Lockheed MC-130 Fulton Surface-To-Air Recovery System

The Fulton surface-to-air recovery system (STARS) is a system used by the United States Air Force and United States Navy for retrieving persons on the ground from a MC-130E Combat Talon I aircraft. It involves using an overall-type harness and a self-inflating balloon which carries an attached lift line. An MC-130E engages the line with its V-shaped yoke and the individual is reeled on board. Red flags on the lift line guide the pilot during daylight recoveries; lights on the lift line are used for night recoveries. Recovery kits were designed for one and two-man recoveries.

The Fulton system was used from 1965 to 1996 on several variants of the C-130 Hercules including the MC-130s and HC-130s. Despite the apparent high-risk related to the use of the system, only one fatal accident occurred in 17 years of use (in 1982). The increased availability of long-range helicopters such as MH-53 Pave Low, HH-60 Pave Hawk and MH-47 Chinook, all with in-flight refueling capability, caused this system to be used less often. In September 1996, the Air Force Special Operations Command ceased maintaining the capability to deploy this system. This was until 2001 when this system was again used when a British special forces soldier was injured in Afghanistan and was successfully recovered onto a C-130 Hercules.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• MC-130
• Fulton
• surface-to-air
• personnel
• recovery
• system
• aviation
• space
• USAF
• special
• operations
• AFSOC

[MrOdinFox]

Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker FTW!!!!!

[GrizzlerBorno]

Oooh Oooh Oooh I'm a Dummy! Can I have a go, pweez!

[iforgotmyname101]

( 0:00 ) <-- free replay button : )

[VeteransGaming]

wow!

[TheDemonicswordsman]

MGSPW bring anyone else here?

[shlakenjake]

Only used on dummies, eh? Snake's an asshole then!

[zelda7ase]

@Xephrocrsith indeed

[abztehbabz]

Fulton recovery subject confirmed on-board helicopter!

[Panzervagon]

I would shit my pants. Just, right there.

[Xephrocrsith]

So to all the Peace Walker players, then wouldn't Kaz's idea with a helicopter pick up be more comfortable?