Farewell US Starlifters

[Dave Homewood]

I just saw a report on the news marking the last flight today in New Zealand of the "Operation Deep Freeze" Starlifters.

The US aircraft have been based at former RNZAF Station Harewood in Christchurch, New Zealand, for decades and fly to and from Antartica in support of McMurdo Sound and other scientific bases on the ice.

I lived in Christchurch from 1991-1993 and recall seeing and hearing the Starlifters very often as they used to lumber into the sky. Awesome beasts.

Does anyone know if they will be replaced? I know Deep Freeze also operates C5 Galaxy aircraft, and I think still C130 Hercules too (in my day they did) but will anything new be sent to replace the Starlifters?

I take it from what they were saying they are being retired en-masse across the US military. They have done very well though, the reporter said they were designed for 30,000 hrs flying time, but the Deep Freeze ones average 45,000 hrs!

[Dave Homewood]

The TV3 report just added more info - (as usual, more superior than TV1)

A - They first arrived in NZ in 19666, whoa, I didn't know they were that old

B - They are being replaced, by the Globemaster

C - a Christchurch businessman is trying to secure one to put on display at the RNZAF Museum at Wigram!! Holy cow. They could display some if the smaller aircraft from the collection inside it.

[Martin Edwards]

Shows the value of cold proof testing!!!!!!!!!!

[DaveM2]

Update on the TV news..great to see interest from the very young. A four year old is used to seeing the aircraft fly over the kindergarten near Christchurch airport and was so distraught that the last aircraft flew out on Sunday, and that it would later return to the U.S. to be scrapped, that he has written a letter to the PM in the hope of getting it preserved at Wigram. Seems the young chap has some clout..he had already written to the Commander of the aircraft and secured a personal tour, asking him as well if it could be donated to the Museum.

Dave

[bdk]

B - They are being replaced, by the Globemaster

Where did you get this info?

[hairy]

B - They are being replaced, by the Globemaster

Where did you get this info?

This info was on the news article, C-17s have been doing the Antartic run now on and off for the last few years.

[Shay]

I know how the kid feels. Growing up in Dayton Ohio. My brother and I while playing out side would always see a 2 tone C-141 fly low over our house. At the time we thought it was a lil odd considering all other C-141s had switched to air supiority gray. That and what looked like a big honk'n tube sticking out of it's "6". So we always referred to it as "Old Tube Tail". Well I guess since I had moved on in life. I hadn't stopped to realize how I had related Tube Tail to my childhood memories. But it all came to sad point one day when I was seaching the AMARC Experience website. I found Tube Tail in a sorry state of being. She had been retired and visited by the guilitine man. It was a sad moment as I realize a part of my childhood had died. But as the saying goes. "All good things come to an end" Granted there were about 4 of these NC-141As at wright-patt AFB but in the mind of a child growing up, they were all one plane. I know how the kid feels. LOOKat the link below.

[url]http://www.amarcexperience.com/AMARCPictureLookup.asp?FileName=PictureDatabase\C141\AACR0010_61-2777_NC141A_AMARC_B.jpg[/url]

Shay

[bdk]

This info was on the news article, C-17s have been doing the Antartic run now on and off for the last few years.

Never mind! My reading comprehension skills have declined greatly in recent years. I thought you meant that NZ was buying C-17s! That would have been the first I had heard of it, although I understand that Australia was looking.

[Don Martin]

The C-141s have about all been retired now. The first ones flew in 1963 or 1964. I am going to miss those beautiful birds. I was a crew chief and repair and reclaimation mechanic on those and C-5s. The Starlifters were my favorite, though. I was at
Altus AFB, OK(see my avitar) when we switched from A models to the stretched B models. That was odd enough, but, when they went from the white-over-gray paint to the lizzard green camo, that was the worst. I will always prefer the white/gray. I was on the Airlifters and Tankers BB (http://www.aviationace.com/cgibin/ultim ... category=2) and found out the ACFT I was first assigned to had already been scrapped. The Air force has made a flying museum out of 660177, the Hanoi Taxi, the first aircraft to pick up POWs out of Viet Nam.



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[mrhenniger]

The C-141s have about all been retired now.

When I was at March last week, I could see a C-141 on the ramp across from the museum. Since the museum already has one, I doubt they were planning to place it there. It was parked among some C-135s. Have they all been phase out?

Mike

[JBoyle]

Some 20 C-141Cs (new avionics) remain in service with the Reserves.
Units include March, Andrews, and Wright-Patterson.

[TimAPNY]

Is McGuire in NJ still flying them?

[bdk]

Is McGuire in NJ still flying them?

Probably, they just started getting C-17's (one at a time) a few months back.

[Broken-Wrench]

See Ya Starlifter you big pile of SH%#. You cost me many weekends and 12 hr days ( Only 10 Hr on Sunday) keeping you airworthy. I drink to your demise out of aluminum cans I hope were made from your carcass. Signed A/C mechanic, ART, Norton AFB, Engine Shop, 63rd FMS.

[Don Martin]

See Ya Starlifter you big pile of SH%#. You cost me many weekends and 12 hr days ( Only 10 Hr on Sunday) keeping you airworthy. I drink to your demise out of aluminum cans I hope were made from your carcass. Signed A/C mechanic, ART, Norton AFB, Engine Shop, 63rd FMS.

So I take it you had a "Bad Experience" with a 141? I put in many 12hr days and 6 day weeks as a repair and reclaimation mechanic, but I can't blame the aircraft for it. Bad scheduling for pilot training and a lack of funding for spare parts(READ THAT CANNABLIZATION!) kept us running. That and having to take time to fix C-5s also! I will always pick a 141 to work on(excep for the hydraulic spoiler packs . Signed; R&R mechanic, 443rd FMS, Aerospace Systems Branch, Altus AFB, OK.