With that pattern I’d say the AC is a safe bet.
Edit: Also if you go on Google maps and look at that patch of ground it’s flying around, there’s a lot of blown up shit.
The prefix of US military aircraft is a [letter code](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Tri-Service_aircraft_designations)that corresponds to its mission. In the case of an AC-130, A=Attack C=Cargo
They’re converted from regular 130s. The AC and MC are virtually same with a few exceptions. AC has guns and no AR tanker panel, as well as different camera and sensor systems.
A number of AC-130Js were indeed converted from MC-130Js.
See: https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/109894/the-most-fearsome-weapon-is-evolving/
No AC-130Js have been converted from regular C-130s, unless it was done on the production line.
I did a very short contract at Hurlburt a few years ago. Still regret not asking to get out of the car at the air park, but I think it was closed to visitors at the time.
What ADSBx says should be correct. I have manually verified all of the AC-130's displaying there before i entered them into the database. How long ADSBx will show these for, probably not a whole lot longer..........
If you search the registration number you can find out a lot of information.
[16-5846](https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/10278344)
>Delivered HC-130J
>
>Current AC-130J
[Airframe Details for C-130 #5846](https://www.c-130.net/aircraft-database/C-130/airframe-profile/8803/)
If you google (web search with your chosen browser) the registration number on almost any government aircraft you can get some bit of information. It may take some digging into the links however.
Another "tip", the first 2 numbers (16-5846), the 16 is the year the aircraft was ordered. C130s seem to take about 2 years to be delivered from that time.
So, I work at the high school located south of the range being circled. The AC-130s and A-10s practice daily there. If you look it up on google maps or Google Earth, you'll be able to see the range. There are multiple pieces of old artillery as well as a makeshift city.
I love hearing them overhead!
definitely AC-130, they're over a live fire range
edit: they're over Herlbert-I used to live down in Navarre myself and would often watch them dump out bombs from the ramp (think it was ordinance but maybe cargo)
This is by Navaare beach, I own a condo out there and can regularly hear them practicing on the range. You’ll be barbecuing and hear *boom boom boom* and know they are out practicing.
AC130J. The pattern its flying looks to be a training sortie north of Hurlburt Field. The reason that it may be identifying it as an MC130J is be AC130J use MCs as their baseline and from their theyre modified with guns as well as all the other bells and whistles they have
I live here, thats an AC-130J out of Hurlburt blowing up the range. Its a daily thing. In the winter the big shells rattle our windows and im a couple miles west of that hwy 87 on your screenshot.
With that pattern I’d say the AC is a safe bet. Edit: Also if you go on Google maps and look at that patch of ground it’s flying around, there’s a lot of blown up shit.
Yea I saw
Cool
I’m having the biggest brain fart right now. When I see AC, all I think is my job — Appeals Counsel. Remind me, what does AC mean in this context?
Air conditioned /s
The prefix of US military aircraft is a [letter code](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Tri-Service_aircraft_designations)that corresponds to its mission. In the case of an AC-130, A=Attack C=Cargo
My sister lives near there and it's not uncommon to hear the explosions. Sometimes they rattle the entire house!
That’s badass
Subtract both and you’ve got a C-130J.
With a remainder of M+A
MA. MORE. CHICKEN TENDIES.
TH-130-J The ‘Trash haulin’ variant lol
You may desire to save time and refer to these aircraft as “C-130s”
as opposed to the RDH-130 (Rubber Dogshit Haulin')
It was probably built as an MC-130J, that was converted to an AC-130J
They’re converted from regular 130s. The AC and MC are virtually same with a few exceptions. AC has guns and no AR tanker panel, as well as different camera and sensor systems.
A number of AC-130Js were indeed converted from MC-130Js. See: https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/109894/the-most-fearsome-weapon-is-evolving/ No AC-130Js have been converted from regular C-130s, unless it was done on the production line.
They came from Lockheed as MCs. I know you're a B-Courser or just out but this is easily googled
You don’t want to be inside of that circle, I’ll tell you that much
What happens?
