Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Jacqueline Marshall.
“This is an exercise evolution of the Rally in the Valley 2020 exercise conducted in West Virginia. Our efforts will prepare Reserve and National Guard units to execute at the speed and range required to take on near-peer adversaries. Additional training included combat airlift as well as multi-capable mobility Airmen who are able to refuel and re-arm aircraft in austere locations with minimal support.”-Major Christopher Acs, 327th Airlift Squadron, U.S. Air Force Reserve (USAFR)
WANG photo by Jacqueline Marshall, 13SEP2021.
U.S. Air Force Reserve photo by Major Ashely Walker, 13SEP2021.
13SEP2021 saw a dramatic opening to wargame Rally in the Rockies 2021; for the first time a C-130J Super Hercules intentionally landed on U.S. Route 287, in the middle of nowhere rural Wyoming (near Rawlings)!
U.S. Air Force Reserve video by Major Ashely Walker, 13SEP2021:
WANG photo by Jacqueline Marshall.
So far, all the news outlets reporting this landing are calling it Highway 287 which is incorrect. It is officially U.S. Route 287 (aka US287). It would be okay if they wrote highway with a lower case ‘h’, but they use an upper case ‘H’ which indicates an official title.
Cowboy State Daily’s quick slo-mo video of landing:
WANG photo by Jacqueline Marshall.
Anybody thinking about the Cold War era movie Red Dawn, supposedly taking place in next-door-from-Wyoming Colorado?
USAFR photo by Major Ashley Walker.
Rally in the Rockies is scheduled to run from September 13th through the 16th. It involves 12 military units from various state National Guards and the USAFR, as well as the Wyoming Department of Transportation. The wargame is preparation for combat operations within the United States, for ‘contested areas’!
USAF photo by Lieutenant Colonel Marnee A.C. Losurdo, 14SEP2021.
C-130H from Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia, drops supplies near Rifle Garfield County Airport, Colorado.
USAF photo by Major Ashley Walker, 13SEP2021.
The first day of Rally in the Rockies also involved USAFR C-130Hs operating from a Landing Zone near Guernsey, Wyoming. The wargame simulating conflict inside the United States involved the states of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming.
USAF photo by Major Ashley Walker.
Cold War era (late 1960s) film of C-130 and C-160 landing on European highway:
“The request for additional support shows just how challenging this fire season is and how critical our MAFFS aircraft, aircrews and maintenance personnel are to supporting NIFC [National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho].”-Colonel Jeremy Ford, 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard
Wyoming ANG photo by Technical Sergeant Jon Alderman.
On 19JUL2021, a Wyoming Air National Guard (ANG) C-130H MAFFS (Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System) was activated, and on 20JUL2021 was sent to battle wildfires in California.
Wyoming ANG photo by Technical Sergeant Jon Alderman.
The C-130H has been upgraded with a new propeller system.
Wyoming ANG photo by Technical Sergeant Jon Alderman.
Wyoming ANG video by Jacqueline Marshall, 19JUL2021:
Wyoming ANG photo by Technical Sergeant Jon Alderman.
Also on 19JUL2021, Colorado ANG activated a MAFFS to fight the fires in California. Music video announcement by Staff Sergeant Laura Fitsmorris:
CAL FIRE Air Tanker Base, McClellan Park. Nevada ANG photo by Senior Master Sergeant Paula Macomber.
Nevada’s ‘High Rollers’ just had their mission in California extended until August 26th!
MAFFS aircraft are only activated when it becomes clear that the private sector water bombers are overwhelmed, or will soon be, by the volume of wildfires.
“The arrival of Cannon’s first AC-130J Ghostrider represents a significant expansion of force generation capacity as AFSOC structures for the reemergence of great power competition, tightening fiscal constraints, and the accelerating rate of technological change, demanding significant transformation to ensure Air Commandos are ready to successfully operate in this new environment.”-27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs, 19JUL2021
A banshee is a female ghost that forewarns of the death of the living by wailing or shrieking.
U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Eboni Reece.
In May 2015, the last of the 27th Special Operations Wing (SOW) AC-130H Specters made its final flight into retirement.
