Posted on 02/05/2011 9:22:10 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
After four decades, the Indian Air Force (IAF) Saturday inducted an American origin aircraft, the C-130J 'Super Hercules' transport plane, augmenting its special operations capability.
Defence Minister A K Antony formally commissioned the aircraft into the newly formed 77 Squadron of the IAF by handing over the keys of the aircraft to Unit Commanding Officer (CO) Group Captain Tejbeer Singh at Hindon air base near here.
"C-130J will help the IAF to maintain its qualitative edge and enhance its war fighting capabilities," Antony said in his address at the induction ceremony.
Besides the Defence Minister, IAF chief P V Naik and the American Ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer were also present at the ceremony.
(Excerpt) Read more at brahmand.com ...
What a machine! I hope our own Air Force has sufficient numbers of these before they get parcelled out to the third world.
Could somebody explain the six-bladed propellers?
For those who remember their History Channel on aircraft development, lucky for all that these are twisted propellers as even a five blade straight prop causes constant mini sonic booms making all around nauseous.
I wonder how old the design is. Did they have it for a long while and were just able to do it now?
Let’s test India’s special forces with a hard strike in Iran and Pakistan, to destroy all nuclear facilities and weapons....Mission is a go..
How long until Barry Dunham stabs this ally in the back?
Thanks for the link. I could be dead wrong but those appear to be six bladed props in the photo yet the article says eight. I just retired from the Army maybe my eyes are going to where my heart has already gone. Golden years my @#%!!
Anyway, the supersonic effect is interesting to read about. I flew helicopters in Vietnam and even then there was design research to minimize rotor “tip snap”. I always wondered why when a UH-1H was coming at you it sounded like a machine gun until it passed overhead and then all you could hear was the buzz of the tail rotor.
The old (but still effective) Russian Tu-95 “Bear” bomber has contrarotating props which are said to make early warning radar unnecessary because they are so noisy you’ll hear them before you can paint them. Is that the same sonic boom effect?
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