'Frankenherc' lives on with new mission

  • Published
  • By Paul Zadach
  • 934th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL AIR RESERVE STATION --  The retired C-130 affectionately known as "Frankenherc", a long time fixture at the 934th Airlift Wing, will live on again as part of a different aircraft. The retired aircraft was a conglomeration of different C-130s and was used for training at the 934th before it was dismantled, demilitarized and much of it sold for scrap last fall.

Monday, the wings were crated and loaded up for transport to Robins AFB, Ga. where they will fly again on a new aircraft. The outer wings will be refurbished and put on the U.S. Coast Guard aircraft #83-0507. This aircraft will get a new center wing, along with the refurbished outer wings and then modified to be able to do firefighting duties with the U.S. Forest Service, according to Chuck Boehm, Program Manager/Logistician at Robins AFB.

"We still have additional wing components that will be flown to Robins on one of our airplanes later this week," said Mike Dressen, 934th Airlift Wing Logistics Readiness Squadron. "We also have some other pieces that are on the 'save list' in a supply warehouse awaiting shipment to be used for other aircraft." The salvaged parts will save the cost of purchasing new ones and may also keep an aircraft in need of parts from being grounded.

While Frankenherc's presence may now be absent on the 934th ramp, it lives on in its new airframe and mission.

Watch the Frankenherc time lapse videohere