An absolute travesty!
Bloodhound 497, a DC-130A, was recently scrapped at Davis-Monthan AFB after 50+ years of service with both the USAF and the USN. At the time it was retired, and the only reason it was retired was becuase they couldn't find a part for the nose landing gear, it was the oldest aircraft flying with the U.S. Military, having first flown in 1957. It was the last "A" model Hercules flying with the U.S. Military, and had the lowest hours of any non-J model C-130. It was affectionately known as "Taco Bell" and in a top secret mission, fired the first shots of OIF, launching Firebee drones as decoys ahead of the first wave of aircraft. In over 40 years in aviation, this was the favorite plane that my dad ever worked on, and when he found out it had been cut up, he was crushed. Planes like this, with heritage and a story to tell need to sent to museums, not turned into beer cans. So much of our aviation history is meeting the wrecking ball now, and future generations will suffer for it.
An absolute travesty!
Bloodhound 497, a DC-130A, was recently scrapped at Davis-Monthan AFB after 50+ years of service with both the USAF and the USN. At the time it was retired, and the only reason it was retired was becuase they couldn't find a part for the nose landing gear, it was the oldest aircraft flying with the U.S. Military, having first flown in 1957. It was the last "A" model Hercules flying with the U.S. Military, and had the lowest hours of any non-J model C-130. It was affectionately known as "Taco Bell" and in a top secret mission, fired the first shots of OIF, launching Firebee drones as decoys ahead of the first wave of aircraft. In over 40 years in aviation, this was the favorite plane that my dad ever worked on, and when he found out it had been cut up, he was crushed. Planes like this, with heritage and a story to tell need to sent to museums, not turned into beer cans. So much of our aviation history is meeting the wrecking ball now, and future generations will suffer for it.