Description

Lockheed Martin® AC-130J, 4th SOS

A carefully crafted Lockheed Martin AC-130U Hercules Model of the 4th SOS Ghostriders a perfect display to capture your time with the legendary squadron!  Each model is made of solid wood and hand painted to provide exceptional quality.

• Length – 16 inches
• Wingspan – 21 inches
• Made from Mahogany
• US Veteran-Owned Business
• Official Licensed by Lockheed Martin
• The product is not intended to be used by children 12 years and younger

LOCKHEED MARTIN®, C-130 Hercules®, associated emblems and logos, and body designs of vehicles are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of Lockheed Martin Corporation in the USA and/or other jurisdictions, used under license by Squadron Nostalgia LLC

The Lockheed AC-130 gunship is a heavily armed, long-endurance, ground-attack variant of the C-130 Hercules transport, fixed-wing aircraft. It carries a wide array of ground-attack weapons that are integrated with sophisticated sensors, navigation, and fire-control systems. Unlike other modern military fixed-wing aircraft, the AC-130 relies on visual targeting. Because its large profile and low operating altitudes around 7,000 feet (2,100 m) make it an easy target, its close air support missions are usually flown at night.

The airframe is manufactured by Lockheed Martin, while Boeing is responsible for the conversion into a gunship and for aircraft support.[8] Developed during the Vietnam War as “Project Gunship II”, the AC-130 replaced the Douglas AC-47 Spooky, or “Gunship I”. The sole operator is the United States Air Force, which uses the AC-130U Spooky and AC-130W Stinger II[9] variants for close air support, air interdiction, and force protection, with the upgraded AC-130J Ghostrider entering service.[10] Close air support roles include supporting ground troops, escorting convoys, and urban operations. Air-interdiction missions are conducted against planned targets and targets of opportunity. Force-protection missions include defending air bases and other facilities. AC-130Us are based at Hurlburt Field, Florida, while AC-130Ws are based at Cannon AFB, New Mexico; gunships can be deployed worldwide.[11] The squadrons are part of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), a component of the United States Special Operations Command.

The AC-130 has an unpressurized cabin, with the weaponry mounted to fire from the port side of the fuselage. During an attack, the gunship performs a pylon turn, flying in a large circle around the target, so is able to fire at it for far longer than in a conventional strafing attack. The AC-130H Spectre was armed with two 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannons, one L/60 Bofors 40 mm cannon, and M137 105 mm cannon and M37 recoil mechanism from the M102 howitzer; after 1994, the 20 mm cannons were removed. The upgraded AC-130U Spooky has a single 25 mm GAU-12 Equalizer cannon in place of the Spectre’s two 20 mm cannons, an improved fire-control system, and increased ammunition capacity.[citation needed] The new AC-130J was based on the MC-130J Commando II special-operations tanker. The AC-130W Stinger II is a modified C-130H with upgrades including a precision strike package.