Brings back memories... I remember being on an LC-130 at 90 south latitude in the late 1980s, and the Herc made three attempts to get airborne. On the third attempt, the pilot overran the end of the skyway, and later we learned that he elected to do so hoping the rough surface would help get the airplane off the surface. It worked, because we eventually became airborne and on our way back to McMurdo. It was a memorable take-off.

Usually we think of colder temperatures providing better performance, but in extreme cold temperatures, surface friction is so high it's like using skis on sand.

Yup. Skis are sometimes a very different experience!

That unit is based near me and I’ve gotten a couple of rides on them with CAP. They’re pretty impressive birds. A couple of their guys are in my flying club, though it’s a big club and we don’t interact very often.

The first military pilot I ever met (outside of an airshow) was a newly winged USN multi-engine pilot who was going to be reporting for C-130 training soon and then going to VXE-6 flying the LC-130s. I thought that was very cool and gave me reason to imagine myself eventually flying that classic plane.

Good stuff. I used to work in Antarctica (not as a pilot, but that's how I earned money for my ratings) back in the late 80s and 90s, the LC-130s were kind of a part of everyday life at McMurdo. Too bad I couldn't put time riding sideways in the back in my logbook! Navy VXE-6 in the early years, then ops were assumed by the NY Air National Guard. I only ever saw one RATO, mostly they didn't need that from the grooomed skiway at McMurdo. Always loved watching them come and go, the Herc is still my favorite aircraft.

Anybody know if they are still using them?
Fat Albert has stopped using them for lack of supply.
FLC heads down there this month to certify the approaches.

Dad did some time as an instructor in the L100 for Delta's cargo division. I can recall going to the hangar in ATL with him, I was about 8-9 yrs old, and seeing those massive props stacked up as spares. I also got to "fly" a real Link trainer there areound the same time.

The guys I know in the 109th have told me that they don't use them often because there's no supplier anymore. Once they use them up, they're gone.

It's been several years since I've talked about it with anyone though, so for all I know the stockpile may be gone by now.

The Blues used to do RATO's at airshows to expend rockets near their expiration date. They quit. Like said previously I too have heard there is no longer a supplier.

I hope they have a few held back just in case we need to do something that only a Herc with RATO can do.

Didn't the botched Iranian Hostage rescue mission use a RATO Herc?

Bet these guys could come up with something that would work.......

https://aerotech-rocketry.com/

It was the plan, but I think they scrapped it before the actual rescue attempt because they broke a Herc pretty bad in testing.

The surviving Herc built for the Tehran rescue is displayed in the petting zoo at Warner Robinson.

Yes, they are, when needed.



They don't do a whole lot, a bunch of noise and maybe 5 knots additional off the ice is how it was described to me.

It was a fun visit today. Learned a bunch.

Thanks for the update Scott!