My dad flew this plane from 68-73. He was also a flight instructor and flight examiner at Charleston AFB. I have many fond memories of this plane and also flying the simulator at the base when I was a kid.... Dad’s gone now, but the memories are still here.
I was a C-141B Flight Engineer stationed at McChord AFB, Washington from 1982 to 1985. I met my wife while flying, been married 35 years now and have two grown sons -- the C-141 changed my life.
Flew the StarLizard for 21 years...mostly from CAFB. Best part of my life. Great crews. Lifelong friends. Meaningful airlift and airdrop missions. Really miss those days.
almost 1100 flying hours over 15 years as an Aeromedical Technician, they took me to many strange and distant places like Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Iceland, Alaska and even Johnston Island. One of the greatest aircraft in USAF history.
My dad, Gerry Barden, was the project engineer on the telescope installation on the 141 for Lockheed. He earned Lockheed's Engineer of the Year award for this work.
I was stationed at Norton AFB from Oct 1970 until Feb 1974. I was the last person to step off the Hanoi Taxi C-141 tail number 60177 on Feb 13 1973 before it left for the Philippines and on to Hanoi to return the Vietnam POWs. It was an honor and a privilege to be part of that task. Steve Shelton
My dad in 1971 - 1973 was stationed in Thailand, as an army-brat I got to fly Space A to exotic places. Ton Sa Nut, Don muang, India, Taiwan etc.. My mom and sisters flew commercially. I never realized my good fortune. I was usually the only kid among soldiers. The airmen would hand out waxen plugs. I thought it was candy. The noise in the cargo bay wasn't even bad, the pressurization left a lot to be desired as did the red cargo nets called seats. I was a kid and thought this was normal. The airmen also handed out hot chow, turkey chunks in gravy. Yum! Not every flight however. When my dad retired I got a real treat flying back stateside we took a C5A! Man that's an amazing plane. I would never trade these memories from all the gold in Hollywood. Thanks Dad!
I was a passenger on this airplane July 28, 1968 . The flight started at Colorado Springs Airport and the destination was Da Nang South Vietnam. We made several stops the first stop was in California and I believe that we stopped in wake island then we stopped in the Philippines and then Da Nang South Vietnam. The plane was fitted with passenger seats and the seats were facing backwards. We were a military unit that was being deployed to South Vietnam perhaps the last complete unit sent to South Vietnam. Our destination in South Vietnam was the base at the DMZ called Con Thein after being there for a while we were moved just south of the DMZ to Cam Lo and later we were moved to Quang Tri. I thought the C-141 was a great airplane I noticed that the plane used up most of the runway in take off. I remember when we got off the plane in Da Nang the engines weren't shut off the pilot said that the Da Nang airport was being shelled with in coming mortar shells. The flight to South Vietnam lasted for almost two days.
Back in1968, I was medevaced from Tachikawa, Japan, to Clark, NJ, via Alaska and Washington, DC. On a stretcher for 17.5 hours. Longest plane ride I ever had. No lights, no music, nothing. Still, I thank that crew for getting me stateside. Being a Marine, they could've shipped me by boat.
Was airlifted out of Saudi Arabia in Feb. 1991 to England on a C-141. Then back to Andrews. And finally, Ft. Bragg where I originally started from back in Aug. 1990. 5th Bn 8th FAR XVIII Abn Corps. What a wild ride! Would do it all again in a heartbeat if I wasn’t pushing 70. I really miss my buddies…..
Some years ago, while living in Olympia, WA, my apartment there was regularly overflown by Starlifters from McChord. One day I heard a rumble and went to a window, expecting to see one or more Starlifters going overhead. Just as I glanced up, the building began to shake. I hadn't heard Starlifters, I had heard the approach of the Nisqually earthquake! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_Nisqually_earthquake
I was crew chief on the C-141B. As a matter of fact, I may have worked on every airplane you showcase in the video. Great to see that it is still remembered.
I’m a volunteer at a aviation museum in Marietta Georgia, I got to help out during the last year of restoration of YC-141B 660186, I was so happy to see the test flight footage of 0186. 0186 served as the prototype for the modernization to the c-141b.
I was a Flight Engineer on A's and B's from 76 to 88 and It was the best time I could imagine. The crews were first rate and the missions were never boring. I later became an airline pilot but I always missed the variety of the MAC assignments. What I can say about the C-141 is - she never let me down.
I was a Loadmaster for 15 years on this plane and it was a sweet one. We did just about every mission out there on them and she never let us down. We simply flew them until they couldn't be flown anymore. I sure wish I could hear those engines again; the sound of freedom and home all in one.
I was an Aircraft Commander and Instructor pilot on the C141B. The airplane was a workhorse and pretty reliable. The controls were fairly heavy like a DC-8. The Flaps only had three positions....Full, Take-off Approach (same position), and up. It was a relatively slow airplane for a swept wing jet transport, I believe we flew it between Mach 74 and 77 most of the time ( 74% to 77% of the speed of sound). I have fond memories of the airplane and our crews. We traveled around the world. Our squadron motto.."you call we haul'!
My dear departed dad, Edward "Bud","Smiley" Jeffries, a veteran of WWII, Korea and Vietnam was a flight engineer on the Starlifter and what a beautiful airplane she is! Awesome tribute video!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, I do not think the Nurses that served in Vietnam ever got the credit they rightly deserve. The danger was greater than most people know.
@@racerd9669 I was a bit late to that party. I served from 1987-1995 and flew in the desert instead of the jungle. Well, a little in the Central American jungle (Just Cause, Panama, 1989), and then Desert Shield and Desert Storm a couple of years later. A bunch of brush fires, compared to the long slog of SEA.
I grew up right next to McChord AFB in Lakewood, WA and still remember first hearing their engines when I was in class in kindergarten (1965-66). As a soldier in the early 80s I parachuted out of them (Pope AFB) and grabbed the occasional Space-A flight while on leave. It never occurred to me that one day they would no longer be around.
I worked on the C-141 during the A to B conversion. it is an airplane that did not get enough recognition. They flew the dickens out of it. It was a great aerospace vehicle. That's what an FTD instructor call them.
I spent many hours onboard the 141's, strapped into canvas bench seats, sitting across from various military vehicles strapped to the floor. Only senior/officer personnel were allowed to sit in conventional rearward facing airliner seats. There were times when we hit turbulence and the rubber tired vehicles would strain and stretch their tie-downs and the wheels would briefly leave the floor. Always stay belted in when flying in a 141 ! Good aircraft .. fond memories. Well done video.
Nylon net seats, not canvas. This was an absolutely amazing aircraft for its time. Some were equipped as massive flying hospitals which flew thousands of wounded soldiers back from Vietnam to the United States.
I'm laughing out loud at your comment! 🤣 We had a rotation to Panama from McGuire in 79/80. On one trip the pilots decided to do a TF -- Terrain Following -- approach for about 20 minutes. Half of my guys were throwing up before we landed, hahaha!!!! 🤮🤮🤮
The Lawn Lizard!!! My dad was a Navigator on the As. He flew in and out of Vietnam, also flew to Israel in the Yom Kippur war. Had to fly down the slot over the Med from the Azores to Israel. When the USAF upgraded to the B he went into the Reserves. When I was on active duty, I took a B from the Philippines to Japan. The C-141 is my favorite plane...
