C-130 Reference

C-130 Aircraft Database

Airframe Details for C-130 #4347

[Back to C-130 Aircraft Database menu | Missing Photos | Hall of Fame]



C-130 Aircraft Profile

Aircraft: 4347 (69-6573)
USAF AC-130H #69-6573 gunship is directed to a parking spot on the ramp in February 1995. U.S. forces are bringing in personnel, materiel and equipment to support Operation United Shield, which is the withdrawal of United Nations peacekeepers from Mogadishu, Somalia. [USAF photo by A1C Randy S. Mallard]
 LM Aero T/V 4347
Plant Lockheed Marietta Plant
Local C/N
Delivered USAF 69-573
C-130E
Current USAF 69-573
AC-130H
Status [sto]

⇦ Copy-paste this code to link this airframe from our forum

Aircraft History

Date Status Local S/N Airforce/Unit Version Name Info
Unknown [act] 69-573 C-130E
Unknown [act] 69-573 USAF 64 TAW C-130E
Unknown [con] 69-573 AC-130E
Converted to AC-130H
Unknown [act] 69-573 USAF 16 SOS AC-130E
13 May 1972 [msh] 69-573 USAF 16 SOS AC-130E
USAF AC-130E #69-6573 of the 16th SOS showing the results of a deadly new threat, the man-portable SA-7 surface-to-air missile. The warhead sprayed fragments through the back of this AC-130 and seriously wounded Ken Felty, who provided this photo. [U.S. Air Force photo]

USAF AC-130E #69-6573 of the 16th SOS seen on May 13, 1972. The results of a deadly new threat, a man-portable SA-7 surface-to-air missile. The warhead sprayed fragments through the back of this AC-130 and seriously wounded Ken Felty, who provided this photo. [U.S. Air Force photo]
Hit by SA-7 in through the tail just above the ramp on the port side and fragments punched large holes on the starboard side. Ken Felty was injured in this missile strike and the aircraft landed safely. Aircraft was in combat for the The Easter Offensive in Vietnam and was repaired. Rebuilt using the tail of C-130B 57-0467 that hit a bulldozer on takeoff.
Unknown [act] 69-573 USAF 16 SOS AC-130E
Unknown [con] 69-573 AC-130H
Modified to AC-130H
Unknown [act] 69-573 USAF 415 SOTS AC-130H
Sep 2000 [act] 69-573 USAF 16 SOS AC-130H " Heavy Metal"
USAF AC-130H #69-6573 of the 16th SOW at Westover ARB Massachusetts. [photo by Tim Doherty]
08 Apr 2015 [sto] 69-573 USAF AMARC AC-130H " Heavy Metal"
USAF AC-130H #69-6573 from 16 SOS "Heavy Metal", proudly displays its "Decepticon" kill marking under the pilots window April 8, 2015 at Cannon AFB. Heavy Metal was the gunship featured in the first Transformers film as it was called in to "bring the rain" in order to protect special forces operators from a giant robot scorpion. [USAF photo by SSgt. Matthew Plew]
Retired from service. Still proudly displays its "Decepticon" kill from the first Transformers film as it was called in to "bring the rain"


Abbreviations and symbols:
[act] Active [i/a] Instructional Airframe [sto] Stored (e.g. at AMARG)
[cld] Cancelled Order [msh] Involved in Mishap [w/o] Write-off
[con] Converted [o/o] On Order
[des] Destroyed (drone) [pre] Preserved (museum, gateguard) T/V LM Aero Type/Version (Construction) number
[emb] Embargoed [scr] Scrapped Photo Available
Any aircraft or serials missing from this list? Did you see incorrect, incomplete, or outdated data?
Add your corrections at the bottom of this page or send them to us!
[Back to the C-130 Aircraft Database]


Errors and Omissions




Please use this form to add any list any error or omissions you find in the above text.

Note: your comments will be displayed immediately on this page. If you wish to send a private comment to the webmasters, please use the Contact Us link.