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 as the First Mechanic and later Crew Chief of the C-119 during my years in the Fourth Marine Air Wing. Stationed a NAS Whitbey Island and NAS Glenview. I also was Mechanic on the C-117 while stationed at MCAS Beaufort (HAMS-32). The 119's were 1952 models, as was I. Fun times!
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Sgt Joseph Avary
I can't argue with you there, except for a few times, like; Losing an engine shortly after take-off, or between Rosie Roads (PR) and NAS Jacksonville, or maybe that runaway prop on final approach. Those made your comment a little less acceptable - LOL. That said, I wouldn't have missed it for the world MSG!
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I as the First Mechanic and later Crew Chief of the C-119 during my years in the Fourth Marine Air Wing. Stationed a NAS Whitbey Island and NAS Glenview. I also was Mechanic on the C-117 while stationed at MCAS Beaufort (HAMS-32). The 119's were 1952 models, as was I. Fun times!
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MSG Lonnie Averkamp
NAS Glenview, GOD'S COUNTRY! I made many parachute operations, taking off with the 440th Airlift Wing out of Mitchell Field, Milwaukee. My son was a crew chief on KC-135's, also based at Mitchell.
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Was a passenger on a C-130 1976 flew from California to Oahu seats facing backward with that fabulous box lunch while I stared at two jet turbine engines chained down in front of me
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GySgt Kenneth Pepper
Good old Phrogs. Later in my career I was involved in an initiative to upgrade the engines to keep them flying into the late 90s. Most of the Nam era air frames had been retired by then.
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I caught a ride going back to Andrews back in 1963, on a C130 USNAVY, thank You very much.
It was a grand take off, landing. the ride started in Grand Prairie, Texas naval air station, & there was Marines Navy, Army & USAF (me), on board. Great ride, the pilot said He wasnt going to shut the engines down for us 7 guys to board, so we had to hump our ass on board, & glad to have that chance! Just glad I had the opportunity to serve!
It was a grand take off, landing. the ride started in Grand Prairie, Texas naval air station, & there was Marines Navy, Army & USAF (me), on board. Great ride, the pilot said He wasnt going to shut the engines down for us 7 guys to board, so we had to hump our ass on board, & glad to have that chance! Just glad I had the opportunity to serve!
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I jumped a C-7A Caribou the Mississippi Army National Guard had, that was probably the oldest aircraft I jumped. The weirdest was the CH-54 Skycrane, a “people pod” was attached and one exited the back.
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MSG Lonnie Averkamp
I believe that it was in a C-7A that I pulled a good one on a fellow team member. Every time that we jumped, he was worried, and he found things to worry about. We were rigged, and sitting in the aircraft, and he looked down at the plywood flooring and said, "It's got wood floors. I never jumped from an airplane with wood floors.".
I said, "Oh. That's because this aircraft was originally a glider, but they found that it worked pretty good, if they hung engines on it......".
I never saw him turn so white!
I said, "Oh. That's because this aircraft was originally a glider, but they found that it worked pretty good, if they hung engines on it......".
I never saw him turn so white!
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I had over a hundred flights as "cargo" in C-130's. We would often take off at dusk, fly several hundred miles, and then parachute at 1:00 to 2:00 AM, somewhere. I got into the habit of catching a needed nap with the droning of the Herc's engines. One night, we rigged our weapons & equipment, donned our parachutes, and took off in a C-130. As normal practice, shortly after take-off, I started getting that "warm, fuzzy feeling" and was drifting off to sleep. Then the little voice in the back of my head yelled, "Hey, Dumb-Ass! You're the Jumpmaster.", and it startled me, awake.
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