#ac-130u

[nocternalrandomness]

"Spooky" coming out of RAF Mildenhall

[planesawesome]

AC-130U

[usafphantom2]

AC-130U Gunship The Soldier’s other best friend, A-10 being the primary.

@AcePilotAv via X

[c-130hercules]

Evolution of the Air Force's AC-130 Gunship

Based on Lockheed’s four-engine turboprop transport and weaponized by Boeing, the deadly AC-130 “aerial battleship” had humble beginnings.

Douglas FC-47D tail no. 0-48579—the original “Puff the Magic Dragon”—carried three 7.62mm GE miniguns in makeshift mounts. (U.S. Air Force)

An AC-47’s miniguns, each firing at a rate of 6,000 rounds per minute, unleash on Viet Cong positions. (U.S. Air Force)

With its armament of twin 40mm cannons and a pair of 20mm rotary guns, this Spectre awaits its next mission in a revetment at Thailand’s Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force)

4th Special Operations Squadron crewmen operate an AC-130U’s 105mm gun. (U.S. Air Force)

To supplement the AC-130 in Vietnam, the Fairchild AC-119G and K were developed. (U.S. Air Force)

An AC-130H from the 16th Special Operations Squadron heads out on another mission. (U.S. Air Force)

[bloodymagnum]

AC-130U Spooky and CV-22 Osprey

A U.S. Air Force AC-130U Spooky Gunship from the 4th Special Operations Squadron, CV-22 Osprey from the 8th Special Operations Squadron, and  special tactics team from the 24th Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Fl. as part of Exercise Emerald Warrior 19, Jan. 24, 2019.

[vonkickass]

AC-130U Spooky II gunship, being spooky.

Artstation

Twitter

Pixiv

DeviantArt

[fireinhorizon]

Final AC-130U “Spooky” returns from Combat Deployment

The final two AC-130U “Spooky” Gunships (89-1056 & 90-0167) from the 4th Special Operations Squadron returned home to Hurlburt Field AFB, Florida on July 8th 2019 from their final scheduled combat deployment. The AC-130U has been almost constantly deployed in Southwest Asia to support contingency operations in the united States Central Command (USCENTCOM) are of responsibility (AOR) since 2001 taking part in Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Freedom’s Sentinel and Inherent Resolve. While still on alert to respond to contingencies at a moments notice for the next few months, the “Spooky’s” are being replaced by the AC-130J “Ghostrider”, the most lethal and advanced gunship in the world. 

https://www.ashleywallacephotography.com/blog/final-ac-130u-spooky-returns-from-combat-deployment

[nocternalrandomness]

AC-130U Spooky Gunship of the 4th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida