By Elizabeth Johnson
ejohnson@antonmediagroup.com
I had the opportunity to fly in a C-130 Hercules, affectionately known as Fat Albert. As a member of the media, there are occasionally opportunities which you can’t pass by. The Blue Angels are celebrating their 70th anniversary. Formed in 1946 by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, the Blue Angels have flown F6F-5 Hellcats to the modern F/A Hornets in flight demonstrations.
Doing my research, I have read several blogs which discuss what you will experience when you enter the plane. Now, since the C-130 is a transport plane, the expectation is that it will not be luxurious nor have inflight service. No, the reality is a much more stripped down version, which is similar to those in the movies. Yet it does take three pilots and several crew members to fly the plane.
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed. The C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medivac and cargo transport aircraft. The versatile airframe has found uses in a variety of other roles, including as a gunship, for search and rescue, scientific research support, weather reconnaissance, aerial refueling and aerial firefighting. It is now the main tactical airlifter for many military forces worldwide.
Since the plane was created to make landings where there were no formal airstrips, it accelerates and decelerates rather quickly. The anticipation of experiencing 0 to 100 mph is exhilarating, going from 100 mph to 0, not so much.
The flight was incredible. Thankfully, I was in the interior of the plane and was not able to see the path of Fat Albert; however, I could feel it. With the negative G-forces and alternating weightlessness, it was a serious rollercoaster ride.
The plane, and the many other planes from the Jones Beach Airshow, were in the air flying to Long Island Friday morning. Mari Gaudet who was commuting to work from Hauppauge this morning said “I saw them flying in formation this morning and wondered what was happening. Then I remembered the airshow was this weekend. It was quite impressive.”
The airshow had the largest collection of planes in the history of the show. The show included the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the F-35 Lightning II Stealth Fighter.
I sent my reporter, Lorraine Mesagna, out to Jones Beach on Friday. Representatives for the 2016 Bethpage Air Show performers gathered on the boardwalk at Jones Beach to speak about the events scheduled for the Memorial Day weekend. They included Lt. Joe Hontz, public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and Major Indira Thackorie, public affairs officer for the Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds. The Blue Angels last appeared at Jones Beach in 2014, and Lt. Hontz spoke with great enthusiasm about the opportunity for them to return. He said, “The Blue Angels want to be inspirational to everyone, everywhere.” Major Thackorie echoed his spirit, saying that the goal of the Snowbirds was to “travel across America to connect with children and to showcase Canada.” She encourages everyone, children and adults alike, to “Reach for the Sky.”