Video report by Senior Airman Elizabeth Taranto:
One of these AC-130Js belongs to the 27th SOW, the other belongs to 4th Special Operations Squadron. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Peter Reft.
On 19JUL2021, the 27th SOW (Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico) got a brand new AC-130J Ghostrider: “The lethality has increased exponentially.”-Major Ryan Whitehead, 27th Special Operations Group (SOG)
USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Peter Reft.
The AC-130J is a fifth generation gunship: “The AC-130J has been built on the backs of giants, evolving from four variants of the AC-130 to the AC-119 and AC-47. The Air Commands who fly, maintain, and support the AC-130J are committed to continuing that proud heritage by developing into a force that presents challenges to our nation’s adversaries in new ways and places.”-Lieutenant Colonel Drew Saylor, 27th SOG Detachment-2
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Yuritzy Gomez.
Video by Lance Corporal Elias E. Pimentel the Third, CH-53K crew shows off for some Commandant of the Marine Corps guy during his visit to Camp Davis, North Carolina, 17MAR2021:
USMC photo by Sergeant Kathryn Adams.
Commandant of the Marine Corps, General David H. Berger, flies a CH-53K simulator aboard Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River in North Carolina, 17MAR2021, prior to taking a ride in the real thing over Marine Corps Outlying Field (MCOF) Camp Davis.
USMC photo by Sergeant Kathryn Adams.
USMC photo by Sergeant Kathryn Adams.
The 38th Commandant of the Marine Corps, General David H. Berger, and 19th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Troy E. Black, ride in a CH-53K with VMX-1 Commanding Officer Col Byron D. Sullivan, flying over MCAS New River-MCOF Camp Davis, 17MAR2021.
USMC photo by Corporal Damaris Arias.
Heavy lift testing at MCOF Camp Davis, 03FEB2021. In the photo the King Stallion is lifting a 4-thousand pound (1814 Kg) block of concrete.
USMC photo by Staff Sergeant Christopher O’Quin.
On 15JAN2021, King Stallion made its first flight from MCAS New River after having been solely maintained and brought to readiness by U.S. Marine personnel.
Video by Lance Corporal Chelsi Woodman, 100% USMC personnel CH-53K flight prep and hover over MCAS New River, 15JAN2021:
U.S. Navy photo.
KC-130J refuels the CH-53K during ‘refueling wake testing’, 06APR2020.
Silent U.S. Navy video of refueling tests over the Chesapeake Bay, 06APR2020:
From 1953 to 1963 the Wyoming Air National Guard used the Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star to train-up pilots for the F-80 Shooting Star and North American F-86 Sabre.
Wyoming Air National Guard photo, 23OCT2016.
Wyoming Air National Guard photo, 24OCT2016.
In October 2016, the Wyoming Air National Guard 153rd Airlift Wing’s Structural Maintenance Section spent two weeks restoring a T-33 ‘gate guard’.
Wyoming Air National Guard photo, 23OCT2016.
Notice that the tail number was at first masked-off to read 36661.
Wyoming Air National Guard photo, 24OCT2016.
By November 2016, the restored T-33 was ready for display in Building 16 Hanger.
Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Major Tom Blackburn, 09NOV2016.
Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Major Tom Blackburn, 09NOV2016.
Notice that the tail number now reads 63661.
Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Major Tom Blackburn, 09NOV2016.
Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Jon Alderman, 25OCT2019.
Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Jon Alderman, 25OCT2019.
On 25OCT2019, T-33 #63661 was moved to its new ‘gate guard’ job at the Wyoming Military Museum in Cheyenne.
Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Jon Alderman, 25OCT2019.
Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Jon Alderman, 25OCT2019.
Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Jon Alderman, 25OCT2019.
Wyoming Air National Guard T-33 move explainer video, October 2019:
Time lapse music video by Technical Sergeant Jacqueline Marshall:
Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Jon Alderman, 25OCT2019.
After 29-thousand-985 flight hours, and 25 years of service, the U.S. Coast Guard retired HC-130H #1503 on 21JUN2019. Its final flight was from Clearwater, Florida, to Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Video of final take-off, by Petty Officer Second Class David Micallef:
Then, on 10FEB2021, it was revealed that 1503 had been saved from certain death in the scrapyard!
Photo by Aviation Technical Training Center (ATTC), Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
According to the MyCG (Coast Guard) report, in December 2020 the Avionics Electrical Technician (AET) School located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, acquired 1503 for hands-on avionics training: “Thanks to the coordination between our AET School Chief, our Training Delivery Branch, and our partners at the Aviation Logistics Center, we were able to save this aircraft from demolition and repurpose it as a valuable training aid.”-Captain Brian P. Hopkins, ATTC commanding officer
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer First Class Sara Romero.
In September 2018, 1503 deployed to Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, in response to Hurricane Florence.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer First Class Sara Romero.
1503 was loaded with hurricane relief supplies, which included parts for a MH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter.
USCG video, 1503 taxis out for Hurricane Michael, October 2018:
U.S. Coast Guard photo.
August 2017, Hurricane Harvey response in Texas. Notice that ‘1503’ is painted in gold, that’s because 1503 became the oldest active HC-130H in USCG inventory in 2017.
U.S. Coast Guard photo.
U.S. Coast Guard photo.
1503 preps for take-off to conduct Hurricane Matthew damage assessment, October 2016. You can better see the FLIR pod hanging from its nose like a grey booger.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer First Class Michael De Nyse.
October 2016, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Hurricane Matthew response.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer First Class Michael De Nyse.
U.S. Coast Guard photo.
In November 1998, while operating out of Kodiak, Alaska, 1503 crashed during bad weather.
The 1500 though 1504 series of USCG HC-130Hs were originally ordered under a U.S. Air Force (USAF) contract. 1503’s USAF # was 73-0844. Over the decades, 1503 has been based in North Carolina (1994-2010) and then Florida in 2011, but operated where ever needed.
In January 2009, the U.S. Navy officially retired (from ‘fleet service’ aboard aircraft carriers, with final USN retirement in 2016) its Lockheed S-3B Viking aircraft. In 2001, one lucky Viking got a new life with the National Aeronautics Space Administration.
Glenn Research Center, Ohio, NASA photo dated 2001.
NASA photo dated 2006, Glenn Research Center, Ohio.
NASA Airborne Science Program’s N601NA Viking before getting its new NASA clothing, still wearing its worn-out U.S. Navy uniform.
NASA photo dated 2007, Glenn Research Center, Ohio.
This NASA image, of Viking N601NA with its new NASA uniform, is from 2007.
NASA photo dated 2007, Glenn Research Center, Ohio.
NASA began using the Viking, to supplement their other aircraft, to fly aircraft SatCom (satellite communication) relay viability missions over Illinois.
NASA photo dated 2007, Glenn Research Center, Ohio.
NASA photo dated 2007, Glenn Research Center, Ohio.
Photo by Louis DePaemelaere.
N601NA stopping in Grand Junction, Colorado, for fuel. N601NA was taking part in icing research.
NASA photo dated 2008.
A 1/3 scale model section of S-3B Viking wing inside NASA’s icing tunnel.
Final approach to the runway at Air Force Plant 42, NASA Dryden’s Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, California, October 2010. The large cargo pod has been modified by NASA to carry electronic sensing devices for various missions.
S-3B Viking taking off from Cleveland Hopkins Airport, Illinois.
The last flight of two U.S. Navy Air Test & Evaluation Squadron 30 (VX-30 Bloodhounds) S-3B Vikings over Point Mugu, California, 18DEC2015.
U.S. Navy photo, 18DEC2015.
According to the information that came with these U.S. Navy photos, in January 2016 one of these Air Test & Evaluation Squadron 30’s Vikings was sent to be mummified in ‘the boneyard’, while the other got a new life working for NASA. However, I can’t find anything from NASA confirming they took possession of another Viking. I’ve even seen some blogs that claim NASA has three Vikings which, again, I haven’t found anything from NASA backing that up. Current NASA information indicates there was only one Viking in their possession, N601NA, operating out of Glenn Research Center in Ohio.
