Talyn
Emissary
Inside the audacious plan to convert a C-130 Hercules into a rocket-assisted Super STOL aircraft capable of landing in a confined urban space for a daring hostage rescue in Iran.
Faced with an ever increasingly embarrassing situation and reeling from a disappointing rescue attempt, President Jimmy Carter ordered a second rescue attempt of the American hostages held in Iran in 1980. This one, even more bold than the first, involved putting a fixed-wing aircraft down in a sports stadium and departing the stadium with hostages and rescuers onboard. A special super STOL aircraft would be needed for such a mission.
Operation Credible Sport was conceived as part of Honey Badger, involving landing a highly modified Lockheed C-130 Hercules air transport on a soccer field in Amjadien Stadium, across the street from the U.S. Embassy, and utilize it to extract the freed hostages and the Delta Force rescue team. The C-130 would then depart and land on a USN aircraft carrier in the Gulf, providing treatment to the expected wounded.
theaviationist.com
It was decided rockets offered the best solution, a lot of rockets to be exact.
Eight forward pointed rocket motors from the Navy’s ASROC (Anti-Submarine Rocket) weapons were mounted around the forward fuselage of the aircraft to provide immediate braking.
XFC-130H fires the upper forward mounted ASROC rocket motors prior to touching down.
Eight rockets from Shrike anti-radiation missiles were also mounted vertically above the wheel wells to cushion the aircraft’s descent as it dropped almost vertically to land. Four more Shrike rocket motors were mounted under the wings to help control the C-130’s yaw during the rapid takeoff.
XFC-130H 74-1683 fires the Shrike rocket motors mounted above the wheel wells to slow its descent. (Image credit: United States Department of Defense)
Eight more rocket engines from RIM-66 Standard surface-to-air missiles under the fuselage pointed backwards to lift the C-130 into the air, and an additional pair of ASROC rockets were placed vertically under the tail to force the rear of the aircraft up to prevent tail strikes during the steep angle that would be experienced lifting off.
The XFC-130H during takeoff firing multiple rockets in a dramatic low-light photo.(Image credit: United States Department of Defense)
Multiple test flights were conducted over nine days, with the aircraft performing very well., with only one incident. Using only 100 feet for its takeoff ground roll, and climbing to 300 feet after moving a combined distance of 200 feet. The aircraft broke several records.
However, the election of Ronald Reagan prompted the release of the hostages, ending the crisis and planned operation.
Faced with an ever increasingly embarrassing situation and reeling from a disappointing rescue attempt, President Jimmy Carter ordered a second rescue attempt of the American hostages held in Iran in 1980. This one, even more bold than the first, involved putting a fixed-wing aircraft down in a sports stadium and departing the stadium with hostages and rescuers onboard. A special super STOL aircraft would be needed for such a mission.
Operation Credible Sport was conceived as part of Honey Badger, involving landing a highly modified Lockheed C-130 Hercules air transport on a soccer field in Amjadien Stadium, across the street from the U.S. Embassy, and utilize it to extract the freed hostages and the Delta Force rescue team. The C-130 would then depart and land on a USN aircraft carrier in the Gulf, providing treatment to the expected wounded.
Super STOL: A Look at Operation Credible Sport and the XFC-130H
Inside the audacious plan to convert a C-130 Hercules into a rocket-assisted Super STOL aircraft capable of landing in a confined urban space for a daring
theaviationist.com
It was decided rockets offered the best solution, a lot of rockets to be exact.
Eight forward pointed rocket motors from the Navy’s ASROC (Anti-Submarine Rocket) weapons were mounted around the forward fuselage of the aircraft to provide immediate braking.
XFC-130H fires the upper forward mounted ASROC rocket motors prior to touching down.
Eight rockets from Shrike anti-radiation missiles were also mounted vertically above the wheel wells to cushion the aircraft’s descent as it dropped almost vertically to land. Four more Shrike rocket motors were mounted under the wings to help control the C-130’s yaw during the rapid takeoff.
XFC-130H 74-1683 fires the Shrike rocket motors mounted above the wheel wells to slow its descent. (Image credit: United States Department of Defense)
Eight more rocket engines from RIM-66 Standard surface-to-air missiles under the fuselage pointed backwards to lift the C-130 into the air, and an additional pair of ASROC rockets were placed vertically under the tail to force the rear of the aircraft up to prevent tail strikes during the steep angle that would be experienced lifting off.
The XFC-130H during takeoff firing multiple rockets in a dramatic low-light photo.(Image credit: United States Department of Defense)
Multiple test flights were conducted over nine days, with the aircraft performing very well., with only one incident. Using only 100 feet for its takeoff ground roll, and climbing to 300 feet after moving a combined distance of 200 feet. The aircraft broke several records.
However, the election of Ronald Reagan prompted the release of the hostages, ending the crisis and planned operation.