Seems the c-130's have been aging and needed upgrades.
From late 2015, I don't know if the budget went through on this or not-http://
www.delawareonline.com/story/news/nation/military/2015/10/09/guards-old-c-130s-could-get-new-life/73666208/
The NDAA contains about $75 million to begin installing modernizing satellite-based navigation systems and upgraded radios, and more extensive improvements, in the Air Guard’s 152 C-130H models and the 56 in the Air Force Reserve. None of these will be able to fly in U.S., European or Asian airspace beginning in 2020 unless those system upgrades are installed.
For years, the Air Guard has been frustrated by Air Force and congressional inaction on the modernization of the aging fleet, despite the aircraft’s continued demonstrations of tactical value, in combat and without. The C-130, powered by four turboprops, can land on and take off from short, unimproved landing strips with troops, cargo and more.
...For the Air Guard, the most important thing is to get the airframes compliant with the 2020 requirements, when digital air traffic control systems essentially become the worldwide standard, said Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala, the state National Guard's adjutant general. ..
And this is just a couple of weeks old-
http://www.scout.com/military/warrior/story/1728210-air-force-upgrades-war-tested-c-130
“The thing that causes the greatest risk to the airplane is the life of the wing. We monitor the wing of the aircraft and as the wings get past their service, life we bring the airplanes back in and bring in new structures -- with the primary focus being the center wingbox which is the area where the wings mount to the fuselage,”Col. Robert Toth, Chief of Tactical Aircraft, Special Operations and Combat Search and Rescue Division, told Scout Warrior in an interview several months ago.
As for when a C-130 is in need of a maintenance upgrade to preserve and maintain service life, the Air Force uses an assessment metric referred to as “equivalent baseline hours.” The wing-boxes are changed once the aircraft reaches a certain “severity factor” in its operational service time. This is necessary because the wear and tear or impact of missions upon and airplane can vary greatly depending upon a range of factors such as the altitude at which a plane is flying, Toth said.
“Low-level flight may be three to four times the severity factor of flying at a higher level,” he said.
Also, by January of 2020 the entire fleet of C-130s will need to comply with an FAA mandate and be equipped with systems that will relay aircraft position to a greater fidelity back and forth between the airplane and the air traffic management authorities, he added. This will allow them to sequence more aircraft closer together and enhance an ability to move commerce.
And it seems the plane that went down must have been an MC-130J, since it could be used to refuel-
Also, MC-130Js are specially modified airlifters engineered to transport Army Green Berets, Navy SEALs and Army Rangers
“They are essentially a C-130J further modified with defensive systems with radar countermeasures and infrared radar and advanced sensors for specialized missions. They also can perform in-flight refueling,” Toth explained.
Not C-130s, are they? And how long did that shortage last?
Not C-130s, are they? And how long did that shortage last?
..BoPete
