Photo furnished by David Sutherland. |
This photo of C-130 466 was taken at Leh International Airport, India, while it
was undergoing nose gear replacement. Leh is in the Himalayan Mountains at an elevation of
10,000 feet. |
Photo furnished by David Sutherland.
|
This repair was in the winter under miserable working conditions.
The PSP planks and canvas helped break the cold wind. Missing from this series
is a photo that shows 466 being removed from the runway. After jacking up nose
and putting a baggage cart under it, arranging hydraulic pressure for brakes, with
a tractor to pull it backward down the hill, and about 100 Indian troops on ropes
to swing the nose around, they cleared the runway. There she sat for several weeks
while being temporarily repaired. (If you have a copy of that photo, please share
it with us.) It looked like a bunch of ants moving a grasshopper.
|
Photo furnished by David Sutherland.
|
Locals at Leh International Airport. David Sutherland said it
reminded him of "Big Stoop", the Mongolian in the Terry and the Pirates comic
strip. Elevation at Leh is 10,000 feet. Mountains in the background go
above 23,000 feet. |
Photo furnished by David Sutherland. |
Pictured is the crew that evacuated 466 from Leh after the nose
gear was replaced. Note maintenance personnel examining the nose gear.
From left to right: David Sutherland, Al VanButen, Ray Lembke, Engineer
and Loadmaster, with their souvenir hats. |
