Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX, KPHX)

[Matt Ottosen]

Airbus A300F4-605R
FedEx Express
Kaitlin

[Matt Ottosen]

Airbus A319-111
Frontier Airlines
Jo-Jo the Grizzly Bear Cub

[Jonathan Navarro]

  "COLORADO ONE"

  "PARKER"

[Anna M. Wood]

Tonight I was chasing the box haulers....

[Matt Ottosen]

McDonnell Douglas MD-11(F)
FedEx Express
Dylan

[Scott Youmans]

The Beast

[Scott Youmans]

AA

[Scott Youmans]

Hercules - perfect name for these birds

[Jeff D. Welker]

^^^^^^ Nice salvo from PHX Scott. The BA 747 has a 3D look for sure 

[Scott Youmans]

Thanks Jeff!  Here's another shot of that same C-130.  Anyone know the designation of these Missouri Air Guard 130s?  Pretty sure it's an "H" but it appears to have some mods.  I've seen them around from time to time but don't know anything about the sensors.

[Joe Copalman]

Thanks Jeff!  Here's another shot of that same C-130.  Anyone know the designation of these Missouri Air Guard 130s?  Pretty sure it's an "H" but it appears to have some mods.  I've seen them around from time to time but don't know anything about the sensors.

Yeah, just a C-130H, the mods are mostly all related to defensive systems (the "stubs" along the side of the rear fuselage are mounting points for the DIRCM IR jamming system and the "horns" above the cockpit just IR sensors) and do not change the designation. 

[Jeff D. Welker]

Thanks Jeff!  Here's another shot of that same C-130.  Anyone know the designation of these Missouri Air Guard 130s?  Pretty sure it's an "H" but it appears to have some mods.  I've seen them around from time to time but don't know anything about the sensors.

Is that one of your APU's sticking out of the Herc? In a unique way, your on nearly every 130 ride - vicariously through your APU's or otherwise 

[Scott Youmans]

Jeff, yes indeed.  I'm responsible for the commercial versions but it's basically the same APU.  Similar units are also used in the P-3, 727 and old 737s.  Lots of military and commercial ground start carts as well.  Designed in the fifties.

[Scott Youmans]

Thanks Jeff!  Here's another shot of that same C-130.  Anyone know the designation of these Missouri Air Guard 130s?  Pretty sure it's an "H" but it appears to have some mods.  I've seen them around from time to time but don't know anything about the sensors.

Yeah, just a C-130H, the mods are mostly all related to defensive systems (the "stubs" along the side of the rear fuselage are mounting points for the DIRCM IR jamming system and the "horns" above the cockpit just IR sensors) and do not change the designation. 

Thanks Joe, I dug around on the internet but didn't come up with much on the systems.  I remember the OV-10 ended up with the little IR sensors among many other A/C.

[Joe Copalman]

I almost brought up the example of the AN/ALQ-144 on the OV-10s and the little built-up "mound" they added to mount the "disco ball" on.  The DIRCM is a bit more robust than that.  It's not actually mounted on the bird in your shot, but it's two small balls on either side, similar to FLIR turrets that - if I understand the system correctly - slew to the direction of an incoming threat and work their magic through some kind of dazzling/disorientation of the seeker.