SMASHED C-130s

[Jack Cook]

JUST CAUGHT AND SAW 5 OF THE VERMONT ANGs FLEET OF C-130 HERKS CRUSHED, SMASHING AND PILED ON EACH OTHER. A VERY SAD SITE.

[Tulio]

Where's the Inquisition and dear Ol' Torquemada when you need them? Have they vanished in time (I know they still exist under a different name nowadays).... Whomsoever dared to harm an innocent and noble C-130, must be at a minimum, excomunicated and sentenced to hard labor at a hog's farm somewhere in North Carolina! : )

Herks are so cool, and I understand that not everything can, and must be preserved. They could send one my way, and I would gladly fix it to live in it!

Saludos,

Tulio

[Jeff Funk]

The damaged C-130's were Delaware ANG planes damaged by a F-2 tornado that hit the Wilmington Airport yesterday afternoon. According to a news report I saw tonight, 5 of 7 H models at the base were damaged. From the video, one aircraft appeared to have lost it's right landing gear from the way it was leaning. Other aircraft appeared upright, but bashed into each other. For instance it looked like the tail of one plane was destroyed when it hit the cockpit of another. I didn't see any upside down planes in the video. These planes appear to be in much better shape than many of the recovery starting points I see in the warbird press. I'm sure most of these planes would be recoverable for any of the established rebuild shops out there. However, I can not begin to say if the government will find repairs economical.

Of interest to warbird enthusiasts, the base used to have a F-86 and what appeared to be an early model C-130 (the nose appeared different than the other planes). These planes were regular features at public events before I moved to Texas six years ago. Since returning to the Wilmington area last year, I haven't had an opportunity to confirm the presence of these two birds. Hopefully, they weren't affected by the tornado.

Also of interest, I believe there is at least one private group importing old Eastern Bloc jets. While watching my daughter play soccer on sunny morning last fall, I was delighted to see what appeared to be a Mig 21 fly overhead. I believe it was probably entering the Wilmington landing pattern. The news reports only reported damage to the five C-130's.

By the way, the tornado was spawned when the remnants of HurricaneJeanne collided with a cold front.

Sorry to hear about the DEANG Herks. The Migs are being built right down in Townsend DE by a guy who also does Antonov's. It's a private strip but I believe they are a public business.

[Jeff Funk]

According to a report in the Wilmington News Journal this morning, one Herk is probably a loss, three need significant repairs and one was lightly damaged. The quoted source was Senator Tom Carper after his "inspection". Normally I'd take a political source with a grain of salt, but I believe Carper served for a long time in the Naval Reserve as a P-3 crewman flying out of Willow Grove (even when he was a Congressman) ... I suspect he knows planes.