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> Traveling on a C-130 Transport, A different kind of experience
John_Sode
post Jul 12 2005, 01:25 AM
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I knew the flight was going to be new experience when the loadmaster (Air Force Personnel in charge of loading equipment and passengers on board the aircraft) took us to the briefing room and began handing out earplugs. On our aircraft we sat in the forward compartment, sideways, along a bench. There were no individual seats, just a series of seat belts along the walls and center of the aircraft. Pastic meshing forms the back of our seats, one long continuous piece of mesh forms the back for an entire bench of seats. Immediately next to the passenger seats is the cargo bay. Cargo and passengers sit next to each other, no space is wasted by installing partions or barriers. This is because the cargo is loaded into large palllets, hoisted by forklifts, and slid along coasters into the aircraft. Unlike a standard passenger jet, there are few windows in the plane. Those windows that are present require passengers to unlock their seat belts, walk past the cargo, and stand between the cargo and the wall of the aircraft to look out. The steady hum of the props vibrates throughout the plane, even through earplugs and headphones. Even though I've been off the plane for a while I can still hear the engines purring along.

One of the things that I found interesting was examining all the wires, pipes, plumbing, hydraulic systems, and other components that make an aircraft fly. All were visible from our seats--this is a working aircraft whose mission is transport, not passenger comfort. Pictures do not due justice to the complexity of modern aircraft. I was completely amazed at the intricate networks visible when paneling, carpet, sound insulation, overhead storage compartment bays, padded seats, video players, and other commonly expected comforts are removed to lessen weight and create added space inside the aircraft.
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