1 - The Black Vault

although the early Fulton modification was identical
to the rescue HC-130s of the period. What
made the Stray Goose aircraft unique was the
installation of a multimode terrain-following/
terrain-avoidance (TF/TA) radar and a defensive
EW suite. In the fall of 1967, two of the original 12
Combat Talons (64-0547 and 64-0563) were lost in
Vietnam, thus leaving a fleet of 10 operational
aircraft. To compensate for the loss, the USAF
pulled two additional C-130E aircraft from operational
units (aircraft 64-0571 and 64-0572) in
March 1968, and contracted with LAS Ontario to
modify them to the Rivet Clamp configuration.
These two aircraft were identical to the original
12 Rivet Clamp Combat Talons with the exception
that they did not have the Fulton STARS
installed. 8 Thus, by late 1968 the 12 Combat Talons
were identified as “Clamp” aircraft, with 10
(64-0523, 64-0551, 64-0555, 64-0558, 64-0559, 64-
0561, 64-0562, 64-0566, 64-0567, and 64-0568)
having the Fulton capability and two (64-0571
and 64-0572) not having it. The four Heavy Chain
aircraft (62-1843, 63-7785, 64-0564, and 64-0565)
were identified as “Yard” aircraft.*
The production C-130E aircraft was the foundation
upon which Combat Talon was built. Ma -
jor modifications to the E model aircraft included
installation of the Fulton Skyhook recovery system,
AN/APQ-115 TF/TA radar system, and defensive
countermeasure equipment. A review of
the production E model and these major modifi -
cations provide a basic understanding of the
Combat Talon.
The Basic C-130E Aircraft
The C-130 Hercules was first flown on 28 August
1954, with the first production model designated
the C-1 30A. There were 233 A models produced
before the next generation C-130B was put
into service. During the B model production run,
there were 230 B models built, with the last aircraft
delivered in 1962. From 1962 to 1975, 491
C-130E models were produced. 9 Eighteen E models
eventually became Combat Talons—the 14 Stray
Goose aircraft modified in 1965, the two replacement
aircraft brought into the program in 1968,
and the two original Thin Slice/Heavy Chainmodified
aircraft.
General Description
The Lockheed C-130E aircraft was an all-metal,
high-wing, long-range, land-based monoplane designed
to provide transportation for cargo and
personnel. The aircraft was multipurpose and
could be used in various roles including airdrop,
airland, and air ambulance, along with many
other applications. Designed with a short-field ca -
pability, it could operate from minimally improved
airfields in forward areas. With the Fulton
STARS installed, the overall length was increased
from 97 feet 9 inches to 98 feet 9 inches. A modified
radome and recovery yokes accounted for the
additional length. With the yokes extended, the
overall length of the aircraft increased to 106 feet
4 inches. Other principal dimensions included the
following:
Wing Span . . . . . . . . . . 132 feet 7 inches
Height . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 feet 6 inches
Stabilizer Span . . . . . . . 52 feet 8 inches
Cargo Compartment
Length . . . . . . . . . . . 41 feet
Width (Minimum) . . . . . 10 feet 3 inches
Height (Minimum) . . . . . 9 feet
Maximum Gross Weight . . 175,000 pounds
Engines and Propellers
The aircraft was powered by four Allison T-56-
A-7 engines. The static standard-day, sea level, takeoff
rating of each engine at 100 percent rotations per
minute (RPM) (13,820) was 3,755 propeller shaft
horsepower (SHP). The maximum allowable torquemeter-indicated
power was 19,600 inch-pounds. This
was equivalent to 4,200 SHP in addition to 100 SHP
allowance for gearbox and accessory losses, or a
total of 4,300 SHP. 10 Each engine was equipped with
a Hamilton Standard, four-blade, electrohydromatic,
full-fe athering, reversible-pitch propeller. The propeller
operated as a controllable-pitch propeller for
throttle settings below flight idle and as a constantspeed
propeller for throttle settings of flight idle or
above. 11
Assisted Takeoff
THE COMBAT TALON WEAPONS SYSTEM
Provisions were made for the external mounting
of eight solid fuel-assisted take-off (ATO)
units of 1,000 pounds thrust each, which supplied
__________
*In 1972, when Heavy Chain deactivated, the four aircraft assigned to that program were transferred to Combat Talon, modified specifically for
PACAF employment, and designated “Yank” aircraft. At that time aircraft 64-0571 and 64-0572 were declared excess to the Combat Talon program
and were transferred out of special operations. All of their ECM equipment and the TF/TA portion of their radars were removed. They were
assigned to Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, and Hill AFB, Utah, respectively, within Air Force Systems Command, and were designated as “Swap”
aircraft. When 64-0558 was lost in late 1972, 64-0572 was returned to the Combat Talon fleet as a “Clamp” aircraft. When aircraft 64-0564 was lost
in 1981, aircraft 64-0571 was returned and modified as a “Yank” aircraft assigned to the Pacific.
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