StarLifter bids farewell before being put on ice

The Press [Christchurch, New Zealand] ^ | February 7 2005 | Kim Thomas

[Willie Green]

That's less restrictive than I thought it might be, but it still makes me uncomfortable.

[shaggy eel]

but it still makes me uncomfortable.

,,, I'm 46 years old and I've yet to be in my first gun fight. I feel comfortable.

[B4Ranch]

This is similar to the old beast that took my Unit over to Nam. From Point Mugu, Ca to Da Nang in about 15 island hops.

Landing the C-124C Globemaster on Johnston Island with no winds almost put us in the drink. The brakes didn't like that short runway. LOL

[B4Ranch]

>>Our laws are based on British laws, so no Constitutional rights like you've got.<<

You do have shovels, I'm sure.

[Jack Deth]

About two years ago, shaggy eel. Someone had put a 50 foot section of a C-141's cargo box (Wing Roots and Empty Main Gear Pods Included) on E-Bay. The section was open at both ends. Just behind the Crew Door to just shy of the Troop Doors.

I believe the AF bought that section back. Though it would make a very cool bar!

Jack.

[Mustng959]

Nice old jet. Flew in one from Ramstein to Charleston on a "hop" to go on vacation. Then wound up at a MAC base on my last duty station and got to see when they "lengthened" the fuselage and painted them camo green. Started calling them "star lizards".

[Jack Deth]

My Reserve Unit at Andrews had C-124 "Shakies" up to the mid-1960s, before they transitioned to C-130s (My favorite plane!).

The Old Timers used to tell stories about the Shakies that made my hair stand up. Big and Slow were its good virtues. With the Hydraulic System from Hell. And huge honking Recips that made flying into a headwind make you think you were sitting still.

Besides, I have no wish to change a Wheel and Tire that is taller and many, many times heavier than I am.

Jack.

[dighton]

Favorite C-17 pic, a swarm.

[Blood of Tyrants]

You wish. Most of the stuff is just plain junk. I think that the government has a policy of once an item is declared obsolete or beyond economical repar or they just want to sell it, that it must stand out in the weather for at least 3 years bvefore it is sold.

And people who bid on it are insane! I watched people bid $175 for obsolete PDA's that were selling on ebay for $60!

[SuziQ]

That's one honking big airplane!

[shaggy eel]

You do have shovels, I'm sure.

,,, as sure as there's tyranny of government, we do. We'll use our shovels if we have to.

[shaggy eel]

,,, I think anyone wanting to buy and export anything military from the US needs State Department approval, even if it's obsolete. I could be wrong, but that's the impression I have from somewhere.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[investigateworld]

Didn't the C-124 have the wing and power plants from the B-29?
Wow, I can't believe the 141 is heading for the bone yard. I can't be that old!

[TADSLOS]

Well, I'll miss the "old" Starlifter. I always enjoyed jumping (stepping) out of them.

[CholeraJoe]

I've flown on those but I can't work the front end, only the back.

[SkyPilot]

Thanks for posting this. I flew C-141s for years.......it was the C-47 of its era, a wonderful airplane.

[bayourod]

Is that what we used to call the Goony Bird? I hitched rides a couple times on those while in college. One I didn't think was going to be able to clear the Alps.

[Jack Deth]

Your beliefs may have credence, Blood of Tyrants:

The venerable M-113 Armored Personell Carrier was developed in the early 1950s. Put into Army Inventory in Europe in the Mid-1950s. Slated for the Scrap Heap and Obsolescence under Kennedy. Until Vietnam began to heat up. It's still alive and well in the Army's Inventory today.

Jack.

[Jack Deth]

The engines were the same as a B-29's, iw: Not sure about the wings.

Jack.