Remember these as a child in the 70s. My father was a customs officer ar RAF Mildenhall, so C141 C130 KC135 and C5s were a daily sight and sound. Loved theme all. Wonderful memories. In the days of white and grey colour scheme with the black and yellow MAC banding on the fin.
I was a company commander in 82d Airborne in the late 1960’s - many jumps, day and night from the C-141. Night jet jumps were always a treat; that wind deflector gave you a little protection going out the door, but once you hit the slipstream, it was like being a cotton seed in a gale. Awesome. When our division’s 3rd brigade deployed to Vietnam during the ‘Tet’ Offensive in ‘68 we went from Pope AFB in North Carolina to Elmendorf in Alaska, to Kadena on Okinawa, to Chu Lai in Vietnam, on C-141’s. When we landed at Chu Lai about 0200 local, the base had just been under rocket attack. Our aircraft commander didn’t want to be on the ground longer than absolutely necessary so he did an ‘engines running offload’ - when we hit the airstrip he stood on the brakes, then opened the clamshells and lowered the tail ramp to horizontal. He taxi’d slowly down the strip as we hopped off with our equipment and made for the ditches on both sides of the runway. He told us before we landed to make sure we had EVERYTHING off the runway, because he was going to turn around at the far end and come straight back up under full power. We did. He did. I’ve never been that close to an aircraft that big, traveling at that speed. Wow!
The C141 is a fantastic plane! I was very priviledged to work on the during the Desert Storm campaign. I also got to work on it's successor, the C17, which is an even more impressive and fantadtic jet! It was an honor to maintain these remarkable transports. This video brought back many good memories, and is a great tribute to the C141.
Great video! I flew the C-141 out of McChord for 6 years in the early '80's. A dream come true for a kid in his '20's. It was a great platform for its mission...Lockheed, U done good!
From this Marines point of view. When ever we were to move cargo, and or personnel, the C-141A and the C-141B always arrived on time, and departed on time. The service record of the Star Lifter, from my point of view, fully out weighed the C-5 Galaxy, with regard to on time arrivals/departure times. Rarely if ever, did a Star Lifter arrive at where we Marines had been waiting for the C-141A and or C-141B to arrive, and, be able to depart without extensive maintenance being performed on the Star Lifter(s) prior to departure. Excellent aircraft, from this Leader of Marines point of view.
Flew back from Nam in one of these C-141's December 21st 1967. The plane was full of Helicopter Blades being sent for Repair in the States. 12 of us GI's hitched a ride back to the World and sat in Jump Seats for 3 days. Pretty cold in the cargo area flying at 40,000 feet. Left Tan Son Nhut to Nagoya to Fairbanks to Texas to Georgia to Dover. Took us 3 days I believe. Arrived December 24 in Dover. One of the guys said someone stole this Money Orders and they called the MP's we waited several hours for the MP's to arrive. One of the guys said to check this guys bags first. They found the money orders where he had hid them. The MP's detained him awhile and let the rest of us go. Me and 2 other guys took a taxi to Newark, NJ Airport. We all flew to different airports. I went to Detroit arrived there the next day. We all just had are tropical Short Sleeve Uniforms. Cold as Hell then. But we just wanted to get home. This had been my second tour. Finally went back to Nam in 2017., 50 years later. This time to Play Golf and sight see.
When I was a cadet at The Citadel I got to fly in a couple of C-141’s out of the Charleston AFB. It was my first time ever in an airplane and was unforgettable.
My father was a navigator for the C-141 in Charleston retired in 1973 and moved to Marietta Ga where the planes were built, he name was Dick Reno, not sure if you knew him. R.I.P.
Over 6000 hours on the C141A and B models as a flight engineer 1977 to 1993 loved this airplane it never let me down. It was sad to see it retired but when I left most had over 40000 hours on the airframe. It was even sadder to see them reduced to beer cans in the end. What a great airlifter.
Served as a Hydraulic mechanic on the C-141B, at Charleston AFB (1988-1993). Also in Torrejon AB, Spain,(1993-1994). Then at Rota NAS, Spain,(1994-1996). While in Spain, also worked on the C-5B. But......... my favorite Airfame of all, was the C141. Such wonderful memories, would do it all over again!
Was a 141 flight sim tech at Altus AFB in the late 70’s, we trained a lot of pilots, loved inserting all the failures for the new-by pilots. The IP’s would let me show the butter bars how to fly an approach, the he would tell them if they couldn’t fly better than a two striper, they couldn’t fly his planes. Loved that job!!
When I was in the USAF in 75 to 79 I was a tin bender on C-141s and C-5As. Great to see this video of those airplanes. Being a tin bender lead me to build 2 airplanes of my own....thanks for the memories
Sky, you are today’s hero! I spent many many many days being transported all around the world in the belly of the most wonderful cargo airplane ever made, the C-141B.
Steb Nalang : I was a crew chief of a C-141 A from 1965 to 1968 at Travis AFB and then Norton AFB and it was a amazing aircraft for the time. All work and not much fun.
@@ohwell279063rd MAW kicked ass. Watched you guys fly over my house for 22 years. Revving those TF33s at night. Fell asleep many many times to that sound of freedom ❤
Thank you. I was a Loadmaster on these in the 1990s when they were at the end of their life. We flew them all over the Pacific and the world. Most of the planes had been built before I was born.
Same here, but they wouldn't let me be a flight engineer because I wore glasses. Didn't make sense to me because the engineers panel was only two feet away. But they did let me be a flying crew chief, and that was a lot of fun.
My father logged countless on the C141. He was senior loadmaster on McCord AFB. He was also the senior instructor for the loadmaster training school on base. If there was an issue as to how to load a C141, my father had the final say so. Dad knew how load these “lizards” as they were known.
Took a couple trips on the 141 in my career. Very reliable craft. Superintended maintenance on them at Charleston, AFB for a year before I retired. Thanks for the good memories...
I crewed 414 and 619, out of Norton. I remember one of our planes returned from a TDY, and hit a flock of geese. Huge holes in the leading edges of the wings, and tail. After the repair, she was selected to participate in some competition. It was sent out with seven geese painted under the pilots side window, fighter style for the number of kills.
I worked on these great aircraft, At Dover 1968-69. APG, Bur. # 59405, and aTravis , sa 1969-71. Aero repair shop. Watched. The first, C-5A, taxi in and park. 02:45. Loved this plane. Worked on the old, Shaky. C-124, and C-133. Was a great experience. Lol, guess that's why I retired out of aviation.
@@hoolehuarayzed7694 There were no C-141's with a 1968 tail number, nor 0032 with any other prefix. The USAF database says tail # 680032 was assigned to an F-111E.
I worked from late 1991 to mid 1994 at Warner - Robins Air Logistics Center on the Starlifter's Center Wing Box Replacement program. I have flown on both the A-model and the B-model.
Awesome video, thanks. I remember being transported in these as a military kid. They put the seats in "backwards" and my dad used to pick me up and take me to the one little window at the door to look out and to the cockpit to meet the pilots. My ears were so small my dad had to cut the free earplugs in half to get them to fit.
