The Mighty C-141

[crappy4478]

My dad was stationed at Altus most of his Air Force career. He was a C-141 crew chief. Everyday i would look up everytime a 141 took off or was coming back from a training flight. It was very rare not to see one in the air. The Euro 1 paint job took some getting used to, and there were still some white-over-grey 141s floating around. I hadn't another until 2007 when we went to Scott and saw the 166. And we went to W-P and saw the Hanoi Taxi this year. I miss them old birds.

[MrVicsab]

@crappy4478 I was a crew chief there as well from 1969 to 1975. Took care of them at Lajes in the Azores and then at Travis where I retired

[mojofuel62]

I remember when my father first bought his 66 Ford Mustang w/the California package (h.o. engine, interior upgrades, equi-lock rear end (ford's posi) and so on. One morning, my dad, with the 349th Air Mobility Command @Travis AFB had just transitioned from C-133's and C-124 Globemaster II's to the Lockheed C-141. Up we raced in our Mustang and there, on the tarmac, sat the 'California Bear' I probably shouldn't say what happened next but I'll never forget. Dad's Retired as Col. What days!

[laaxe]

Having grown up (literally on what is now LAX's northern runway, I moved to Berdoo in '64, and played in a band at Norton's "Teen Club" at age 13, in '69. Though I absolutely loved avation (spending hours in my front yard tree watching "connies" in Westchester, north of LAX), I never loved it more until my uncle was based at Norton, flying those works of art from Norton. 40+ years later, I love that noisy bird even more! Thanks so much for posting!

What a gorgeous design!

Thanks for posting!

[nanoflower2009]

Thank you for posting this. Sometimes I miss the old gal too. I loved her so.

[DennyDFW]

Although I'm a C-17 guy, I have fond memories driving with my father in his old Mustang in San Bernardino, CA and seeing rows and rows of Starlifters at Norton AFB... good times.

Now both Norton and the 141s are gone.

[abcasler]

Wow- Just found out they retired the C-141. My favorite airplane that I took off in, but didn't land with it. RIP Starlifter. A- BORNE all the way!!!!!

[lucabrasi1337]

The 141 was like that old truck behind the barn....not much to look at, but every time you hopped in, it started and did everything you asked of it . It was a real mechanics airplane. There wer no less than 20 components you could "fix" with a gentle tap of a mallet to get you going again. How many of you smacked a starter control valve when you were stuck in E. Bumfuck?

[AV8R4HM]

lucabrasi1337,

Had it happen many a times!!! =)

[surferjoe89406]

Crew chief/mechanic on this magnificent airplane for 15 years. Flown all over the world.....and beyond!!!!

What an AWESOME aircraft.

63rd OMS...Norton AFB 1973

[DennyDFW]

@surferjoe89406 Berdo representing!!!

[widerider98]

I was a c 141 pilot in 8mas mcchord, 1970 to 4-74 then at Charleston in 707 till late 1978. Greatest airplane ever, biggest adventure ever. I thought all airplanes flew like that. Little did I know that they did not.

Absolutely the best. RIP. JT

[5diddo]

i miss this aircraft so much. :(

I remember back in the 90's my dad was stationed at Yokota AFB Japan. When we went back to the states, I remember riding one of these absolute wonders all the way back. :) watching yourself climb over 20,000 feet inside. I'll never forget it. Long Live The Starlifter! :)

[ozyran]

What a mighty aircraft, and a truly unique sound as it flew overhead.

[mbazell]

Worked in JEIM at Norton during the late 70's and then FE during the 80's. Many fond memories and happy times flying around the world on that mighty Lockheed bird.

[Lugznut]

I was a Flight Engineer from 80-84 at McChord AFB WA. These were great planes. The "smoke" you are seeing is actually called a contrail. Any minor emissions from an aircraft above 30,000 ft produces these. The engine were loud ( Pratt & Whitney TF -33's) but that ws the best that 1970's technology could produce. Great video.

[58daoud]

me 2 14mas cal. great time

[Ncharlestun]

We in Charleston, SC in the vicinity of CAFB are very happy these loud, whining, screeching Starlifters are out of here. Your ears had to be covered when they went over or pain would take over. Some of the videos here will let you hear the high pitch whine of the four engines.

[AV8R4HM]

It was a beautiful sound!! I was a loadmaster on them for 6 years.

[rifle578]

are those engines good coz they seem to smoke quiet a bit i think it looks awesome when they do that but is it safe

[Polishsoldier1]

"the smoke" is polution

[usmcandrew16]

if only i was good at math i could do something like this:(

[stevet053]

Ex-Loadmaster , I loved the C141. Good Times and Great Crews. Now buzz off you Squids!

[revsharp777]

Great plane. I was a C141 Crew Chief from 95-02.

