Lockheed AC-130U Spooky Gunship

[Feuer Zug]

The Lockheed AC-130 gunship is a heavily armed ground-attack aircraft variant of the C-130 Hercules transport plane. The basic airframe is manufactured by Lockheed, while Boeing is responsible for the conversion into a gunship and for aircraft support. The AC-130A Gunship II superseded the AC-47 Gunship I during the Vietnam War.

The gunship's sole user is the United States Air Force, which uses the AC-130U Spooky for close air support, air interdiction, and force protection. Close air support roles include supporting ground troops, escorting convoys, and urban operations. Air interdiction missions are conducted against planned targets and targets of opportunity. Force protection missions include defending air bases and other facilities.

Weaponry is mounted to fire from the port side of the non-pressurized aircraft. During an attack the gunship performs a pylon turn, flying in a large circle around a target, allowing it to fire for far longer than conventional attack aircraft. The AC-130U "Spooky" has a single 25 mm GAU-12 Equalizer, one Bofors 40mm autocannon, and one 105 mm M102 cannon.

General characteristics

• Crew: 13
  
  • Officers: 5 (pilot, copilot, navigator, fire control officer, electronic warfare officer)
    
  • Enlisted: 8 (flight engineer, TV operator, infrared detection set operator, loadmaster, four aerial gunners)
    

  [*]Length: 97 ft 9 in (29.8 m)

  [*]Wingspan: 132 ft 7 in (40.4 m)

  [*]Height: 38 ft 6 in (11.7 m)

  [*]Wing area: 1745.5 ft² (162.2 m²)

  [*]Loaded weight: 122,400 lb (55,520 kg)

  [*]Max. takeoff weight: 155,000 lb (69,750 kg)

  [*]Powerplant: 4 × Allison T56-A-15 turboprops, 4,910 shp (3,700 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 260 knots (300 mph, 480 km/h)
  
• Range: 2,200 nm (2,530 mi, 4,070 km)
  
• Service ceiling: 30,000 ft (9,100 m)
  

Armament

• 1× General Dynamics 25 mm (0.984 in) GAU-12/U Equalizer 5-barreled Gatling cannon
  
• 1× 40 mm (1.58 in) L/60 Bofors cannon
  
• 1× 105 mm (4.13 in) M102 howitzer
  

Information taken from www.wikipedia.org

This adds to the E-3, E-4, E-8, C-130, F-15, F-16, KC-135, and RC-135. All can be seen on my MOCPages. http://mocpages.com/home.php/78205

[BrickMonkeyMOCs]

Very nice. I like how you've done the engines. Is it an up or down bracket connecting the nose? Would be good if that could be DBG instead of black. The cheese slopes work really well for the cockpit.

[rollermonkey]

...and the whereabouts of AC-130U airframes at any times is classified, on the ground or in the air. Found that out when I was told that I wasn't seeing what was right in front of my face. :)

[Feuer Zug]

Very nice. I like how you've done the engines. Is it an up or down bracket connecting the nose? Would be good if that could be DBG instead of black. The cheese slopes work really well for the cockpit.

Actually, the nose piece is connected with part 52107. It allows me to have the rest of the fusalge get larger for a couple of stud widths before going 4 wide.

[BrickMonkeyMOCs]

Actually, the nose piece is connected with part 52107. It allows me to have the rest of the fusalge get larger for a couple of stud widths before going 4 wide.

In that case you could switch to two 47905 bricks in DBG to match the colour.