The ac47 was the first of the sidefiring gunships and the effort to make her operational was led by then captain ron terry. The ac47 was also known as puff the magic dragon and the dragonship. Ac gunships have an extensive combat history dating to back to vietnam where gunships destroyed more than 10,000 trucks and were credited with many lifesaving, close air support missions. See more ideas about ac, military aircraft and fighter jets. December 1968 saw spectre fly its first mission with f4 escorts, a tactic implemented to protect the gunship against heavy and concentrated aaa. Lockheed spectre gunship flies along northwest florida coast ac, photo. The usaf still cant get the new acj ghostriders 30mm. The aca gunship ii superseded the ac47 gunship i during the vietnam war. Usaf currently, there are two versions of the ac in use the ach spectre, and the acu spooky. Us air force spectre gunship embroidered patch air force patches, army patches, south. The first ac gunship was known as super spook during those first few days. Usaf the ac gunships primary missions are close air support, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance. The basic airframe is manufactured by lockheed, and boeing is responsible for the conversion into a gunship and for aircraft support.
This military aircraft was developed during the vietnam war. The ac gunship ii superseded the ac47 spooky and ac119 shadow during the vietnam war. The basic airframe is manufactured by lockheed, while boeing is responsible for the conversion into a gunship and for aircraft support. The gunships sole user is the united states air force, which uses ach spectre, acu spooky, acj ghostrider, and acw stinger ii variants for close air support, air interdiction and force protection. The gunships sole user is the united states air force, which uses ach spectre, acu spooky, acj ghostrider, and acw stinger ii variants for close air support, air interdiction, and force protection. I constructed mine out of plastic sheet and bits and pieces for detail parts.
The ach spectre gunships were fielded in 1972 and retired in 2015. All gunships evolved from the first operational gunship, the ac47, to the ac119, and then the aca which was the basis for the modern c gunship. The ac is flown by usaf special operations, mostly in the close air support role. Lockheed ac gunship patch afsoc loadmaster specialty. In 1987, north american rockwell began to modify the c hercules airframe, manufactured by the lockheed martin aeronautics company, for the ac gunship. The lockheed achu is a fixedwing, sidefiring aerial gunship that provides close air support, air interdiction and force protection. The port side of the ac houses firing ports for an array of cannons, howitzers and gatling guns.
No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. The lockheed ac gunship is a heavily armed, longendurance. The acu gunship program initially consisted of this was later increased to 17 new lockheed ch airframes, modified by boeing, which assumed responsibility for the acu contract when. The gunships sole user is the united states air force, which uses ach spectre, acu spooky, acj ghostrider, and acw stinger ii2 variants for close air support, air interdiction and force protection. The ach spectre gunship, a close relative of the spooky ii, first saw action in 1972. Unfollow spectre ac gunship to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Details about spectre ac gunship patch and acu gunship patch, 2 us military patches. Usaf afsoc lockheed acu spooky ii gunship wood model handcrafted handmade wooden model fathers day graduation retirement gift. Ac gunship sos spectre vietnam ac patch vietnam war. In 2007, afsoc initiated a program to upgrade the armament of existing acs still in service. See more ideas about ac, fighter jets and military aircraft.
Milavia lockheed ac spectrespooky gunship extended. For the ac to perform its mission, it needs the air force to achieve air dominance or air superiority. Force protection missions include air base defense and facilities defense. The lockheed martin c hercules is an extremely famous military transport aircraft, and it serves in air forces all around the world.
The aircraft is powered by four turboprop engines and has a flight speed of 300 mph and a flight range of 1,300 miles, depending on weight. Compilation with the ac ach spectre, acu spooky ii. The usaf finally gives its acw gunship the big gun it. It is a variation of the c hercules transport plane. Lady as it was the first production lockheed c accepted by the usaf. It was the original prototype of what was to become a long line of aircraft, ones still in use today. Today the us air force usaf uses the ach spectre and acu spooky, and they constitute part of special operations command socom. This program acquires new basic ch aircraft for modification and integration by. The newest version, the acu spectre gunship, replaced the original aca and represented a major advancement. It is an upgraded version this aircraft is armed with a gau12 equalizer 25 mm cannon, one bofors 40 mm cannon and one m102 105 mm howitzer. Ach aircraft are based at cannon air force base afb in new. Compilation with the ac ach spectre, acu spooky ii, acw stinger ii during conducting live fire missions during exercise emerald warrior 2011 2016.
