When is an MC-130H not an MC-130H?

[MacksAviation]

When it's carrying refuelling pods ?

Captured today was MC-130H 88-1803 which recently returned from the US as Breeze51 but today operating as Talon73.

Note that these refuelling pods are different to those carried on the 67th SOS MC-130P's







Cheers for looking

Dave

[KIER]

This type of refuelling pods was allready carried by Mildenhall MC-130's back in 2006.

Kier

[Erik_7Xi]

Does anyone know what type of pod this is? I know it's made by FRL (Flight Refuelling Limited) which is part of Cobham - the company that builds the 48-series pods that you normally see on MC-130/HC-130/KC-130 tankers. But I can't find any specific type designation for this pod which seems to be especially made for AFSOC.

[gustav]

It doesn't look like a refuelling pod, it looks more like some kind of equipment.

[gustav]

Another option, and I like this one, that this pod is used to spread some chemical substance in the air...

[Stefan]

Does anyone know what type of pod this is? I know it's made by FRL (Flight Refuelling Limited) which is part of Cobham - the company that builds the 48-series pods that you normally see on MC-130/HC-130/KC-130 tankers. But I can't find any specific type designation for this pod which seems to be especially made for AFSOC.

Could it be the: Mk32B-902E refueling pod (Google it for photos)?

Regards,
Stefan

[MacksAviation]

Stefan that is what I believe the pods to be as well.

As has been indicated these pods have appeared on the 7th SOS MC-130H's in the past but usually only when they have been going away on deployments. Still not a common sight by a long way in the European theatre of operations for the 352nd SOG/7th SOS aircraft so worth posting I thought.

[gustav]

Good post, never seen this before.

[Stefan]

Stefan that is what I believe the pods to be as well.

As has been indicated these pods have appeared on the 7th SOS MC-130H's in the past but usually only when they have been going away on deployments. Still not a common sight by a long way in the European theatre of operations for the 352nd SOG/7th SOS aircraft so worth posting I thought.

Maybe related to the forthcoming introduction of the Osprey's?

Regards,
Stefan

[joost]

Stefan that is what I believe the pods to be as well.

As has been indicated these pods have appeared on the 7th SOS MC-130H's in the past but usually only when they have been going away on deployments. Still not a common sight by a long way in the European theatre of operations for the 352nd SOG/7th SOS aircraft so worth posting I thought.

Maybe related to the forthcoming introduction of the Osprey's?

Regards,
Stefan

Or still installed after their involvement in Excsersise in Norway recently, just a thought.

[MacksAviation]

Stefan that is what I believe the pods to be as well.

As has been indicated these pods have appeared on the 7th SOS MC-130H's in the past but usually only when they have been going away on deployments. Still not a common sight by a long way in the European theatre of operations for the 352nd SOG/7th SOS aircraft so worth posting I thought.

Maybe related to the forthcoming introduction of the Osprey's?

Regards,
Stefan

Or still installed after their involvement in Excsersise in Norway recently, just a thought.

This aircraft (88-1803) left Mildenhall in February for the States and returned on the 21st March so a day before the Exercise Cold Response ended.

The Osprey's are still a hot topic on the fence line here that's for sure, as for a date nothing concrete officially. Lots of works ongoing where the old hanger was knocked down late last year.
When the CV-22's deployed last year though they did go trailing with the 67th SOS and their MC-130P's which have the old style refuelling pods so I don't think the CV-22's are limited to just these new pods as depicted here in my images.

[Richard from Rotterdam]

A similar AAR pod is installed on a Japanese C-130 (75-1080), which has been converted to KC-130H.

[Richard from Rotterdam]

check the source: http://www.cobham.com/media/33546/cob_m ... 2_2010.pdf

[Basman]

Various sources, among which official Special Ops units pages, mention the MK32B-902E, as being specifically suitable for operations with the CV-22 Osprey and Special Ops Helicopters. Maybe the downward end design of the pod forces the hose down, so the risk of hitting the refueling aircraft with rotor blades might be reduced? Just a thought.

Bas

[Polecat]

check the source: http://www.cobham.com/media/33546/cob_m ... 2_2010.pdf

In the manufacturers' pdf I find the line "integrated on...KDC-10.." also quite interesting....