Great video about a great plane. I was a "Plane Captain / Crew Chief" on A-4 Skyhawks. Whenever we were required to deploy somewhere, we usually called up the Airforce taxi service and they usually sent a couple of C-141's to give us ground personnel a ride while our A-4's followed. It was so much more comfortable than the C-130's that the Navy and Marine Corps had for us. Anyone who has ridden 4 hours in a C-130 as well as a C-141 knows what I am talking about. I'm talking about nylon web seating and Noisy turboprops that require the passengers to wear hearing protection to avoid noise fatigue and hearing loss, vs Comfortable airline style seats (Facing backwards, mind you) and nice quiet jet engines and a sound insulated fuselage. It was the right plane at the right time.
The definition of a workhorse. It wasn’t as big as the C-5 or as adaptable as the C-130, but it got the job it was assigned to do done well. I used to see (and hear) them flying out of McGuire AFB.
I was a C-141B maintainer for 8 years. The C-141 is a true under-sung hero, and was THE backbone of long range cargo hauling. The USAF flew this airplane to life limits and got more than its' money's worth in return. It was a great airframe.
I grew up in Midwest City, OK, adjacent to the flight path to Tinker Air Force Base. These magnificent planes were a constant presence during my childhood. I will never forget the sound of those engines as these huge machines flew by on their way to landing.
I'm glad that the ones I rode on had no outward issues also (nervous flyer). I rode on the "embassy flight" from Charleston SC to Karachi via Torrejon AFB (Spain) and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and back after 15 months in Pakistan.
I was stationed at Travis A.F.B. in California during the 80's. We had the KC135, C130, C141 and C5 aircraft. The 141's were called Stretch, but later when they painted the Camo Green we called them Lizards. I miss hearing the engines ramp up. Of course the C5's (called FRED) were much louder. I didn't work on them but I had some buddies that did. Those were the days.
during the 1976 summertime it was a case of being awake at 3 am at family housing area- Beale Ct- Travis AFB- and hearing the TF-39 engines being run up, with that ANNOYING whine :)
Worked on them from June 1966 to December 1970 at Norton AFB (63rd FMS) and Yokota AB Japan (610 MASS). Jet engine mechanic. Dated a lady at Norton who’s father was a flight engineer on C124s at March AFB. He made it over to Japan a couple of times in “old shakey.”
In Charleston SC a C-141 flew under the Cooper River bridges on a dare. I knew the flight engineer on that plane. He still grinned like a kid every time he told about it. There was a directive issued after that prohibiting such actions. The old bridges are gone replaced by a bridge known as the Double Diamond. I estimate a C-17 would have no problem flying under it with room to spare.
The C-141B and the C-5B shared a common cockpit design, including swappable Line Replaceable Units (LRUs). This allowed a base to essentially support both aircraft with a much smaller logistics footprint.
I was airlifted out of Saigon to the Phillipines on April 27, 1975 in a C-130. Then, onwards to Guam on the C-141. Thanks to all Air Force personnel who had a hand in bringing me and my family to freedom on those two planes!
I was a Loadmaster on the C 141AB Cargo Aircraft for over 19 years, and retired with 7988 flight hours. I really enjoyed traveling all over the world transporting equipment and people to almost every country on the globe. I miss everything about flying as a Flight Crew member. Those were some of the good old days.
Thanks for reminding me about the embassy flights I sent many of them out during those same three years I work out of the 780 section for all those years (the other apg's out there will know what I'm talkin about) by the way the spelling is q u i n n praying by out there who remembers me let me know by the way my out there remember when triple deuce lost it's clam shell doors?
@@williamwuinn6601 Hi, you may be interested in this: In 1992 I worked for the Gorbachev Foundation and got to fly on the Antonov AN-124 from San Francisco to the middle of Siberia (Yekaterinburg) delivering humanitarian aid. Compared to the Starlifter, the Ruslan was enormous! But still not as sweet as the C-141 !!
I first saw a C-141 in 1968 or 69, when I was a young Marine stationed on the island of Adak, Alaska. I didn't know what it was, but it clearly belonged to the Air Force. The next time I saw a C-141 was on television coverage of the US POW's being returned from North Vietnam. I think that's probably the first time that most average Americans first saw them as well. (Side note: in the clip of returning POWs at about 10:50, the woman running across the tarmac to greet her husband was a co-worker of my wife's!) In the 1980's I spent six years in the Air Force Reserve, maintaining the communications systems of the C-141 and C-141B, in the 315th Military Airlift Wing in Charleston, SC. Sad to see it go, but that's life.
Ha! I was going to say the same thing. While on jump status this is the fixed wing bird I did the most jumps out of. But I also did a lot of jumps out of CH-47s because my unit was small and unless we could jump with bigger units it wasn't cost effective to put a Starlifter in the air.
One of my absolute favorite planes! I live the sound of TF33's/JT3D turbofans. The Starlifter had the most powerful version made and with almost no inlet, the inlet guide vanes are almost flush to the inlet lip. This meant there was basically no sound absorbtion. Those puppies SCREAMED! I was off the end of an AFB runway when many were being ferried to AMARC. 141's screaming over my head all day and I miss that. Not only did it sound fantastic but it was a beautiful jet! Minus the air refueling bump on the head of the B-models.
So that's why the 141 sounds the way it does? Ive always wondered why they had such a bitchen & distinct sounds. I have videos i took of them out at Norton AFB during airshows. I turn my sound system waaay up to relive those days. ❤
When I was growing up on Fort Lewis, the duplex I lived in was directly in the approach path of nearby McChord Air Force Base. I got to see the Starlifters pretty closely every a hour or two.
@Flight Sim Historian my grandad started out navigating on a C47, and got to fly on the C-97 and all the other scary "shaky" prop planes before spending most of his time on the C141. I loved getting to see them flying at McChord in washington by their home all the time when i was little.
Grew up in North Tacoma under the approach for McChord in the 90s. The sound of those engines is something I will never forget. The C-17s are whisper quiet compared to the C-141. I remember when they'd practice MITOs and you'd see 4 or 5 C-141s all in trail lifting off out of McChord (only saw this when they'd rarely take off to the north). The amount of exhaust in the sky was impressive. Miss them!
I was a crew chief on the C-141 in the late '80s and early '90s at Altus AFB. I didn't follow it after I got out, but was not surprised, just saddened to see they were gone when I checked back in recent years.
i worked on the c141 A from 1966 threw 1969, infact i was stationed at norton afb in 1967 when they received their first allotment of star lifters and the infamous hanoi c141 60177 loved these birds!
