When was the last time a AC-130 was used?

The last AC-130U was flown to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, June 26, 2020, for retirement.

Was the AC-130 gunship used in Vietnam?

They were used in Vietnam from 1962-1970. Beginning in 1965, the C-130 Hercules with its four turbo-prop engines, superior 15-ton payload, and its ability to rapidly offload palletized cargo dominated airlift operations in Vietnam. As ground combat increased, so did airlift requirements.

Who shot down an AC-130?

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. 29. The 14-person crew’s AC-130H Spectre gunship was shot down by an Iraqi surface-to-air missile while conducting a combat mission during Operation Desert Storm, Jan. 31, 1991.

How many AC-130 gunships does the US have?

AC-130J Ghostrider is a modified version of the MC-130J aircraft. The AC-130J Ghostrider completed its maiden test flight in January 2014. The USAF is procuring a total of 37 AC-130J Ghostrider aircraft.

Has an AC-130 ever been destroyed?

More than 15 percent of the approximately 2,350 Lockheed C-130 Hercules production hulls have been lost, including 70 by the US Air Force and the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. From 1967 to 2005, the Royal Air Force (RAF) recorded an accident rate of about one Hercules loss per 250,000 flying hours.

Can AC-130 drop bombs?

Bomber. Of course, if it can bomb a ship then it can bomb a building. The most precise and imposing C-130 bombers are the Air Force’s Stinger II and the Marine Corps’ Harvest Hawk, both of which fire precision missiles and bombs. Daisy Cutter bombs were carried in C-130s and dropped into the jungle.

What was the first gunship?

Douglas AC-47 Spooky
The Douglas AC-47 Spooky was the first notable modern gunship. In 1964, during the Vietnam War, the popular Douglas C-47 Skytrain transport was successfully modified into a gunship by the United States Air Force with three side-firing Miniguns for circling attacks.

What does AC mean in AC-130?

The gunship’s AC identifier stands for attack-cargo. The aircraft is powered by four turboprop engines and has a flight speed of 300 mph and a flight range of 1,300 miles, depending on weight. The AC-130 gunship’s primary missions are close air support, air interdiction and force protection.

Has an AC 130 ever been destroyed?

Is the ac130 retired?

The AC-130U returned from its final combat deployment on 8 July 2019; the final AC-130U was retired in August 2019.

What is an AC-130 gunship?

The A-model gunship was the first AC-130 model. The aircraft is 97 feet 9 inches long and 38 feet 3 inches tall. It has a wingspan of 132 feet 7 inches and a wing area of 1,745 sq. feet. Initially, the C-130 had a maximum speed of 384 mph and an un-refueled range of 2,450 miles with maximum load.

What kind of weapons does a Lockheed AC-130 have?

Lockheed AC-130. The Lockheed AC-130 gunship is a heavily armed, long-endurance ground-attack variant of the C-130 Hercules transport fixed-wing aircraft. It carries a wide array of anti-ground oriented weapons that are integrated with sophisticated sensors, navigation, and fire-control systems.

What are the characteristics of AC-130 ground attack aircraft?

Ground attack aircraft. Cabin of the AC-130 is non-pressurized. The AC-130 gunships usually operate at night, because it is an easy target due to its large profile and low operating altitude. When engaging the target this aircraft operates at an altitude of just 1.1 – 2.5 km.

Is the AC-130 still in use?

Today’s AC-130 gunships can best be described as cutting-edge in both weapons and electronic sophistication. The two primary versions still in use are the AC-130W Stinger II and AC-130J Ghostrider, which recently joined the fleet.