The acj is the fourth generation gunship replacing the aging fleet of acuw gunships. It builds up nicely, only things missing are the gunners control box in the cargo bay. Embroidered patch patches for women man lockheed ac hercules spectre gunship. The lockheed acu spooky gunship is a heavily armed ground attack aircraft variant of the c hercules. The gunships sole user is the united states air force, which uses ach spectre, acu spooky, acj ghostrider, and acw stinger ii 2 variants for close air support, air interdiction and force protection. The lockheed ac gunship is a heavily armed, longendurance, groundattack variant of the c hercules transport, fixedwing aircraft. United states air force usaf lockheed ac spectre gunship. It uses the latest sensor technologies and fire control systems and. They also did the ach spooky, i built this version with 40mm bofors cannon instead of 105mm cannon on u model. Close air support missions include troops in contact, convoy escort and urban operations.
The ac47 gave way to the ac119 which debuted in the late 1960s and retired not long after that. The gunships sole user is the united states air force, which uses ach spectre, acu spooky, acj ghostrider, and acw stinger ii variants for close air support, air interdiction, and. Embroidered patchpatches for women man lockheed ac hercules spectre gunship. Please send them to us or use the photo upload instructions from the menu and well put them on this page so that others can see them. The lockheed ac gunship also nicknamed the angel of death due to the shape that the antimissile flares take is a heavilyarmed groundattack aircraft. The usafs acw gunships are in desperate need of special.
Air force afsoc special ops spooky ii acu gunship spectre patch new. This is what happens inside an acu gunship firing 105mm projectiles heavy metal. On 26 september 1968, spectre took its first hit from an antiaircraft artillery aaa emplacement near a special forces campspectre had a new patch and was now battle damaged qualified. Air force special ops spooky ii acu gunship spectre military hook loop tactics morale embroidered patch. Acu usaf special operations gunship amtertl 172 8326.
Ac hercules spectre gunship usaf special operations. In 2007, the air force modified four acu gunships as test platforms for the bushmasters. The aca was equipped with down facing gatling guns affixed to the left side of the aircraft with an analog fire control system. Usaf ac47 spooky and acu spooky ii gunship patches. The lockheed martin ac spectre gunship is a heavily armed ground attack variant of the c hercules. The gunship is a vehicle featured in battlefield 3. The ac47 gunship was superseded by the ac gunship ii in the vietnam war. The lockheed gunship is a heavily armed, longendurance groundattack variant of. Lockheed acu spooky ii shows off its power military.
The ach spectre a more lightly armed precursor to the acu has served since 1972, both in vietnam, grenanda and panama while the spooky entered service in 1995. The acu spooky and acw stinger ii variants are used to support ground troops, escort convoys, and in towns and cities. Ac gunship in action firing all its cannons exercise. Unlike other modern military fixedwing aircraft, the ac relies on visual targeting. New unused 4 patch for the ac spectre gunship powered. Ac hercules spectre gunship usaf lockheed special operations squadron patch. The ac is the gunship variant of the immortal c hercules which will be mentioned in a later section. How the ac destroyed at least 20 vehicles per night. It is powerful enough to provide close air support to ground troops and also against insurgents.
The lockheed ac gunship is a heavily armed groundattack aircraft variant of the c hercules transport plane. Airman john levitow received the medal of honor for. Unfollow ac gunship to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Ach spectre gunship 3d tactical military badges embroidered patch back with loop and hook.
Air interdiction missions are conducted against preplanned targets or targets of opportunity. The lockheed ac gunship is a heavily armed, longendurance, ground attack variant of the c hercules transport, fixedwing aircraft. The lockheed ac is a c cargo plane converted into a gunship. Lockheed ach spectre acu spooky close airsupport cas air interdiction force protection gunship the lockheed ac is a specialmission gunship variant of the storied c hercules highwing transport. The aca gunship ii superseded the ac47 gunship i during the vietnam war the gunship s sole user is the united states air force, which. Usaf 214th attack sq det 1 mq9 reaper uav arizona ang original vel patch. The lockheed ac gunship is a heavily armed ground attack aircraft currently in service with the united states air force. Continuing the distinguished combat history of sidefiring ac gunships, the new acu spectre gunship is being fielded as a replacement for the aca aircraft. It carries a wide array of ground attack weapons that are integrated with sophisticated sensors, navigation, and firecontrol systems. Lockheed ac spectre gunship the lockheed c hercules went into production at the lockheed aircraft co. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. The test program planned for the 25 mm gau12u and 40 mm bofors cannon on the acu gunships to be replaced with two 30 mm mk 44 bushmaster ii cannons. The usaf finally gives its acw gunship the big gun it desperately needs the service did not originally plan to put the hardhitting 105mm howitzer on.
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