I was once involved in a crash landing in a c141. I was in the US AirForce band flying the "milk run" from Clark AB to northern Japan and somewhere over southern Japan as we came in for a landing at Marine Base Iwakuni, the front landing gear wouldnt unfold correctly. We as passengers had not a clue that anything was wrong untill about 15 seconds before we slammed into the runway. All of a suddend sirens started blasting and they yelling for us to RUN off the plane as fast and as far as we could! I remember sprinting full force and when I got a couple hundred feet away from the plane, I looked back and actually took a picture! Lol. I have no recollection of how or why I was able to grab my camera but the shot I took showed the plane had run off the runway into a ravine and down a small slope but it was steep enough that the plane was tilted enough to one side and the engine was touching the ground! There was no fire etc. and I remember someone saying that the pilot was still able to keep the nose up at 45mph...i dont know what the normal landing speed would be but I would assume that its probably triple that???? Anyone? We were stuck in Iwakuni for a few days with nothing to do and man...we were BOARD out of our minds. There was litteraly nothing to do. On one of the nights we set up and played a show and i think we had MAYBE 10 people show up. The whole base seemed deserted ha ha!
You do the best research and present all aircraft as if they were the greatest thing flying. Thank you so much for your in depth analysis an commentary.
I flew in one of these from Misawa Japan to Tacoma WA. That was a long flight on the fold down canvas seats. I got to watch an inflight refueling from the steps leading into the cockpit.
As an AIRBORNE Paratrooper, I deployed all over the world on these storied aircraft. This video sure brings back those memories. Thank You for the walk down memory lane... AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY
I loved the near-post Vietnam era paint-scheme. I lived in east Tacoma, WA, near to McChord, yes, McChord! I’d watch those beautiful, efficient aircraft my entire childhood. Also saw many years’ worth of the flying boxcar, Globemaster II.
20 years in the USN, rode many miles all around the globe. Brought me home from Desert Storm to say good bye to my Dad. Red Cross & USAF MAC flights moved a lot of stuff, a lot of miles, and helped make a lot of smiles for the USA Armed Forces, and people in need the world over.
I had over 1000 hours as a crew member on the C-141. Flew from Norton AFB, to many locations in the Lower 48, Spain, Panama, Alaska, Hawaii, Kwajalein, Australia, New Zealand, Diego Garcia to name a few, and basically the entire pacific. Great plane ✈️ and super reliable.
I was at Warner Robins in 1966 working on C141s and did get up on some training flights also. What a beautiful aircraft the C141 was. I will never forget, we has an airshow and we had SAC on our base also, flying B52s and our pilots wanted to show just how special the 141 was. And what a show they put on. The climb rate was amazing compared to the B52.
They have a Starlifter at the Warner Robins museum. Not long before cancer got him, the curator allowed my father in law and us, his family, to access "his" plane. Was really awesome of them. The plane was not open to the public at that time.
I heard a former C-141 pilot, Lyle Prouse, describe one fretful characteristic of that aircraft: Because of its high-wing configuration, it had an awful survivability record when ditching in water. Few if any crew ever survived a ditching. Such a majestic, beautiful bird though! Especially the ‘B’ and ‘C’ stretched models. Hi to Sky! Another artful, informative video!
I am not aware of any C-141 ditching incident. Flew it for 4 years from 1985 to 1989, 30 MAS, 438 AW McGuire, NJ. Took me and our crew all over the world.
The life rafts stored near the overhead exits were extremely heavy. How they ever expected anyone to get them out that hatch, was wishful thinking. It usually took three people to mount them up there.
The only C-141 I recall ditching was one out of Da Nang that tried to take off with the spoilers extended, not really a ditching. Ironically, the plane could be taken off with the spoilers extended, one of the pilots in the 14 MAS did it out of Wake Island.
I made 2 trips out of Nam on the C141. I flew 4 trips to Germany and back in them. I have jumped out of them to many times to count. Plus made trips to Gitmo in them. I love the 141. It was not a quiet plane to ride in, but was a rock solid heavy lifter. Loved it.
My late father flew C-141A's out of Dover AFB in the late 60s and early 70s. He said it was an impressive aircraft. He also said that it had more cargo-carrying capability than cargo space, so was not surprised when the C-141B came along after he retired.
My dad flew this plane from 68-73. He was also a flight instructor and flight examiner at Charleston AFB. I have many fond memories of this plane and also flying the simulator at the base when I was a kid.... Dad’s gone now, but the memories are still here.
Les Smith?
My father inlaw was a flight engineer on 141s during that time frame. Possible they knew each other.
My grandad was a maintainer for this plane (and others) at Charleston AFB from the mid 70s up to the 90s
I was a C-141B Flight Engineer stationed at McChord AFB, Washington from 1982 to 1985. I met my wife while flying, been married 35 years now and have two grown sons -- the C-141 changed my life.
Flew the StarLizard for 21 years...mostly from CAFB. Best part of my life. Great crews. Lifelong friends. Meaningful airlift and airdrop missions. Really miss those days.
almost 1100 flying hours over 15 years as an Aeromedical Technician, they took me to many strange and distant places like Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Iceland, Alaska and even Johnston Island. One of the greatest aircraft in USAF history.
My dad, Gerry Barden, was the project engineer on the telescope installation on the 141 for Lockheed. He earned Lockheed's Engineer of the Year award for this work.
Congrats !
I was stationed at Norton AFB from Oct 1970 until Feb 1974. I was the last person to step off the Hanoi Taxi C-141 tail number 60177 on Feb 13 1973 before it left for the Philippines and on to Hanoi to return the Vietnam POWs. It was an honor and a privilege to be part of that task.
Steve Shelton
My dad in 1971 - 1973 was stationed in Thailand, as an army-brat I got to fly Space A to exotic places. Ton Sa Nut, Don muang, India, Taiwan etc.. My mom and sisters flew commercially. I never realized my good fortune. I was usually the only kid among soldiers. The airmen would hand out waxen plugs. I thought it was candy. The noise in the cargo bay wasn't even bad, the pressurization left a lot to be desired as did the red cargo nets called seats. I was a kid and thought this was normal. The airmen also handed out hot chow, turkey chunks in gravy. Yum! Not every flight however. When my dad retired I got a real treat flying back stateside we took a C5A! Man that's an amazing plane. I would never trade these memories from all the gold in Hollywood. Thanks Dad!
I was a Loadmaster on C-141's for 15 years. Sure do miss those days!
And you were damn good at it! Gus
Were you out of McGoo?
@@gusviera3905 Were you out of McGoo?
I think I flew with you Patrick? I was at Norton for 5yrs in the 15th. Then off too Charleston for 10.
@@gusviera3905 Flew with you a few times I'm sure Gus. Alan Horton
I was a passenger on this airplane July 28, 1968 . The flight started at Colorado Springs Airport and the destination was Da Nang South Vietnam. We made several stops the first stop was in California and I believe that we stopped in wake island then we stopped in the Philippines and then Da Nang South Vietnam. The plane was fitted with passenger seats and the seats were facing backwards. We were a military unit that was being deployed to South Vietnam perhaps the last complete unit sent to South Vietnam. Our destination in South Vietnam was the base at the DMZ called Con Thein after being there for a while we were moved just south of the DMZ to Cam Lo and later we were moved to Quang Tri. I thought the C-141 was a great airplane I noticed that the plane used up most of the runway in take off. I remember when we got off the plane in Da Nang the engines weren't shut off the pilot said that the Da Nang airport was being shelled with in coming mortar shells. The flight to South Vietnam lasted for almost two days.