Lockheed’s fast transport C-141 was designed according to Cold War requirements in 1960, and first flew in 1963. It was the world’s first turbofan powered military transport aircraft: “The C-141 has a noble record of achievement in its support of the U.S. military. Participating in every military operation from Vietnam to Iraqi Freedom, StarLifter crews have also performed humanitarian relief flights to nearly 70 countries on six continents. Most recently, the StarLifter served those affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The aircraft has served NASA, conducted Antarctic resupply flights for nearly three decades and has been a key asset for flight research serving science for two decades.”-Ross Reynolds, Lockheed Martin vice president of Air Mobility
USAF photo from July 1966, Military Air Transport Service (MATS) C-141A (short) on Tan Son Nhut Airbase, Viet Nam.
Quick silent film, by somebody with last name of Anderson, of iconic comedian Bob Hope arriving in Korea, via a C-141A, for one of his famous USO Christmas shows, 27DEC1970:
C-141As loaded with former prisoners of war (PoW), leaving Viet Nam for the United States, March 1973.
Silent U.S. Army film, by somebody with the last name of Fraser, showing soldiers with The Big Red One (1st Infantry Division) boarding C-141As outbound for wargame ReForGer (Return of Forces to Germany) in West Germany, October 1973 (with some film of USAF cargo ops tacked on at the end, obviously filmed during warmer months):
Silent U.S. Navy film, by Todd Thompson, showing the arrival of a C-141A on U.S. Naval Air Station Cubi Point, Philippines, to pick-up refugees from Viet Nam and fly them to the United States, 29APR1975:
It was quickly realized that the C-141A had enough power to transport far more than what could be crammed into its slim cargo hold. It was decided to stretch the fuselage by 23 feet, creating the YC-141B.
Comparison of C-141A to YC-141B. The ‘B’ version also got inflight refueling apparatus.
Photo via author’s collection.
From the Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) Photo Shop, YC-141B aerial refueling test over the Mojave Desert, California, Spring 1977.
The stretching of 270 C-141As took place from 1977 to 1982, first deliveries began in 1979.
Photo via author’s collection.
In this photo you can see the unpainted fuselage ‘plug’ used to extend the C-141As into C-141Bs, as well as the aerial refueling sections.
USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Robert C. Marshall, July 1980.
C-141A still in use, Norton AFB, California, July 1980.
USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Bob Fehringer, 31OCT1980.
Fans of the movie The Thing, yes there is a McMurdo Station, and C-141As went there, in 1980, as part of Operation Deep Freeze.
USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Rose Reynolds.
Sometime in the early to mid 1980s, a C-141B leaves Travis AFB, California.
Unknown photographer, 26OCT1983.
During the U.S. invasion of Grenada (aka Operation Urgent Fury) in October 1983, C-141s not only brought in ground troops, but took out U.S. citizens who were taking college courses on the island.
Photo by Robert C. Keffer, 25OCT1983.
Also in October 1983, the U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, was blown-up by a suicide bomber driving a truck full of explosives. C-141s also acted as flying hospitals, flying wounded Marines back to Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany.
Whatever happened to the N(for NASA)C-141A #12777 ‘The Gambler’, a test aircraft for experimental ECM equipment destined for the B-1B and B-2 bombers? (click here and find out the ugly truth)
In 1986, climate problems caused a hay shortage for farmers in the Southeastern U.S. C-141s were used to transport 170 tons of hay from the Mid-Western states, in just one day of Operation Haylift. This video shows President Ronald Reagan kicking-off the first day of Op Haylift, 24JUL1986:
USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Theodore J. Koniares, May/June 1987.
Oops, a C-141B ran off the runway on Marine Corp Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, sometime in Summer(?) 1987.
February 1991, Operation Desert Storm. U.S. military personnel pass by a Military Airlift Command (MAC) C-141B (C-5 Galaxy in the background) somewhere (“undisclosed location”) on the Arabian Peninsula. According to McChord Air Museum, Washington, during Operations Desert Shield-Desert Storm USAF C-141s were landing every 10 minutes, 24 hours a day, for 7 months in Saudi Arabia.
USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Theodore J. Koniares, 22JUN1994.
Two M113 Personnel Carriers are loaded into a C-141B, on Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, for deployment to Uganda for United Nations ‘peacekeeping’ duty, 22JUN1994.
USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Val Gempis, 03AUG1994.
C-141B delivers humanitarian aid to Rwanda refugees in Zaire, August 1994.
In 1996, NC-141A #12776, based on Edwards AFB, became the ‘Electric Starlifter’ with fly-by-wire controls. In the 1990s, 63 C-141Bs were upgraded to C-141Cs with the latest in digital equipment.
NASA photo by Tom Tschida, 20DEC1997.
In December 1997 a C-141A was used by NASA to tow a QF-106 to high altitude before release, to test the feasibility of similar launching of future space vehicles. It was called Project Eclipse. C-141A #12775 is now at the Air Mobility Command Museum.
NC-141A #12779 with ‘universal radar nose’, wasting away on the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum’s South Base flightline, in California.
USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Lance Cheung, 22SEP2000.
Upgraded ‘glass cockpit’ of a C-141C, September 2000, during a ‘Project Trans-Am’ mission.
USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Ken Bergmann, 12OCT2001.
A Tennessee Air National Guard C-141 gets loaded with war gear on U.S. Naval Air Station Sigonella, in NATO Italy, for the start of the undeclared War on Terror (Operation Enduring Freedom), October 2001.
USAF photo by Master Sergeant Lance Cheung, 22SEP2005.
Hurricane Rita final hours of an air evacuation from the Southeast Texas Regional Airport, onboard a Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Starlifter.
USAF photo by Master Sergeant Lance Cheung, 22SEP2005.
Video report by Airman First Class Kahdija Slaughter, January 2015. Preserving the Starlifter Gate Guard at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina:
USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Bryan Hull, 06AUG2016.
Kelsey Schmidt, Miss Washington 2016, rechristens ‘gate guard’ Tacoma Starlifter, (#65-0277) on Heritage Hill, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (click here to see Sandra Marth, Miss Washington 1966, christen Tacoma Starlifter the first time). Tacoma Starlifter first arrived on Lewis-McChord in August 1966 and took part in 1973’s Operation Homecoming, bringing Prisoners of War (PoW) back home to the U.S. from Viet Nam. The last C-141 stationed on Lewis-McChord was retired in April 2002.
USAF photo by Airman First Class Zachary Martyn, 07APR2017.
Airman conduct weekly inspections of ‘gate guards’, like The Garden State Starlifter, on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.
Video report by Staff Sergeant John Ayre, April 2015, 50th anniversary of Golden Bear:
USAF photo by Technical Sergeant Liliana Moreno, 30MAR2018.
‘War on Terror’ veteran Brandon Jones and his service dog, Apache, pose in front of Golden Bear on Travis Air Force Base, California.
Video report by Kenneth Wright, October 2018. History of the C-141 from the viewpoint of the personnel of the 349th Air Mobility Wing (formerly Military Airlift Wing), U.S. Air Force Reserve on Travis AFB, California:
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist First Class Jess Gray, 28JUL2020.
The new C-130J Fat Albert on second functional check-flight over Cambridge, England, 28JUL2020.
USN photo by Mass Communication Specialist First Class Jess Gray, 28JUL2020.
The ‘new’ Blue Angels Fat Albert is actually an old British empire Royal Air Force C-130J, which underwent rebuild by Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group in United Kingdom. A Forbes report says it cost U.S. taxpayers $29.7-million. (which isn’t too bad, considering that in 2014 a new C-130J would cost between $67-million and $167-million depending on options)
Video by Marshall Aerospace, dressing the bare-metal C-130J in its new Blue Angels uniform:
USN photo by Mass Communication Specialist First Class Jess Gray, 06AUG2020.
On 06AUG2020, C-130J Fat Albert arrived on Fort Worth Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Texas.
Video, by Petty Officer Second Class Cody Hendrix, C-130J Fat Albert flying over algae bloom off the Atlantic coast of Florida, 17AUG2020:
USN photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Cody Hendrix, 17AUG2020.
USN photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Cody Hendrix, 17AUG2020.
Nobody is on the beach, what is this, CoViD-19 lockdown?
Photo by AAron B. Hutchins, 1989.
