Egyptian paratroopers

[Brian Dick]

It's a USAF C17. I see American flags on the shoulders of the crew and other US advisors in there. Big roomy bird. Lots of room to rig for a jump on an overseas flight. Unlike the old C130 and C141.

A short story. A good friend, (retired USA SF Colonel), and I were having a glass of whiskey and a cigar a few years ago sitting outside here in the early evening when we heard a loud rumbling coming from the west. Low and behold, two C17's in formation flew right over us knap of the earth! We looked up and you could see the rivets in the wings. They were low. I'm guessing they were returning to the heavy lift wing at Charleston after depositing paras at the reserve and NG training base at Clarks Hill, SC. There is a civil affairs reserve Airborne unit HQ'd in Orangeburg so it may have been them. I've never experienced that before other than at Pope AFB! It ain't the same when they come right over your house, (barn in my case!).

[BEAR]

This is a C17.

C5s were test jumped in late 60s/early 70s. My first squad leader was the team leader on the test. C5 was rejected as a jump platform.

C141s were used as jet jump platform but was retired by 2005. Also, the wind deflector on a 141 was extended by rotating outside of the inside of the aircraft when the jump door is open.

In the video at around 1 minute, you see the loadmaster open the door and secure the platform, you can see the wind deflector extending out from the side of the aircraft. Also, there is room to move between the two sticks of jumpers when they are standing side by side.

When I jump mastered a 141, I had to climb up on the center row of seats to walk to the front since they were so tightly packed together.

BEAR

[browningautorifle]

C5 was rejected as a jump platform.

Wasn't there a mockup (C5a Galaxy) out in Ft Lewis training area for loading practice back in the end '70's? Right along side of the road...

[Brian Dick]

Interesting, I never knew that the C5A was trialed for jumping. The C17 must have been designed specifically for that purpose as well as other purposes. Unlike the C130 which you actually had to jump out of like the old days, it used to amaze me that they could slow down a big jet like the C141 enough to jump. The deceleration was extreme, like the bird was just hanging in the air when we exited. Any faster and it would rip you apart when your chute deployed. In the bigger jets, it must be even more noticeable.

[frenchkat]

When I first got to Bragg in early 1974, There were a bunch of guys in my platoon who were in the initial jump trials for the C5. The guys jumped from the upper deck and about every fifth jumper had a malfunction, due to slip stream issues so the C5 was on the “do not use” list. I heard that they started doing it again on occasion, however I haven’t seen any evidence. There is a YouTube video about the heaviest cargo drop ever that showed a bunch of guys carrying their chutes on what looked like a C5, but the vid didn’t show any personal drops.

Brian, lot to do with engine placement. In my reading, I saw that not all C17s are rated for para drops. I think that I’ve read, that now on a C130, you now walk out like a C141.

---------- Post added at 07:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:48 PM ----------

My first assignment after flight school was FT Lewis, 80 -85. I remember the assault strip, but no mock-up. I could be wrong, lots of rum & Pepsis ago!

[frenchkat]

I just looked at Google Earth. There is a C5 mock-up. I was at Lewis as my first assignment after flight school. 80 - 85. Used for testing load sizes.

In those those days, we were the High Technology Test Division (toys are us). We tried anything to reduce the number of C141 loads. Just about anything was tried, where the idea of Fast Attack Vehicles (arm dune buggies) came from.

Interesting side note, as a young WO1, I worked with a crusty Vietnam Gunship pilot CW3 who was the ALCE/Safety Officer.

He got his hands on a draft Field Manual, FM 1 - 1, The New Earth Battalion. If you every saw the George Clooney movie, “The men who stare at goats”, the concept was actually looked during that time frame. We had some good times laughing over some of the stuff.

[browningautorifle]

My first assignment after flight school was FT Lewis, 80 -85. I remember the assault strip, but no mock-up.

I just remember it along side of the road as we went out to one of the training area and we went to the (13th?) Division Prairie lots for battle drills. The last time I clearly remember being around it was 1979...even though I was there several times later. I know I was there '80-'84 too, every year for some kind of weapons training or MG or '81 mortar or something.

I just looked at Google Earth. There is a C5 mock-up. I was at Lewis as my first assignment after flight school. 80 - 85. Used for testing load sizes.

Would make sense as I don't recall anything inside. Just an open shell.

[BEAR]

Wasn't there a mockup (C5a Galaxy) out in Ft Lewis training area for loading practice back in the end '70's? Right along side of the road...

Hey Jim, that mockup is still there, same spot, just outside the new East Gate. The only changes are that it is surrounded by a security fence now with no access and BOEING has been removed from the side of the fuselage. Apparently, Boeing bult the mockup for the Army in the sixties and Lockheed threw a hissy fit about Boeing's name so Ft Lewis removed it in 70s.

This is the patch my squad leader gave me. His name was SSG Kenneth Keithley and he was at Ft. Bragg when he was involved in the test.

[browningautorifle]

I too was drawn to Google Earth once again to explore Ft Lewis and found it along the road side. It would be one of the lifelong markers for guys doing time there. Still same spot after forty years...

[BEAR]

Actually..... it's been sitting there for over 54 years. I first saw it in 1968 when my Dad was stationed at Ft.Lewis.