Back in1968, I was medevaced from Tachikawa, Japan, to Clark, NJ, via Alaska and Washington, DC. On a stretcher for 17.5 hours. Longest plane ride I ever had. No lights, no music, nothing. Still, I thank that crew for getting me stateside. Being a Marine, they could've shipped me by boat.
Was airlifted out of Saudi Arabia in Feb. 1991 to England on a C-141. Then back to Andrews. And finally, Ft. Bragg where I originally started from back in Aug. 1990. 5th Bn 8th FAR XVIII Abn Corps. What a wild ride! Would do it all again in a heartbeat if I wasn’t pushing 70.
I really miss my buddies…..
I was a loadmaster on C141's during the gulf war and it was an awesome airplane to serve on. I'd do it again in a heartbeat too. 97MAS McChord AFB
Some years ago, while living in Olympia, WA, my apartment there was regularly overflown by Starlifters from McChord. One day I heard a rumble and went to a window, expecting to see one or more Starlifters going overhead. Just as I glanced up, the building began to shake. I hadn't heard Starlifters, I had heard the approach of the Nisqually earthquake!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_Nisqually_earthquake
I was crew chief on the C-141B. As a matter of fact, I may have worked on every airplane you showcase in the video. Great to see that it is still remembered.
So was I. 437MAW CAFB, Flying Crew Chief. Learned a lot on those old birds.
I’m a volunteer at a aviation museum in Marietta Georgia, I got to help out during the last year of restoration of YC-141B 660186, I was so happy to see the test flight footage of 0186. 0186 served as the prototype for the modernization to the c-141b.
I was a Flight Engineer on A's and B's from 76 to 88 and It was the best time I could imagine. The crews were first rate and the missions were never boring. I later became an airline pilot but I always missed the variety of the MAC assignments. What I can say about the C-141 is - she never let me down.
I was a Loadmaster for 15 years on this plane and it was a sweet one. We did just about every mission out there on them and she never let us down. We simply flew them until they couldn't be flown anymore. I sure wish I could hear those engines again; the sound of freedom and home all in one.
OOOHHHH....Them engines ❤
I was an Aircraft Commander and Instructor pilot on the C141B. The airplane was a workhorse and pretty reliable. The controls were fairly heavy like a DC-8. The Flaps only had three positions....Full, Take-off Approach (same position), and up. It was a relatively slow airplane for a swept wing jet transport, I believe we flew it between Mach 74 and 77 most of the time ( 74% to 77% of the speed of sound). I have fond memories of the airplane and our crews. We traveled around the world. Our squadron motto.."you call we haul'!
My dear departed dad, Edward "Bud","Smiley" Jeffries, a veteran of WWII, Korea and Vietnam was a flight engineer on the Starlifter and what a beautiful airplane she is! Awesome tribute video!
What a good man! We thank him for his service! He was a protector of freedom and liberty. A hero of the world!
I was a Flight Nurse for 8 years and flew many missions in the C-141B. It was a great aircraft.
I would love to speak with you. Flt Eng 141
@6:42 I took my FN checkride with a full bird Colonel over my shoulder on 60-177, the Hanoi Taxi. Great memories of that historic aircraft. 445th AES
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, I do not think the Nurses that served in Vietnam ever got the credit they rightly deserve. The danger was greater than most people know.
@@racerd9669 I was a bit late to that party. I served from 1987-1995 and flew in the desert instead of the jungle. Well, a little in the Central American jungle (Just Cause, Panama, 1989), and then Desert Shield and Desert Storm a couple of years later. A bunch of brush fires, compared to the long slog of SEA.
I grew up right next to McChord AFB in Lakewood, WA and still remember first hearing their engines when I was in class in kindergarten (1965-66). As a soldier in the early 80s I parachuted out of them (Pope AFB) and grabbed the occasional Space-A flight while on leave. It never occurred to me that one day they would no longer be around.
My all-time favorite plane.
U. S. Air Force
1965-1985
I worked on the C-141 during the A to B conversion. it is an airplane that did not get enough recognition. They flew the dickens out of it. It was a great aerospace vehicle. That's what an FTD instructor call them.
I spent many hours onboard the 141's, strapped into canvas bench seats, sitting across from various military vehicles strapped to the floor. Only senior/officer personnel were allowed to sit in conventional rearward facing airliner seats. There were times when we hit turbulence and the rubber tired vehicles would strain and stretch their tie-downs and the wheels would briefly leave the floor. Always stay belted in when flying in a 141 ! Good aircraft .. fond memories. Well done video.
Me too, Bill. Spent countless hours in these planes. 76-84 for me. Langley, McDill, Kunsan and Suwon. More TDY than I can remember.
Nylon net seats, not canvas. This was an absolutely amazing aircraft for its time. Some were equipped as massive flying hospitals which flew thousands of wounded soldiers back from Vietnam to the United States.
I'm laughing out loud at your comment! 🤣 We had a rotation to Panama from McGuire in 79/80. On one trip the pilots decided to do a TF -- Terrain Following -- approach for about 20 minutes. Half of my guys were throwing up before we landed, hahaha!!!! 🤮🤮🤮
No parking shoring?
Lots of great memories working as a Jet Mech on the C-141B between 1986 and 1989. Run qualified, all 3 positions.
The Lawn Lizard!!! My dad was a Navigator on the As. He flew in and out of Vietnam, also flew to Israel in the Yom Kippur war. Had to fly down the slot over the Med from the Azores to Israel. When the USAF upgraded to the B he went into the Reserves.
When I was on active duty, I took a B from the Philippines to Japan.
The C-141 is my favorite plane...
Remember these as a child in the 70s. My father was a customs officer ar RAF Mildenhall, so C141 C130 KC135 and C5s were a daily sight and sound. Loved theme all. Wonderful memories. In the days of white and grey colour scheme with the black and yellow MAC banding on the fin.
I was a company commander in 82d Airborne in the late 1960’s - many jumps, day and night from the C-141. Night jet jumps were always a treat; that wind deflector gave you a little protection going out the door, but once you hit the slipstream, it was like being a cotton seed in a gale. Awesome.
When our division’s 3rd brigade deployed to Vietnam during the ‘Tet’ Offensive in ‘68 we went from Pope AFB in North Carolina to Elmendorf in Alaska, to Kadena on Okinawa, to Chu Lai in Vietnam, on C-141’s.
When we landed at Chu Lai about 0200 local, the base had just been under rocket attack. Our aircraft commander didn’t want to be on the ground longer than absolutely necessary so he did an ‘engines running offload’ - when we hit the airstrip he stood on the brakes, then opened the clamshells and lowered the tail ramp to horizontal.
He taxi’d slowly down the strip as we hopped off with our equipment and made for the ditches on both sides of the runway. He told us before we landed to make sure we had EVERYTHING off the runway, because he was going to turn around at the far end and come straight back up under full power.
We did. He did.
I’ve never been that close to an aircraft that big, traveling at that speed. Wow!
The C141 is a fantastic plane! I was very priviledged to work on the during the Desert Storm campaign. I also got to work on it's successor, the C17, which is an even more impressive and fantadtic jet! It was an honor to maintain these remarkable transports. This video brought back many good memories, and is a great tribute to the C141.
