pls help me ..i want to know the fuel consumption of the engine or the aircraft itself of Lockheed C141B Starlifter?..

Flew Vietnamese refugees from Guam to Hickam AFB. After the R/W was cratered in Saigon, I know of no 141's that flew in/out.

Longest leg I flew was Ascension Island to Charleston AFB in 1977.

I recall the ceiling as 45,100'; saw FL450 once, when the bird was capable of 490, per the F/E. 410 was rather routine. An amazing machine, indeed. The VSI tapes maxed out at 20k fpm.

Funny how those old numbers stick...153,352#, 325k#, 323,100#, 20500# thrust. Personnel airdrop was 130 kias, to answer one question.

I was a maintainer joined the AF in 1969 the C-141A was still new and my first real hands on maintenance at McGuire. The 141 was one bad hot rod however as a Aircraft environmental technician it was not maintenance friendly, it had a hi pressure bleed air system and the HVAC packs were a nightmare to work on. I have never understood why Lockheed put the engine bleed air shut off valves down in the pylon where you couldn't really see what you were changing. Aside from maintenance the 141 was a dam good air lifter and nothing matched it until the C-5A came along. The 141 was a very fast aircraft and it took me all over the world and it was a blast on take off it stayed in service way longer than the life span it was designed to fly. Oh yea I remember the jet troops doing compressor stalls during engine runs that was wild.

I served at Travis AFB from 1966 to 1970 as a Aircraft Mechanic and Crew Chief. I was Crew Chief of 64-0650, 65-0231, and 65-0277 on the Grave Shift which meant that I worked on those aircraft when at Travis and if they weren't here I worked on another aircraft that its crew had the night off. The Starlifter was a stellar performer. The C-141A model was certainly over-powered. I bet it used less then half the runway to go airborne while the B-52s used almost every inch. After reading the info about the Tacoma Lifter 65-0277 that is parked at McChord in Washington. I am frankly puzzled if the info presented is factual. Because I either worked on or knew the ground crew assigned to it at Travis for my entire career there from 1966-1970. If both facts be true, it would mean that there were 2 Tail Numbered 65-0277s!

AutoPilot/Instrumentation Tech on the 141 from July 1974 to August 1988. Assigned to the 437 AMS, 608 MASS, 438 AMS, and 172 MAG. As is evident by the e-mail address I sure do miss the old girl.

Worked on the Starlifter from mid 72 to mid 76 at Mc'Guire AFB, New Jersey. The hydraulic system was different to say the least. Went many a TDY to chand Spolier, Rudder, and Elevator packs. The most challenging was the spoiler packs as with the frame of aluminum and the bolts of steel, had a lot of difficult times temoving the mount bolts.

Was a FE from 1989 to 1997. Loved the aircraft! Ended up with round 3500 flying hours. Sure miss the missions.

Stationed at 7th squadron @ Travis from 1974-1976. Droned many nightime hours at .74 Mach, but the lady always got us to our destination. Flew all over the world, to Europe on reforger missions, all the way to Diego Garcia from Clark AFB, the hawaii week mission to guam, midway, kwajalien. Watched b-52's disappear on takeoffs from Anderson AFB. Loved landing @ Elmendorf, so, we could get boxes of whole king crabs. 10 minute bag drags outbound, and 45 minutes bag drags when getting back to Travis!! (haha)

Started flying in 1952 crewchief C-47 Naha, Okinawa. Continued flying after return to Kelly AFB August 1953 C-54s then went to Moses Lake, Wn on C-124 A Models had a break in service but continued to fly C-124s in the reserves, recalled to active duty after a short stint in Okie Guard flying C-97s, back to 62nd at McChord on C-124s and finally to C-141's at McChord and Altus then to C-5's in Jan 1971 --- Most reliable airplane of all and the easiest for the flight engineer --- the pilot got the same systems training I did so if his memory was any good I did not have to contribute very much. The C-124 and the C-5 were the most challenging for the engineer.

First assigned to the C-141 in 1979 at McGuire AFB with subsequent assignments at Travis, McChord, and Norton along with TDYs to Altus AFB for various schools (aerial refueling, instructor, etc). A wonderful and honest airplane. I'd like to say thanks to those with the vision to start the program, the company that made the plane, all those who supported the fleet, and the crews that flew them. Replaced by the C-17, the Starlifter will never be forgotten by those who were part of the program.

I was a Flight engineer with the 14th MAS 53rd MAW at Norton from 1977 to 1984 The best and the most exciting time of my life, I flew desert shield missions when Kadafi was in power,good to see him gone! Hats off to all airman in harms way, good luck and god bless!

Flew 141A and B models from 1979 to 1983 as a Flight Engineer. