Is Tom Kravis still hanging out with these guys? we used to fly tegether in the forrest service. I'm Bill "JR" Leggett Beaver crew chief. they higher ups wanted to change my title to Beaver Load master. I threatened to legally change my name to Buck Nekid. so my patch would read Buck Nekid Beaver Load Master. they backed down. I was hanging out with people like Tom, the higher ups knew I was not bluffing and decided to drop it. if you guys see the 'ol Top Cat, tell him I said "Hi", please
Was stationed at Phan Rang AB Viet Nam from 1/71-12/71 Worked in the Phase Docks. 310TAS squadron. C-123's also had the radio call sign, "Bookie Birds"
Flew these out of Montgomery,Al. during 60's and 70's. I remember someone setting 1 down in a cotton field in Harpersville, Al. after he lost an engine. Great fun watching him get ouyt of there after the engine was replaced.
Two outrageous cowboys over there were Big Bill Ward and Bill bigy rat Magnette both flew pc6's and c123's both still active in global security. i was a mechanic on the C-123 at Ton Son Nhut (Saigon), they made Mel Gibson look like a chore boy. This aircraft could take a liken and keep on ticken. Best of luck boys, keep you head down.
C-123 Provider - flew one on a hop from Nellis to Chicago back in the mid 70's then they disappeared until I saw one on display at the now closed Chanute AFB in IL when I served as an instructor from 85 to 93. I think the Chanute museum in the former Grissom Hall may still have the plane.
Looks like Ponderous Polly based in New Bern, NC. The jets are J-85s and burn avgas NOT jet fuel. The recips are 18-cylinder R-2800s. Why not Google "PonderousPolly"?
Exactly - unlike the later C-130 with turboprop jets, the 123 had rotary P&W R-2800 engines with 18 cylinders rather than a turbine engine - so avgas rather than JP-4 jet fuel was used. We had a C-118 (DC-6) for morale flights in Iceland in the early 80's that also used the piston engine R-2800's - great to hear the starter whine then the sound of the rotary piston engines starting with a cloud of cold oil and fuel floating out down the flightline at start. I kinda miss the old planes
Is Tom Kravis still hanging out with these guys? we used to fly tegether in the forrest service. I'm Bill "JR" Leggett Beaver crew chief. they higher ups wanted to change my title to Beaver Load master. I threatened to legally change my name to Buck Nekid. so my patch would read Buck Nekid Beaver Load Master. they backed down. I was hanging out with people like Tom, the higher ups knew I was not bluffing and decided to drop it. if you guys see the 'ol Top Cat, tell him I said "Hi", please
hearsejr 2 weeks ago
Was stationed at Phan Rang AB Viet Nam from 1/71-12/71 Worked in the Phase Docks. 310TAS squadron. C-123's also had the radio call sign, "Bookie Birds"
nikond90greg 1 year ago
Flew these out of Montgomery,Al. during 60's and 70's. I remember someone setting 1 down in a cotton field in Harpersville, Al. after he lost an engine. Great fun watching him get ouyt of there after the engine was replaced.
grendelroy 1 year ago
I HAVE THE SAME PLANE ON FS2004
Skybolter 1 year ago
is this basically a smaller c-130?
macfan999 1 year ago
my father flew all over europe and asia in these from arounfd 57 to 59.............they went where thry were called
curbshoppin 1 year ago
Two outrageous cowboys over there were Big Bill Ward and Bill bigy rat Magnette both flew pc6's and c123's both still active in global security. i was a mechanic on the C-123 at Ton Son Nhut (Saigon), they made Mel Gibson look like a chore boy. This aircraft could take a liken and keep on ticken. Best of luck boys, keep you head down.
jack488 1 year ago
That is my favorite airplane
amliketocomment 1 year ago
lol ''con air''
weezinggrass 1 year ago
My favorite plane since i saw Air America!
YoungSteve17 1 year ago
Is this "Pendulous Polly?" What a great airplane!
whizbang47 1 year ago
@whizbang47 actually its ponderous polly but you were close :p
sparkypilot 1 year ago
Thanks C123, I travel with this A/C many times during the war time in my life!
intermedia1000 2 years ago
Operation Ranch Hand,only we can prevent forests.
moluvsage 2 years ago
I was a mechanic on the C-123 at Ton Son Nhut (Saigon), 1964 and 1965. We took lots of hits, and it just kept on flying.
JOECOCKERFAN1 3 years ago
C-123 Provider - flew one on a hop from Nellis to Chicago back in the mid 70's then they disappeared until I saw one on display at the now closed Chanute AFB in IL when I served as an instructor from 85 to 93. I think the Chanute museum in the former Grissom Hall may still have the plane.
rhblakeman 3 years ago
Which would have been better, upgrading this, or upgrading the G.222?
MingGuoLi 3 years ago
I flew these in Vietnam and sprayed defoliate! Loved this airplane. Tons of small arms fire couldn't bring it down, most of the time!
dmeeks1030 3 years ago
Love this plane. and its nickname.
TwoEyeCyclops 3 years ago
It almost sounds like my 70 Caprice.
katey1dog 3 years ago 2
LOL!
TwoEyeCyclops 3 years ago 2
You got to love that radial engine sound.
viperq 3 years ago
This was originally designed to be an assault glider, right? Could explain the incredible lift it has =)
TheCrazyFinn 3 years ago
There were a few with Fairchild J-44 pods. They
don't have a pylon, they're mounted right under the wing. They went to Alaska, then to the Alaska Air Guard. arpl is right about the avgas
in the J-85s. There was a unitary fuel system.
whizbang47 3 years ago
I just love this aircraft. Sawr gobs of them when I was stationed at Fort Campbell in the early 70s.
Shenandoah24 4 years ago
Looks like Ponderous Polly based in New Bern, NC. The jets are J-85s and burn avgas NOT jet fuel. The recips are 18-cylinder R-2800s. Why not Google "PonderousPolly"?
arplmech54 4 years ago
Exactly - unlike the later C-130 with turboprop jets, the 123 had rotary P&W R-2800 engines with 18 cylinders rather than a turbine engine - so avgas rather than JP-4 jet fuel was used. We had a C-118 (DC-6) for morale flights in Iceland in the early 80's that also used the piston engine R-2800's - great to hear the starter whine then the sound of the rotary piston engines starting with a cloud of cold oil and fuel floating out down the flightline at start. I kinda miss the old planes
rhblakeman 3 years ago 3
Never mind i meant J 34 westinghouse turbojets
jetfueljp4 4 years ago
did this have the J-47 aux jet engines also?
jetfueljp4 4 years ago
the pds are there for them but there is none installed.
sparkypilot 4 years ago