The C-141B and the L-1011 were the smoothest flying and my favorite planes to fly on.
Lockheed rarely screwed up in this department - built some really amazing aircraft. I’m still bummed they lost the commercial market.
@@EstorilEm Same, they didn't fail the L1011, we failed it
My FIL was a flight engineer on 141s during the VietNam war. He told me the Starlifter didn't take off...the runway just fell away. :)
Great video! I flew the C-141 out of McChord for 6 years in the early '80's. A dream come true for a kid in his '20's. It was a great platform for its mission...Lockheed, U done good!
8th MAS here 77-81
I was there in 70 and then finished up my time in Anchorage. I loaded and loaded hundreds of cargo planes in the 4 years I served.
I do miss flying all around the world on them, 17 years and 7,700 hours as an Flight Engineer. Great vid!
The C5-A Galaxy and the Hecules get a great deal of credit but the venerable C141 Starlifter was the backbone of air mobile command.
Exactly right
ABSOLUTELY!! This plane is ALWAYS overlooked
The C-130'S and the C-141's were the best Air Force Cargo planes ever developed. for their size I flew both in the Air Force.
I was a sheet metal tech in the Air Force and worked on the 141 at Altus AFB . I loved this airframe . I truly miss working on them.
From this Marines point of view. When ever we were to move cargo, and or personnel, the C-141A and the C-141B always arrived on time, and departed on time.
The service record of the Star Lifter, from my point of view, fully out weighed the C-5 Galaxy, with regard to on time arrivals/departure times. Rarely if ever, did a Star Lifter arrive at where we Marines had been waiting for the C-141A and or C-141B to arrive, and, be able to depart without extensive maintenance being performed on the Star Lifter(s) prior to departure.
Excellent aircraft, from this Leader of Marines point of view.
Flew back from Nam in one of these C-141's December 21st 1967. The plane was full of Helicopter Blades being sent for Repair in the States. 12 of us GI's hitched a ride back to the World and sat in Jump Seats for 3 days. Pretty cold in the cargo area flying at 40,000 feet. Left Tan Son Nhut to Nagoya to Fairbanks to Texas to Georgia to Dover. Took us 3 days I believe. Arrived December 24 in Dover. One of the guys said someone stole this Money Orders and they called the MP's we waited several hours for the MP's to arrive. One of the guys said to check this guys bags first. They found the money orders where he had hid them. The MP's detained him awhile and let the rest of us go. Me and 2 other guys took a taxi to Newark, NJ Airport. We all flew to different airports. I went to Detroit arrived there the next day. We all just had are tropical Short Sleeve Uniforms. Cold as Hell then. But we just wanted to get home. This had been my second tour. Finally went back to Nam in 2017., 50 years later. This time to Play Golf and sight see.
When I was a cadet at The Citadel I got to fly in a couple of C-141’s out of the Charleston AFB. It was my first time ever in an airplane and was unforgettable.
Yeah, what class were you?
@@realdeal1453 95
@@bradwilliams4921 Ok because I was the class of ‘88.
I was crew chief for C-141B in Charleston, SC
40 yrs ago, ugh getting old.
My father was a navigator for the C-141 in Charleston retired in 1973 and moved to Marietta Ga where the planes were built, he name was Dick Reno, not sure if you knew him. R.I.P.
I was a Crew Chief on the "A "in 1970 at Charleston. Then went to the C 5A.
Over 6000 hours on the C141A and B models as a flight engineer 1977 to 1993 loved this airplane it never let me down. It was sad to see it retired but when I left most had over 40000 hours on the airframe. It was even sadder to see them reduced to beer cans in the end. What a great airlifter.
thanks for paying tribute to an airframe I got to watch on a daily basis while growing up at mc guire/dix.
Dad flew out of McChord as Flight Engineer in C-141s from 1966 to 1975. Many memories for me.
Served as a Hydraulic mechanic on the C-141B, at Charleston AFB (1988-1993). Also in Torrejon AB, Spain,(1993-1994). Then at Rota NAS, Spain,(1994-1996). While in Spain, also worked on the C-5B. But......... my favorite Airfame of all, was the C141. Such wonderful memories, would do it all over again!
Was a 141 flight sim tech at Altus AFB in the late 70’s, we trained a lot of pilots, loved inserting all the failures for the new-by pilots. The IP’s would let me show the butter bars how to fly an approach, the he would tell them if they couldn’t fly better than a two striper, they couldn’t fly his planes. Loved that job!!
When I was in the USAF in 75 to 79 I was a tin bender on C-141s and C-5As. Great to see this video of those airplanes. Being a tin bender lead me to build 2 airplanes of my own....thanks for the memories
Sky, you are today’s hero! I spent many many many days being transported all around the world in the belly of the most wonderful cargo airplane ever made, the C-141B.
Congratulations 🎉👏 of being the top comment 👍😁 (as of now 😈)
Steb Nalang : I was a crew chief of a C-141 A from 1965 to 1968 at Travis AFB and then Norton AFB and it was a amazing aircraft for the time. All work and not much fun.
I was right there with you. I got a few trips on 141's.
Flew on these out of Travis many times. Was stationed at Ft. Ord at the time. Great times! Sure do miss those days!
@@ohwell279063rd MAW kicked ass. Watched you guys fly over my house for 22 years. Revving those TF33s at night. Fell asleep many many times to that sound of freedom ❤
I worked at Lockheed-Georgia in the early 80's and saw the C-141s go down the mod line. Thanks for the memories and the rest of the story.
Thank you. I was a Loadmaster on these in the 1990s when they were at the end of their life. We flew them all over the Pacific and the world. Most of the planes had been built before I was born.
C-141 crew chief and flight engineer back in the ‘70s & ‘80s. It was a great airplane!
Same here, but they wouldn't let me be a flight engineer because I wore glasses. Didn't make sense to me because the engineers panel was only two feet away. But they did let me be a flying crew chief, and that was a lot of fun.
My father logged countless on the C141. He was senior loadmaster on McCord AFB. He was also the senior instructor for the loadmaster training school on base. If there was an issue as to how to load a C141, my father had the final say so. Dad knew how load these “lizards” as they were known.
Lizards😂...I remember that. The nickname was given after their Green/gray camouflage livery.
I was at the Air Force Museum when the last flying C-141 made its final flight and landing, The Hanoi Taxi. A bittersweet moment
I was there too!
@@carlo1132 that’s awesome! I’ve been back a few times to see her
Took a couple trips on the 141 in my career. Very reliable craft. Superintended maintenance on them at Charleston, AFB for a year before I retired. Thanks for the good memories...
I was a crew chief on the C141. :)
I worked on the C-141-C before heading on to the C17. :)
I crewed 414 and 619, out of Norton. I remember one of our planes returned from a TDY, and hit a flock of geese. Huge holes in the leading edges of the wings, and tail. After the repair, she was selected to participate in some competition. It was sent out with seven geese painted under the pilots side window, fighter style for the number of kills.
