Posted on Jan 31, 2023
What is the oldest Military Aircraft that you Operated, Jumped From, or Rode In as a Service Member?
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As a young paratrooper, the first military aircraft that I jumped from was a Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (a Berlin-Airlift era aircraft introduced in 1949). To tell you the truth, I am happy that it was my first jump aircraft, because I could actually see the rivets in the skin spinning around, as the engines revved up, and I was HAPPY to get out. Interestingly, the C-119 was known to have one of the highest rates of parachute malfunctions, believed to be because of the unique slipstream from the twin tailboom assembly. I think that the second-oldest that I jumped from was a U-6A Beaver that entered Service in 1952. I always wanted to jump from a C-47 Dakota, but that was reserved mostly for the True Heroes from WW2 and Korea.
But this isn't just for Paratroopers. If you were Crew, Paratroops, or Cargo, tell your experience.
But this isn't just for Paratroopers. If you were Crew, Paratroops, or Cargo, tell your experience.
Korean War
WWII World War Two
Airplanes
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 31
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I had flight time in the C-119 in 1973 and the C-117 in 1968. The interesting thing about the C-119 flight was that we struck a seagull on takeoff and it actually penetrated the wing. We took it back and, upon inspection, they found the aircraft was no longer safe due to the extreme corrosion.
The 117 flight was nowhere near as exciting. It was a flight from Cherry Point to Roosevelt Roads and the slowest airspeed I had experienced since a cross country flight in the H-34!
The 117 flight was nowhere near as exciting. It was a flight from Cherry Point to Roosevelt Roads and the slowest airspeed I had experienced since a cross country flight in the H-34!
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I was not a paratrooper, but I rode on a C-119 in Vietnam in 1967. Don’t recall the details, but it iwas in Bihn Dihn Province near Bong Son. Don’t see the mission in my log book, so it had to have been in November or December of ‘67.
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As a flight school student, I flew a 1962 Huey that had started life as a D model, later converted to an H model. The battery was in the tail which was made it the odd Huey out on Lowe Army Airfield. This was in 1988. As far as I recall, that was the oldest aircraft still on the military rolls that I flew. Although, I've hitched a ride on some old-ass C-130's over the years.
Later, I flew a 1958, ex Air Force, H-34 that had been converted to a civilian S-58T.
Later, I flew a 1958, ex Air Force, H-34 that had been converted to a civilian S-58T.
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Airborne Jump, music by Van Halen - Jump
Van Halen - Jump music
Hmmm... Didn't check the manufacturer's nameplate or VIN on the C-130, Huey, or Chinook. Softest landing was a water jump from a Huey into San Francisco Bay by NAS Alameda.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC8HDPEg_ho
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC8HDPEg_ho
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I had the opportunity while serving on a joint forces parachute demonstration team to jump from U-6A Beavers and C-47 Dakotas. The experience of the actual jumps were not any different than any jump. you stand up, hook up, shuffle to the door (or ramp) and fall until opening shock. Knowing that I was following in the footsteps of those stalwart warriors that dropped out of the sky from them on D-Day was worth the ride.
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MSG Lonnie Averkamp
Well said, MSgt Jim Craig. Sometimes (especially when watching "Band of Brothers"), I feel almost unworthy to wear the same parachute wings as those heroes.
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Just like CPT Cable, I too flew in an old piston engine aircraft as a Civil Air Patrol cadet! It was a C-118 and we flew from Glenview NAS, IL to Wright-Patterson AFB, OH and back in Oct ‘82. I can still remember the sound and the smell of those four monster radial engines!!!
Oh, and by the way, Essayons CPT Cable! I’m an engineer as well (MOS 12B - Combat Engineer)!
Oh, and by the way, Essayons CPT Cable! I’m an engineer as well (MOS 12B - Combat Engineer)!
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MSG Lonnie Averkamp
Glenview NAS was almost in our back yard. I made many equipment night jumps, taking off from General Mitchell Field in Milwaukee, or the Military Ramp at O'Hare.
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UH-60 in terms of flying in one (they were virtually brand new at the time). Sat in a live 60's vintage Hungarian Mig 21 while killing time at Taszar Airfield. Should have taken advantage of more opportunities, there were a bunch.
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I worked on (electrical systems) and flew on (around 100 hours) C-124 at Dover AFB 1960-64.
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I jumped the dollar 19 several times. It is the only time I ever had a personal meeting with another jumper in the air. I've also jumped the Beaver.
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MSG Lonnie Averkamp
The Beaver was a wonderful aircraft. The C-119.................. well, they made a lot of them.
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I worked and rode in CH-46's. The oldest one rolled off the line in June of 1966... Two months after I was born. It was also the last bird I worked on.
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