Canadian C 130, in flight fire
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Canadian C 130, in flight fire
Nine members of the Canadian Forces are safe after their military aircraft caught fire at a base in the U.S.
The CC-130 Hercules was participating in a training exercise when it caught fire at the Naval Air Station in Key West, Fla.
Those on board made a successful emergency landing and fire crews put out the flames.
The military is describing damage to the aircraft as "extensive."
Lt.-Col. Richard Pamplin, who commands the crew's squadron, says he's proud of the way those on board followed through on their training and got everyone out safely.
He adds that he's "relieved" to confirm all those who were on board are safe and in good spirits.
The aircraft and crew are from 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron of 17 Wing Winnipeg.
They were providing air-to-air refuelling support for the training of new CF-18 fighter pilots from 4 Wing Cold Lake in Alberta.
An investigation has been launched to determined the cause of the blaze.
From the CBC
The CC-130 Hercules was participating in a training exercise when it caught fire at the Naval Air Station in Key West, Fla.
Those on board made a successful emergency landing and fire crews put out the flames.
The military is describing damage to the aircraft as "extensive."
Lt.-Col. Richard Pamplin, who commands the crew's squadron, says he's proud of the way those on board followed through on their training and got everyone out safely.
He adds that he's "relieved" to confirm all those who were on board are safe and in good spirits.
The aircraft and crew are from 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron of 17 Wing Winnipeg.
They were providing air-to-air refuelling support for the training of new CF-18 fighter pilots from 4 Wing Cold Lake in Alberta.
An investigation has been launched to determined the cause of the blaze.
From the CBC
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Re: Canadian C 130, in flight fire
Who's buying the drinks in Margaritaville tonight? Not these guys.
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Re: Canadian C 130, in flight fire
Holy CRAP, Indeed.....imagine the toxins when you get an interior fire like that one. Lads were obviously lucky.Sulako wrote:Holy crap!


Re: Canadian C 130, in flight fire
Is that one of the old Hercules or a new one?
Re: Canadian C 130, in flight fire
It's one of the H-models we bought in the 90's. This particular one was an aerial refueling tanker.
Re: Canadian C 130, in flight fire
We can rebuild it, we have the technology.
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Re: Canadian C 130, in flight fire
Had that aircraft had extensive rewire work completed at a facility near Abbotsford recently?
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Re: Canadian C 130, in flight fire
Do they make "stubby" H models ? - I thought H models were stretched -- but I have been wrong beforeIt's one of the H-models we bought in the 90's.

Re: Canadian C 130, in flight fire
Most of the CFs H fleet is stubby, and all of the Js are stretch.Liquid Charlie wrote:Do they make "stubby" H models ? - I thought H models were stretched -- but I have been wrong beforeIt's one of the H-models we bought in the 90's.
Re: Canadian C 130, in flight fire
Didn't we get two stretched H models in the mid-late 90's?
Re: Canadian C 130, in flight fire
Yes. All the other ones are stubby, hence 'most'.
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Re: Canadian C 130, in flight fire
What do they use to xfer fuel - pneumatic or hydraulic pumps --
Re: Canadian C 130, in flight fire
I think each underwing refueling pod has its own RAT, and the transfer pumps are electric.
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Re: Canadian C 130, in flight fire
So are you saying that there are no internal tanks used for the air to air refueling and that all that fuel is carried in the external pod tanks - it would be interesting to know how the system works and is setup and was it some of that plumbing that caused the fire -- or it was a guy smoking sitting on the crapper -- lmfaooooooo
Re: Canadian C 130, in flight fire
Been about 14 years since I operated one, so might not have this exactly correct.
Cdn C130 tankers usually have a large tank in the cargo compartment that is plumbed into the aircraft fuel system and can hold about 23000 lbs fuel. There is also an external fuel tank on each wing between the engines. Total fuel capacity with the fuselage tank installed is about 85000 lbs.
There are two high capacity transfer pumps in the fuselage tank allowing high offload rates to receivers. The refuelling pods outboard of #1 and #4 engines do not contain any fuel. They hold the refuellling hoses & drogues. IIRC, with a steady lineup of receivers, you can offload about 60000 lbs in less than 15 minutes.
Refuelling system is operated by the flight engineer from the cockpit. Two crew members serve as monitors at the paradoor windows because once the receivers move into position they can't be seen from the cockpit.
Cdn C130 tankers usually have a large tank in the cargo compartment that is plumbed into the aircraft fuel system and can hold about 23000 lbs fuel. There is also an external fuel tank on each wing between the engines. Total fuel capacity with the fuselage tank installed is about 85000 lbs.
There are two high capacity transfer pumps in the fuselage tank allowing high offload rates to receivers. The refuelling pods outboard of #1 and #4 engines do not contain any fuel. They hold the refuellling hoses & drogues. IIRC, with a steady lineup of receivers, you can offload about 60000 lbs in less than 15 minutes.
Refuelling system is operated by the flight engineer from the cockpit. Two crew members serve as monitors at the paradoor windows because once the receivers move into position they can't be seen from the cockpit.
Re: Canadian C 130, in flight fire
No, I did not say that. Those wing pods contain the hose, drogue, and RAT powered pump. The fuel for transfer to other aircraft is contained in stainless steel tanks in the cargo hold. Caveat: I have never been on a Herc squadron, so maybe somebody with direct knowledge can add more detail.Liquid Charlie wrote:So are you saying that there are no internal tanks used for the air to air refueling and that all that fuel is carried in the external pod tanks - it would be interesting to know how the system works and is setup and was it some of that plumbing that caused the fire -- or it was a guy smoking sitting on the crapper -- lmfaooooooo
Edit: sorry, did not read the post above before posting this.

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Re: Canadian C 130, in flight fire
azimuthaviation: I'm fairly certian it hasn't.
And an fyi the hercs can operate with a fuse tank, but to my knowledge they rarely do because the fuse tanks total capacity is roughly equal to the capacity of the externals and they can not have fuel in both so it doesnt make much sense to use the fuse tanks. How ever the plumbing for the fuse tank does run throughout the aircraft, but I would put money down that it had nothing to do with this incident.
And an fyi the hercs can operate with a fuse tank, but to my knowledge they rarely do because the fuse tanks total capacity is roughly equal to the capacity of the externals and they can not have fuel in both so it doesnt make much sense to use the fuse tanks. How ever the plumbing for the fuse tank does run throughout the aircraft, but I would put money down that it had nothing to do with this incident.
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Re: Canadian C 130, in flight fire
Having worked on this particular aircraft (and all Canadian Hercs for that matter) countless times during my tour in Trenton, ON in the 90's I can say with some authority that the Herc tankers (338 thru 342) do in fact operate with the fuselage tank installed when configured for AAR missions (as it was in this incident). The comment about not being able to have fuel in both the fuselage tank and the externals simultaneously is simply incorrect.bigbert wrote:azimuthaviation: I'm fairly certian it hasn't.
And an fyi the hercs can operate with a fuse tank, but to my knowledge they rarely do because the fuse tanks total capacity is roughly equal to the capacity of the externals and they can not have fuel in both so it doesnt make much sense to use the fuse tanks. How ever the plumbing for the fuse tank does run throughout the aircraft, but I would put money down that it had nothing to do with this incident.
The fuselage tank had absolutely nothing to do with this incident, in fact it was not fuel related at all.
The incident aircraft had just completed an AAR mission and was conducting a touch and go for training. The fire occurred immediately after rotation while the aircraft was still only just a few feet off the ground. The loadmaster called for an abort and the aircraft was able to stop within the remaining runway. Had the fire occurred a minute or two later we would most likely be having a completely different discussion.
While the official findings have not been released it is believed that a steel braided hyd hose chafed through a wire bundle near the aux hyd pump causing arcing which compromised an adjacent hyd line and ignited a fire. The initial fire was fed further when an oxygen line was subsequently compromised.