I worked on these great aircraft, At Dover 1968-69. APG, Bur. # 59405, and aTravis , sa 1969-71. Aero repair shop. Watched. The first, C-5A, taxi in and park. 02:45. Loved this plane. Worked on the old, Shaky. C-124, and C-133. Was a great experience. Lol, guess that's why I retired out of aviation.
My tailnumber was 680032, 60 OMS Travis AFB 82-88!
@@hoolehuarayzed7694 There were no C-141's with a 1968 tail number, nor 0032 with any other prefix. The USAF database says tail # 680032 was assigned to an F-111E.
I worked from late 1991 to mid 1994 at Warner - Robins Air Logistics Center on the Starlifter's Center Wing Box Replacement program. I have flown on both the A-model and the B-model.
Awesome video, thanks. I remember being transported in these as a military kid. They put the seats in "backwards" and my dad used to pick me up and take me to the one little window at the door to look out and to the cockpit to meet the pilots. My ears were so small my dad had to cut the free earplugs in half to get them to fit.
Great video about a great plane. I was a "Plane Captain / Crew Chief" on A-4 Skyhawks. Whenever we were required to deploy somewhere, we usually called up the Airforce taxi service and they usually sent a couple of C-141's to give us ground personnel a ride while our A-4's followed. It was so much more comfortable than the C-130's that the Navy and Marine Corps had for us. Anyone who has ridden 4 hours in a C-130 as well as a C-141 knows what I am talking about. I'm talking about nylon web seating and Noisy turboprops that require the passengers to wear hearing protection to avoid noise fatigue and hearing loss, vs Comfortable airline style seats (Facing backwards, mind you) and nice quiet jet engines and a sound insulated fuselage. It was the right plane at the right time.
I flew on a C141 as a crew member, I flew air evac out from Charleston AFB, it was a great plane very reliable. It will be missed.
The definition of a workhorse. It wasn’t as big as the C-5 or as adaptable as the C-130, but it got the job it was assigned to do done well. I used to see (and hear) them flying out of McGuire AFB.
I was a C-141B maintainer for 8 years. The C-141 is a true under-sung hero, and was THE backbone of long range cargo hauling. The USAF flew this airplane to life limits and got more than its' money's worth in return. It was a great airframe.
Yup I did 22 years as a Loadmaster on these workhorses. Lots of Great Memories of the A and B models. Thanks for the video.
I grew up in Midwest City, OK, adjacent to the flight path to Tinker Air Force Base. These magnificent planes were a constant presence during my childhood. I will never forget the sound of those engines as these huge machines flew by on their way to landing.
My cousin flew these for years, he said it was an amazing airplane and didnt have too many issues for him.
I'm glad that the ones I rode on had no outward issues also (nervous flyer). I rode on the "embassy flight" from Charleston SC to Karachi via Torrejon AFB (Spain) and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and back after 15 months in Pakistan.
I was stationed at Travis A.F.B. in California during the 80's. We had the KC135, C130, C141 and C5 aircraft. The 141's were called Stretch, but later when they painted the Camo Green we called them Lizards. I miss hearing the engines ramp up. Of course the C5's (called FRED) were much louder. I didn't work on them but I had some buddies that did. Those were the days.
during the 1976 summertime it was a case of being awake at 3 am at family housing area- Beale Ct- Travis AFB- and hearing the TF-39 engines being run up, with that ANNOYING whine :)
Worked on them from June 1966 to December 1970 at Norton AFB (63rd FMS) and Yokota AB Japan (610 MASS). Jet engine mechanic. Dated a lady at Norton who’s father was a flight engineer on C124s at March AFB. He made it over to Japan a couple of times in “old shakey.”
In Charleston SC a C-141 flew under the Cooper River bridges on a dare. I knew the flight engineer on that plane. He still grinned like a kid every time he told about it. There was a directive issued after that prohibiting such actions. The old bridges are gone replaced by a bridge known as the Double Diamond. I estimate a C-17 would have no problem flying under it with room to spare.
I was a flying Crew Chief on these for 10 years out of Travis. This was a wonderful aircraft.
@@TJ-Dives 87-97. Mostly 088. Although I worked or flew on all the -141 tails at TAFB at one time or another.
I was a C141 pilot for many years, great aircraft.
The C-141B and the C-5B shared a common cockpit design, including swappable Line Replaceable Units (LRUs). This allowed a base to essentially support both aircraft with a much smaller logistics footprint.
Spent many years being moved around the Globe in these aircraft! Never a comfortable ride, but learned the value of a great Air Lifter!
Carried me around Asia in the early to mid 70’s without a hitch; I can’t say the same about my experiences with the C5A. Great piece of equipment!
That is the plane I worked on in my 12 years in the USAF. What a workhorse.
Lots of memories of these flying into and out of Charleston AFB from the 70s to the mid-90s.
I was airlifted out of Saigon to the Phillipines on April 27, 1975 in a C-130.
Then, onwards to Guam on the C-141.
Thanks to all Air Force personnel who had a hand in bringing me and my family to freedom on those two planes!
I was a Loadmaster on the C 141AB Cargo Aircraft for over 19 years, and retired with 7988 flight hours. I really enjoyed traveling all over the world transporting equipment and people to almost every country on the globe. I miss everything about flying as a Flight Crew member. Those were some of the good old days.
A sweet bird......thank you Starlifter, for all the hours I spent in your care! Embassy Flights 1967 - 1969.
Thanks for reminding me about the embassy flights I sent many of them out during those same three years I work out of the 780 section for all those years (the other apg's out there will know what I'm talkin about) by the way the spelling is q u i n n praying by out there who remembers me let me know by the way my out there remember when triple deuce lost it's clam shell doors?
@@williamwuinn6601 Hi, you may be interested in this: In 1992 I worked for the Gorbachev Foundation and got to fly on the Antonov AN-124 from San Francisco to the middle of Siberia (Yekaterinburg) delivering humanitarian aid. Compared to the Starlifter, the Ruslan was enormous! But still not as sweet as the C-141 !!
I first saw a C-141 in 1968 or 69, when I was a young Marine stationed on the island of Adak, Alaska. I didn't know what it was, but it clearly belonged to the Air Force.
The next time I saw a C-141 was on television coverage of the US POW's being returned from North Vietnam. I think that's probably the first time that most average Americans first saw them as well. (Side note: in the clip of returning POWs at about 10:50, the woman running across the tarmac to greet her husband was a co-worker of my wife's!)
In the 1980's I spent six years in the Air Force Reserve, maintaining the communications systems of the C-141 and C-141B, in the 315th Military Airlift Wing in Charleston, SC.
Sad to see it go, but that's life.
I was a crew chief from 1982 to 1986 best time of my life and the start of my avaition maintenance career.
I’ve taken off 10 times in a C-141, but never landed in one!
SEALS? AIRBORNE? RANGERS? USMC? NSA? CIA?
@@davidhoffman1278 Something like that....
AIRBORNE!!!!!!
Ha! I was going to say the same thing. While on jump status this is the fixed wing bird I did the most jumps out of. But I also did a lot of jumps out of CH-47s because my unit was small and unless we could jump with bigger units it wasn't cost effective to put a Starlifter in the air.
So, you jumped out of perfectly good airplanes? That seems crazy....you must have been in a hurry!
