Do their tongues hang out when flying?

They'd have to spin with the prop then you'd need windshield wipers.

ac130 they've been building since 1954... no not this one. :p:

Attachment 69377

Before Sikorsky came over from the dark side...

Attachment 69378

I have a feeling that I have already posted this but it's worth another look.

Those of a sensitive disposition might be offended by the use of strong language.

The rest of us will just have a good laugh. ;)

Here.

Just as good the second time around.

Someone should make an animated GIF out of that.

Ta! :thumb:

Smart Ruskie, don't need a hangar when you're a Ninja Turtle...

Went over like a lead balloon.

At least a corrugated sheet steel balloon. :haha:

Move along folks, nothing to see here...

Attachment 69513

...just a sleepy-eyed, flying whale with an underbite, move along.









Whale of a plane though.

Empty weight: 127,500 kg (281,089 lb)
Capacity: 50,500 kg (111,333 lb) payload
Max takeoff weight: 227,000 kg (500,449 lb)

Maybe it eats those Spirit Airlines flying bananas.

Attachment 69516

I've occasionally seen one of these monsters but only at great altitude when trailing.

They fly between the Airbus factory near Chester, where wings are manufactured and, I believe, the assembly plant in Toulouse.

If I've managed to be looking at FR24 at the right time I've nipped outside to see for myself but, despite their size and even with the aid of a good pair of binoculars, you don't see much when they are five or six miles up!

I'm never quite sure how to introduce a new topic, but I spent some time this morning looking for information on the C130 fire tanker that crashed in Australia a few days ago.
A couple of overviews with imbedded vids:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-...cooma/11894892

https://fireaviation.com/tag/t-134/

There is some duplication but it is a very interesting and tragic story.

One thing I couldn't find is how they got the fairly short range 130 to Australia.
This details the fatal flight:
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N134CG/history

but not the transpacific trip. If anyone is a member, the info is available and I would like to learn it.

They can refuel in flight and it is always exciting to watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu3KCyTth0o

They might have hopped around the northern Pacific, but that seems to be tough even for modified jet tankers.

Maybe they filled the retardent & water tanks with fuel and ran a hose to the fuel tank. Or set it on one of those empty container ships returning to China. ;)