[hozer118]

63rd OMS Norton AFB Nice Video

[joecrewdog]

who, when, what??? ME too. 63 OMS/MAW. 1983-1993. 60184

[Airdogone]

Ex maintenance man.....I worked on her from 1967 to 1980. Crew chief to enroute maintenance. She was a lady..........sorry to see go.

[rbogota]

We call you navy pukes bed warmers !Go to sea,drink coffee,deploy marines !

[fixedgearforlife]

Hey rbogota, I was an AO in the Navy. The Navy has more aircraft than the Chair Force and has more skilled pilots. I'd like to see an Air Force pilot land on a carrier at night while it's storming.

[Eversman1]

Ok they can and they do the Air force is the tip of the sword the top notch the air force can hit a target halfway around the world the size of a dime and its true. no offense but you obviously weren't in the 60's the Airforces C-130's landed on carriers the Air force has at least 800 more aircraft than any other force in the world yes we have more models and if it wasn't for the air force there wouldn't be a navy

[JayneSlaughter]

Thanks

My dad was a C141 pilot

Dad was based outof McChord AFB from 1963-1973. Once, Commander of the Air Transportation Squadron. He flew many missions, Asia, Vietnam, and one carrying President Nixon's Limo's/secret service , when he did his world tour. My dad loved flying those planes, and he enjoyed taking us, as kids to the base, and watching the planes take off at the end of the airfield. A memory I will never forget, and still think of today when I watch the C-17s fly around the area.

[dynamicwolf]

Incredible! You must have lived a very similar life as I. My dad too: c141 pilot, McChord, Asia, Desert Storm, carried Snr. Bush and Reagan's limo, I too spent lots of time on that base. My favorite memory is when I rode in a KC-10 refueling a C-141 watching the guys work the boom. That is awesome to meet someone with so many commonalities. Keep rocking! :)

[riverbottompreacher]

Thank you. I joined the AFRes straight out of highshcool. Lackland, Shepard, Altus, then Norton. I was a loadmaster on 141's at 18, my first 'get your hours in' flight out of Altus, OK. I was attached to the 15th MAS for about a year. This brought back a lot of memories.

[donlightbody]

I was at Norton too, 445 MAW/56 APS. I miss these wonderfull planes...

[dynamicwolf]

Shepard eh? My dad worked their too. Cool.

[dynamicwolf]

Loadmaster huh? Respect for you, you guys were busy fellows. My dad was captain, but he loved working with the crew: co-pilot, flight officer, and loadmaster. Good times! He speaks fondly of those days.

[Postie1]

I spent a lot of hours flying as a crew member in 141's 71-75. I loved every inch of that plane, it was safe, easy to work in and a "hoot" to have been part of it's history.

[Postie1]

Ok, I looked real close navyman, and your an idiot. But then, I'd expect that from a squid.

[69HemiGTX]

I was pretty sad to see them go. They were replaced by the C-17 Globemaster, not the C-130. It's really telling to see a Starlifter next to an IL-76 Candid. Like most Soviet designs, they copied the West but made it bigger. I guess they had to cover their inferiority complex a little.

[dynamicwolf]

I thought they got replaced by the C-130s all this time until I saw your comment. I stand corrected and thank you.

[69HemiGTX]

Look closely at what? Boeings being used? The C-141 is a Lockheed, moron. Everyone says the dumbasses end up in the Army. Well, here's your proof of the opposite people. We Army soldiers are actually the smart ones.

[EventualPilot]

My little sroty is almost identical to yours, dynamicwolf. My dad flew C-141's in Desert Storm as well, except he's a C-5 pilot now. Seeing this vid was like taking a trip down memory lane, 5 stars from me.

[dynamicwolf]

My father flew this aircraft in Desert Storm and for most of his entire career in USAF right up until its retirement and replacement by the C-130. Nothing fancy about them other then hauling "huge/enormous" amounts of anything and everything military. Wonderful video, pics and music! It was a nostalgic experience to see these planes again.

[joecrewdog]

navyman153. Kiss my Ass!

[allsteer40]

Your really full of it, if you can't tell the difference between a C-141 and a 767 or a 757 you need to go to the kindergarden class on aircraft recognition. Show me that United or American airlines flies a C-141.

[letsrollfsu]

Put down the paper cup and step away from the Kool Aid, navyman153. I was an avionics tech on starlifters from 1972 to 1977 at Norton and McGuire AFB.

[smittdawg1]

What are you? Some kind of crack ball conspiracy theorist? Pull the balls away from your face and look again...

[CodeTalker4840]

Whats the matter Navyman153 wouldn't the AirForce let your stupid ass in.

[navyman153]

hahaha what the Chairforce?

[malbe72]

ok navyman153 quit being a fagget ass punk!