One of my absolute favorite planes! I live the sound of TF33's/JT3D turbofans. The Starlifter had the most powerful version made and with almost no inlet, the inlet guide vanes are almost flush to the inlet lip. This meant there was basically no sound absorbtion. Those puppies SCREAMED!
I was off the end of an AFB runway when many were being ferried to AMARC. 141's screaming over my head all day and I miss that. Not only did it sound fantastic but it was a beautiful jet! Minus the air refueling bump on the head of the B-models.
So that's why the 141 sounds the way it does? Ive always wondered why they had such a bitchen & distinct sounds. I have videos i took of them out at Norton AFB during airshows. I turn my sound system waaay up to relive those days. ❤
Great overview about an unsung in over looked aircraft
When I was growing up on Fort Lewis, the duplex I lived in was directly in the approach path of nearby McChord Air Force Base. I got to see the Starlifters pretty closely every a hour or two.
I was stationed at McChord from 2003 to 2008. I got to see the last 141 leave.
Oh the good old days 😌
@Flight Sim Historian my grandad started out navigating on a C47, and got to fly on the C-97 and all the other scary "shaky" prop planes before spending most of his time on the C141. I loved getting to see them flying at McChord in washington by their home all the time when i was little.
I was at McChord 1976-1977 & 1980 -1983. Now retired I live nearby.
Grew up in North Tacoma under the approach for McChord in the 90s. The sound of those engines is something I will never forget. The C-17s are whisper quiet compared to the C-141. I remember when they'd practice MITOs and you'd see 4 or 5 C-141s all in trail lifting off out of McChord (only saw this when they'd rarely take off to the north). The amount of exhaust in the sky was impressive.
Miss them!
I was a crew chief on the C-141 in the late '80s and early '90s at Altus AFB. I didn't follow it after I got out, but was not surprised, just saddened to see they were gone when I checked back in recent years.
She was my office for 5 years (1976-1981). I miss her.
i worked on the c141 A from 1966 threw 1969, infact i was stationed at norton afb in 1967 when they received their first allotment of star lifters and the infamous hanoi c141 60177 loved these birds!
I was once involved in a crash landing in a c141. I was in the US AirForce band flying the "milk run" from Clark AB to northern Japan and somewhere over southern Japan as we came in for a landing at Marine Base Iwakuni, the front landing gear wouldnt unfold correctly. We as passengers had not a clue that anything was wrong untill about 15 seconds before we slammed into the runway. All of a suddend sirens started blasting and they yelling for us to RUN off the plane as fast and as far as we could! I remember sprinting full force and when I got a couple hundred feet away from the plane, I looked back and actually took a picture! Lol. I have no recollection of how or why I was able to grab my camera but the shot I took showed the plane had run off the runway into a ravine and down a small slope but it was steep enough that the plane was tilted enough to one side and the engine was touching the ground! There was no fire etc. and I remember someone saying that the pilot was still able to keep the nose up at 45mph...i dont know what the normal landing speed would be but I would assume that its probably triple that???? Anyone?
We were stuck in Iwakuni for a few days with nothing to do and man...we were BOARD out of our minds. There was litteraly nothing to do. On one of the nights we set up and played a show and i think we had MAYBE 10 people show up. The whole base seemed deserted ha ha!
You do the best research and present all aircraft as if they were the greatest thing flying. Thank you so much for your in depth analysis an commentary.
Had one divert to my base to pick me up for a left coast trouble call back in the day - felt like a rockstar!
I flew in one of these from Misawa Japan to Tacoma WA. That was a long flight on the fold down canvas seats. I got to watch an inflight refueling from the steps leading into the cockpit.
As an AIRBORNE Paratrooper, I deployed all over the world on these storied aircraft. This video sure brings back those memories. Thank You for the walk down memory lane... AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY
My first jump static line and my first HALO was from this great jet! Very fond memories.
I loved the near-post Vietnam era paint-scheme. I lived in east Tacoma, WA, near to McChord, yes, McChord! I’d watch those beautiful, efficient aircraft my entire childhood. Also saw many years’ worth of the flying boxcar, Globemaster II.
Great video! Earned my nearly 5000 hours in the flying in the left seat, second row and loved every minute of it! 86th MAS 1975-1980
20 years in the USN, rode many miles all around the globe. Brought me home from Desert Storm to say good bye to my Dad. Red Cross & USAF MAC flights moved a lot of stuff, a lot of miles, and helped make a lot of smiles for the USA Armed Forces, and people in need the world over.
I had over 1000 hours as a crew member on the C-141. Flew from Norton AFB, to many locations in the Lower 48, Spain, Panama, Alaska, Hawaii, Kwajalein, Australia, New Zealand, Diego Garcia to name a few, and basically the entire pacific. Great plane ✈️ and super reliable.
C141 holds a special place in my heart. Worked with and on them for 14 years before retiring .
I was at Warner Robins in 1966 working on C141s and did get up on some training flights also. What a beautiful aircraft the C141 was. I will never forget, we has an airshow and we had SAC on our base also, flying B52s and our pilots wanted to show just how special the 141 was. And what a show they put on. The climb rate was amazing compared to the B52.
They have a Starlifter at the Warner Robins museum. Not long before cancer got him, the curator allowed my father in law and us, his family, to access "his" plane. Was really awesome of them. The plane was not open to the public at that time.
I heard a former C-141 pilot, Lyle Prouse, describe one fretful characteristic of that aircraft: Because of its high-wing configuration, it had an awful survivability record when ditching in water. Few if any crew ever survived a ditching. Such a majestic, beautiful bird though! Especially the ‘B’ and ‘C’ stretched models.
Hi to Sky! Another artful, informative video!
I am not aware of any C-141 ditching incident. Flew it for 4 years from 1985 to 1989, 30 MAS, 438 AW McGuire, NJ. Took me and our crew all over the world.
The life rafts stored near the overhead exits were extremely heavy. How they ever expected anyone to get them out that hatch, was wishful thinking. It usually took three people to mount them up there.
The only C-141 I recall ditching was one out of Da Nang that tried to take off with the spoilers extended, not really a ditching. Ironically, the plane could be taken off with the spoilers extended, one of the pilots in the 14 MAS did it out of Wake Island.
@@stephenearl761 I think you meant Cam Ranh Bay not Da Nang.
@@bobweaver1089 I think you may be right about that.
I made 2 trips out of Nam on the C141. I flew 4 trips to Germany and back in them. I have jumped out of them to many times to count. Plus made trips to Gitmo in them. I love the 141. It was not a quiet plane to ride in, but was a rock solid heavy lifter. Loved it.
I was station at Norton AFB, California (63rd MAW ) from 1980 to 1988. Loved that plane. Got to ride in one once. Good video.
Great video. Good job. I used to be a crew chief on the 141b and it was an amazing experience. 1988-1992 I miss those days. Salute!
McChord AFB.......I was a kid when the beautiful jet powered Starlifter started replacing the old Globemasters.
My late father flew C-141A's out of Dover AFB in the late 60s and early 70s. He said it was an impressive aircraft. He also said that it had more cargo-carrying capability than cargo space, so was not surprised when the C-141B came along after he retired.