This is a photo I took of a C-130T Fat Albert at the Vandenberg AFB air show in California, Spring 1989. Notice that it is not painted blue and white.
Salute to Heroes, Operation American Resolve, America Strong, or whatever is the latest Defense Department name for it, apparently massive flights of military aircraft flying over metro areas makes people feel more secure about fighting the “invisible enemy” of a Pandemic.
Video of USAF Reserve’s 908th Airlift Wing over Alabama, 12MAY2020:
Reflection of Little Rock Air Force Base C-130J in the windows of a Arkansas hospital, 08MAY2020.
California Air National Guard’s 115th Airlift Squadron over the Mojave Desert near Palmdale, 14MAY2020.
Video, Connecticut Air National Guard’s 103rd Airlift Wing flyovers 14MAY2020:
Video, Georgia Air National Guard 165th Airlift Wing’s C-130H3 flying over a hospital, 15MAY2020:
Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing, 01MAY2020.
403rd Wing’s 815th Airlift Squadron over Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, 28APR2020.
Video, Hurricane Hunter WC-130J flies over Huntington Ingalls Shipyard, Pascagoula, Mississippi, as ships’ horns blow, 05MAY2020:
Montana Air National Guard’s 120th Airlift Wing above Pablo, 06MAY2020.
Video, Nevada Air National Guard’s ‘High Rollers’ C-130 CoViD-19 morale overflight, 28APR2020:
Video, 27th Special Operations overflight of Portales, New Mexico, 11MAY2020:
Video of New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing HC-130J Combat King-2 over Long Island, 15MAY2020:
New York Air National Guard LC-130 (Ski-Bird) assigned to the 109th Airlift Wing flies over the state capitol, 12MAY2020.
A C-130H out of Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, conducting a second round of pandemic overflights on 07MAY2020. Not only did Ohio aircraft fly over Ohio, but also locations in Pennsylvania.
Two Ohio Air National Guard 179th Airlift Wing C-130Hs also flew pandemic overflights, 15MAY2020.
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, this Blue Angels C-130 was temporarily brought out of retirement to give moral support, 06MAY2020, unfortunately it was not flown.
Video, West Virginia Air National Guard’s 130th Airlift Wing decided to kill two birds with one stone by conducting Aeromedical Evacuation training at the same time:
USAF PREPS TO USE U.S. HIGHWAYS AS AIR BASES! With a link to Operation Highway 1984 in Germany.
USCG C-130J MAKES 1ST ‘BILL & MELINDA GATES’ VACCINE DELIVERY TO HAITI
Final approach to the runway at Air Force Plant 42, NASA Dryden’s Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, California, October 2010. The large cargo pod has been modified by NASA to carry electronic sensing devices for various missions.
S-3B Viking taking off from Cleveland Hopkins Airport, Illinois.
Comparison of C-141A to YC-141B. The ‘B’ version also got inflight refueling apparatus.
In this photo you can see the unpainted fuselage ‘plug’ used to extend the C-141As into C-141Bs, as well as the aerial refueling sections.
NASA (National Aeronautics Space Administration) modified a C-141A into an airborne space observation vehicle in 1975. 
In 1996, NC-141A #12776, based on Edwards AFB, became the ‘Electric Starlifter’ with fly-by-wire controls. In the 1990s, 63 C-141Bs were upgraded to C-141Cs with the latest in digital equipment.
NC-141A #12779 with ‘universal radar nose’, wasting away on the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum’s South Base flightline, in California.
Reflection of Little Rock Air Force Base C-130J in the windows of a Arkansas hospital, 08MAY2020.
California Air National Guard’s 115th Airlift Squadron over the Mojave Desert near Palmdale, 14MAY2020.
403rd Wing’s 815th Airlift Squadron over Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, 28APR2020.
New York Air National Guard LC-130 (
A C-130H out of Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, conducting a second round of pandemic overflights on 07MAY2020. Not only did Ohio aircraft fly over Ohio, but also locations in Pennsylvania.
Two Ohio Air National Guard 179th Airlift Wing C-130Hs also flew pandemic overflights, 15MAY2020.
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, this Blue Angels C-130 was temporarily brought out of retirement to give moral support, 06MAY2020, unfortunately it was not flown.