Norfolk to Point Mugu

Author Message   sandi Member Username: Edilady Post Number: 27 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 72.87.144.244 Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2010 - 04:47 am:    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I just wanted to follow-up to let all know that the story is complete and truthful. There were 2 military persons (one female and one male) onboard and one of them was in the cargo area with us at all times. I do not know their designations (loadmaster, etc). The female was there at least the first 4 hours of the flight and then she went to the cockpit and the male came back. He got in his sleeping bag and went to sleep for at least 3 hours. If I recall correctly he had headphones on cause he slept through all the gyrations the pax went through trying to get warm. I don't know who had control over the heat and did not mean to infer that it was either one of them. And, perhaps "cruel" was the wrong word in any case because I really don't know what the situation was with the heat. Again, I thought it worth posting so that others who may get similar warnings will know what to expect.   sandi Member Username: Edilady Post Number: 26 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 72.87.144.244 Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2010 - 04:32 am:    As I said in the original post, the PAX were warned that it would be cold and all chose to go (including myself). I cannot emphasize enough my appreciation for being able to travel spaceA. It allows me to see my grandkids (who live on the west coast) several times a year. If I omitted anything, it was not intentional. Although I have traveled spacea often, it was my first on a C130 and I hope our comfort did not interefere with the piloting of the aircraft. I simply thought the experience worth passing on to others who may get similar warnings. By the way, it did not get down to 30 degrees. I say this because we could not see our breath. But it was pretty close.   Jordan in Virginia Member Username: Itsnotjustme Post Number: 13 Registered: 09-2009 Posted From: 173.66.54.135 Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2010 - 02:36 am:    Long ago during my ROTC field training, we were flown in a C-141 to Tinker AFB to do our T-37 orientation flights. We were freezing in the back, especially our feet on the cold deck. At one point a crew member came back, and said "Why didn't you tell us it was cold back here?" and put on the heat, making it much better. I'm sorry, but we are cadets and they are the professional crew trained to operate this aircraft. I don't think a cadet should have to tell them how to operate the aircraft.   Dakota Ray Senior Member Username: Rhammer Post Number: 409 Registered: 05-2007 Posted From: 69.62.147.217 Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2010 - 12:59 am:    I am almost sure that there "is more to the story". I find it interesting that Sandi indicated "Let me add that midway into the flight, the crew members switched places; one that had been in the cockpit came out to the plane and the other went into the cockpit". Most of the planes that I have flown Space A in have crew members in the cargo area at most if not all times. All of the flight engineers, load master's and crew chiefs know how to control the temp and most other crew members do also. Obviously they did not find it unusual! I find it hard to believe that crew members would sit in the cold just to be cruel. Let me add that I did fly my whole A.F. career with 12 years in the KC-135 and WC-135 which also have the reputation of being being cold. In my mind, it was either broken (hard to break the heat but maybe one of the controllers or vents) or maybe just not able to be controlled. Of course maybe it was just typical temperatures in the cargo area for that C-130? Most cargo planes are cold depending on where you sit. Usually the rear is much colder than nearer the front. It seems that the PAX were warned--Sandi indicated they were told around 30 degrees and yet they chose to go. Sandi-Just be thankful that you got to CA!!!! Sorry to be questioning some of this story but some of it does not seem logical. Does it matter now--no. Did it help to vent-probably. Happy Trails on your next adventure!!! You just need to understand some of the quirks of some of the planes and decline if you question them. Be Thankful for a free ride!!!   John Civick Advanced Member Username: John6412 Post Number: 251 Registered: 07-2008 Posted From: 32.169.100.64 Posted on Tuesday, April 06, 2010 - 09:04 pm:    They said it would be cold...yet you went on the flight. I would complain also but I would also blame myself for going. Any ride in the right direction is a gift.   John R Garrison Senior Member Username: Majorg Post Number: 2505 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 208.81.157.86 Posted on Tuesday, April 06, 2010 - 05:02 pm:    sandi: From what I understand, there is another possible explanation (other than "it was a very cruel thing to do"). A C-130 is not very easy to control the heat. If you heat the back of the plane, the cockpit area gets hotter than blazes. Most crew prefer a milder temperature in the cockpit area (to remain alert, etc). For safety reasons, I believe this is a valid concern. Sorry to hear that your experience was a bad one. Happy travels, John   sandi Member Username: Edilady Post Number: 25 Registered: 08-2005 Posted From: 72.87.144.244 Posted on Tuesday, April 06, 2010 - 04:51 pm:    Caught C130 from Norfolk last Friday. Originally scheduled to go to Fl, North Island, and then Point Mugu., at the last minute a schedule change sent it straight to Mugu. Prior to roll call, everyone was asked to come to the terminal area. There we were told the plane had no heat and that it would be very cold (around 30 degrees). We were told that some Navy seals who had flown on the plane earlier had complained of the cold - and they could take a lot of cold. If we decided to go, we were told to dress as Eskimos and put on layers. Mind you there was one lightly dressed lady (upper chest area exposed) with 5 small kids (looked to be under the age of 10). This mother did not even have a heavy sweater. There was another with 2 small ones in car seats. All had to get to Calif and did not hesitate or consider not taking the flight. Another lady went to BX & bought a light blanket. We were going to cancel but saw that no one else was, so we decided to brave it out since we both had heavy sweat shirts and could dress in layers. The first hour, the plane was okay. Then it began getting cold and the next four and a half hours were hell. It got so bad, that we got up and began walking up and down the plane. The lightly dressed kids began doing jumping jacks and some of the adults joined in. Let me add that midway into the flight, the crew members switched places; one that had been in the cockpit came out to the plane and the other went to the cockpit. While doing jumping jacks, I moved near the opening to the cockpit and stretched my arm into the area. You could clearly feel heat which was to be expected. Around five and a half hours into the flight, the pilot (a major, I believe) came back to use the bathroom, saw both kids and adults jumping around to keep warm, returned to the cockpit and turned on the heat. Yes, he turned on the heat and within 30 minutes, it was as warm as it had been cold. Someone overheard a conversation that the crew did not want all the kids on the flight. I don’t know why they said the heat was broken when it clearly was not but, in my opinion, it was a very cruel thing to do.