feet to get airborne – and the runway at Tan Son Nhut was only 10,000 feet. The bird didn’t lift off until it was on Tan Son Nhut’s 1,000’ runway overrun.

After an eventful flight (in addition to the high APF takeoff, they also became disoriented over the Gulf of Thailand), Phuong and his aircraft eventually reached safety. After landing, 452 personnel exited the plane – 32 of whom had been crammed into the cockpit.

. . .

No, this isn’t some bogus “tall tale”. It actually happened. It’s documented here, here, here, and here. Multiple other accounts also exist, though not all are accurate (some sources indicate, erroneously, that the aircraft was a USMC C-130).

Living free vice under a Communist dictatorship is often a powerful motivation to do truly amazing – and insanely dangerous – things.

Afterwards, the aircraft was returned to the USAF. It continued to fly until 1989, at which point it was retired.

The aircraft wasn’t send to Davis-Monthan AFB and scrapped, though. In recognition of the fact that it was the last C-130 to leave Vietnam, the aircraft was retained as a memorial. It is today on static display outside the main gate of Little Rock AFB, AR.

OK, enough aviation history for today. Enjoy the WOT, everyone – and the weekend.

Category: Historical, Open thread, YGBSM!!