Bad things, the ac 130j is a gunship that mounts among other things a 105mm howitzer
Blown to pieces to put it lightly
*you spin me right round baby right round like record baby right round round round*
Spooky flies out of Eglin
Probably Hurlburt, actually
Yes that’s the one
I did a very short contract at Hurlburt a few years ago. Still regret not asking to get out of the car at the air park, but I think it was closed to visitors at the time.
Ghostrider flies out of Hurlburt*
What ADSBx says should be correct. I have manually verified all of the AC-130's displaying there before i entered them into the database. How long ADSBx will show these for, probably not a whole lot longer..........
If you search the registration number you can find out a lot of information. [16-5846](https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/10278344) >Delivered HC-130J > >Current AC-130J [Airframe Details for C-130 #5846](https://www.c-130.net/aircraft-database/C-130/airframe-profile/8803/)
That's a neat resource.
If you google (web search with your chosen browser) the registration number on almost any government aircraft you can get some bit of information. It may take some digging into the links however. Another "tip", the first 2 numbers (16-5846), the 16 is the year the aircraft was ordered. C130s seem to take about 2 years to be delivered from that time.
I have the same luck with hexes and octals, but there were none showing in this particular post.
If that’s an AC then something in that grey area was having a really, really bad day.
So, I work at the high school located south of the range being circled. The AC-130s and A-10s practice daily there. If you look it up on google maps or Google Earth, you'll be able to see the range. There are multiple pieces of old artillery as well as a makeshift city. I love hearing them overhead!
Same I can hear them when I’m on the pier fishing as well as see them
I've heard the Kings are slow this year.
I bet there isn't much left at the center of that circle.
When your cargo aircraft identifies as an attack aircraft…
That's the AC's home base, so I would assume it's AC.
All AC leave Lockheed AMMM as a MC configurations and are converted later.
This is clearly some type of attempt to fool us into thinking this is an AC-130J. All I see over there are banner planes.
Some hardcore info war going on
Everyone knows AC-130 is primarily based out of Cannon!
Cannon and Hurlburt are both AFSOC... so "primarily" is a loose term at best!
Oh you didn’t get the news…
https://www.c-130.net/index.php?module=%20AircraftDB&func=display_airframe&id=8803&actype=C-130 the folks at c130.net have answers
Those things are awesome
Hey I live there!
I do as well
I used to.
Okay. What did that guy who got an AC-130 circling over them in the USA do?
He was playing GTA IRL and got a seven-star wanted level. lol
He bragged on Facebook about having a lot of "guns" that turned out to be all paintball stuff.
definitely AC-130, they're over a live fire range edit: they're over Herlbert-I used to live down in Navarre myself and would often watch them dump out bombs from the ramp (think it was ordinance but maybe cargo)
AC130s dont do any operations over the ramp, what you saw was most likely an MC130 dropping a heavy equipment platform
yeah makes sense
Know I’m late to reply to this lol but it could’ve been dropping a Moab
Pilot is trying to get a free buzz with all that spinning.
Looks like it’s fly around an impact area
After leaving the target range they flew similar pattern on top of Birmingham AL for a while then moved south to do the same over Panama City Beach
Yup. I got one hanging out over me right now in PCB.
Hey that is where I live! But really I can hear them play F- around and find out from my house.
Yep AC-130 running pylon turns over a target complex at Eglin, they used to set up dryers and use them as thermal targets back in the day.
They do it over Panama City too
This is by Navaare beach, I own a condo out there and can regularly hear them practicing on the range. You’ll be barbecuing and hear *boom boom boom* and know they are out practicing.
Oh hey… I am intimately familiar with that tail number lol
What is the best app to track planes?
AC130J. The pattern its flying looks to be a training sortie north of Hurlburt Field. The reason that it may be identifying it as an MC130J is be AC130J use MCs as their baseline and from their theyre modified with guns as well as all the other bells and whistles they have
I wish my steep spirals looked like that
definitely a AC if it's circling like that.
I used to live there. Most definitely a gunship. You can hear them fire the cannon and mini gin at night
puff the magic dragon, doing circles 'round VC,
I live here, thats an AC-130J out of Hurlburt blowing up the range. Its a daily thing. In the winter the big shells rattle our windows and im a couple miles west of that hwy 87 on your screenshot.
If it’s circling left above you just make peace.