The aca prototype test program ended on december 12, 1967. Ach gunship hurlburt field hurlburt field fact sheets. The basic airframe is manufactured by lockheed, while boeing is responsible for the conversion into a gunship and for aircraft support. Burns, an aerial gunner assigned to the deadliest squadron in air force history. Gunships destroyed more than 10,000 trucks and were credited with many. Jockey 14 was operating in support of ongoing operations in and around mogadishu, somalia at the time of the accident. On march 14, 1994, an ach spectre gunship from the 16th special operations squadron crashlanded 200 yards off the kenyan coast, near the town of malindi.
Achu gunships covers the ins and outs of the huge air force plane that provides gunfire cover for ground troops. By january 2016, the flying branch still had nearly 30 of the older acus and acws. The ac gunship and millions of other books are available for amazon. The books first half presents a fixedwing gunship history through the vietnam war. Features such as sidefiring weapons, sophisticated television and infrared senso. The ach spectre gunships were fielded in 1972 and retired in 2015. Unfollow ac gunship to stop getting updates on your ebay feed.
The usaf uses the ac for close support, air interdiction and force protection including supporting ground troops, escorting convoys, flying urban operations and covering air bases and other facilities. The television also incorporates a laser target designator and rangefinder that allows the acu to designate targets for other aircraft armed with. The ach spectres by gladys green and michael green 2008, reinforced, revised at the best online prices at ebay. The ace was a truly awesome gunship able to destroy whole supply convoys and more upgraded avionics and this massive gun created the ach. It carries a wide array of ground attack weapons that are integrated with sophisticated sensors, navigation, and firecontrol systems. The accepted callsign for the ach series is the threatening spectre while the acu series enjoys the mysterious spooky callsign. It is powerful enough to provide close air support to ground troops and also against insurgents. Introduces the aircraft known as the ach gunship, along with its specifications, weapons, missions, and future in the u.
John hamilton presents information about achu gunships, covering how they are used, their history, and their specifications. The lockheed ac gunship is a heavily armed, longendurance groundattack variant of the c hercules transport fixedwing aircraft. The video includes handling of the gunships unique weapon systems, some. Michael nardo, gunship requirements officer and ac instructor pilot at the 1st. Gunships destroyed more than 10,000 trucks and were credited with many lifesaving close air support missions. By the spring of 1969 there were six aca spectre gunships operating in southeast asia. The final evaluation stated that the ac had three times the combat effectiveness of the ac47.
For the ac to perform its mission, it needs the air force to achieve air dominance or air superiority. The project gunship ii lockheed aca spectre was also in use at the time, but was in short supply due to the air force s need for standard c hercules airlifters to process the war in vietnam and meet worldwide airlift commitments. The acj ghostrider is the fourth generation gunship set to replace the special operations fleet of achuw gunships at hurlburt field, fla. The resulting acw stinger iis are operated by the air force 73rd special operations squadron out of cannon air force base, new mexico. Eight of the 14 crewmen aboard were killed in the crash. Two months later, the service received the first of the newest gunship variant, the acj. At the time the aircraft was known as a dragonship, puff, the magic dragon.
The acu spooky and acw stinger ii variants are used to support ground troops, escort convoys, and in towns and cities. This title explores the development and use of the achu gunship. Unfollow spectre ac gunship to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. The lockheed ac gunship is a heavily armed ground attack aircraft currently in service with the united states air force. The acus call sign is spooky, and traces its history to the first operational gunship, the ac47. The lockheed ac gunship is a heavily armed groundattack aircraft variant of the c hercules transport plane. When it hits the battlefield in a few short years, the acj ghostrider will be the most heavily armed gunship in history a badass plane providing closeair support to u. It carries a wide array of antiground oriented weapons that are integrated with sophisticated sensors, navigation, and firecontrol systems. Medical drones could soon be helping american airlines sunsets five aircraft fleets. All achs started out as aces, but in the 1970s received upgraded engines, and other modifications, that led to their redesignation as achs. The aca gunships principal advantages were more power four engines, more. With the increase enemy anti aircraft guns a bigger weapon was needed on the gunship and the rear 40mm guns were replaced with a single 105mm howitzer the biggest gun carried by any aircraft.
His squadron destroyed more than fifteen thousand trucks loaded with war munitions. The acu gunships all light level television system and its infrared detection system can both scan a full 360 degrees, allowing the gunship crew to search for and find targets much faster. Ach spectre gunships final mission the aviationist. The ac gunship has a combat history dating to vietnam. Readers will learn about the acs navigational devices, which include inertial navigation systems and global positioning systems. Features such as sidefiring weapons, sophisticated television and infrared sensors, navigation and fire control systems and synthetic aperture strike radar are detailed. Air force video offers a rare glimpse inside an ac spooky ii gunship during a livefire exercise over florida. Unlike other military fixedwing aircraft, the ac relies on visual targeting. The lockheed ac spectre is a tactical support version of the c hercules. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive collection ever assembled. Therefore, the wright r3350powered ac119 was also selected for the gunship role. Continuing the distinguished combat history of sidefiring ac gunships, the new acu spectre gunship is being fielded as a replacement for the aca aircraft. Dubbed the surprise package, the new model sported two 20mm rapidfiring vulcan cannon, two 40mm bofors cannon, and advanced electronics. None of our partner shops or mates has this currently for sale.
All gunships evolved from the first operational gunship, the ac47, to the ac119, and then the aca which was the basis for the modern c gunship. The acw stinger ii, previously known as the mcw dragon spear, is a gunship that is created by applying a rollon, rolloff precision strike package to existing mcw combat spear aircraft. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. The lockheed ac gunship is a heavily armed, longendurance, groundattack variant of the c hercules transport, fixedwing aircraft. Continuing the distinguished combat history of sidefiring ac gunships, the acu spooky gunship was fielded in the 1990s as a replacement for the remaining aca aircraft and to. The vulnerability of the gunship was underscored in the early morning of jan. This program acquires new basic ch aircraft for modification and integration by boeing to the acu gunship configuration. Each book is bolstered with a glossary, list of further reading, and index.
Aboard the ac spectre gunship, he flew a total of 287 combat missions over. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and. Air force acu gunship a10, c and f16 aircraft under. This title explores the development and use of the ac hu gunship. Air force acu spooky and acw stinger ii gunship aircrew members from the 4th special operations squadron prepare their aircraft for a. Readers will follow the history of the aircraft and learn about its military and performance specifications, as well as. Meet the air forces ultimate battle plane and your new. Readers will follow the history of the aircraft and learn about its military and performance. Features such as sidefiring weapons, sophisticated television and infrared. The air forces newest, deadliest gunship just hit a major.
In 1964, during the vietnam war, the popular douglas c47 skytrain transport was successfully modified into a gunship by the united states air force with three sidefiring miniguns for circling attacks. An acu spooky flies a training mission over hurlburt field, fla usaf photo. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Readers will follow the history of the aircraft and learn about its military and performance specifications, as well as its advantages in the field. Aboard the ac spectre gunship, he flew a total of 287 combat missions over laos, south vietnam, and cambodia, in pursuit of the truck traffic coming down the ho chi minh trail. The douglas ac47 spooky was the first notable modern gunship. In december 1969, a newly modified ac gunship arrived at ubon air base.
In may 2015, the air force finally retired the last ach during a ceremony at cannon air force base in new mexico. The gunship strikes with such force that it actually chops down a tree under which an insurgent is hiding. Meanwhile, photos of crew members going about their duties are often shown without manipulation. It is a variation of the c hercules transport plane. The lockheed ac gunship is a heavily armed, longendurance, ground attack variant of.
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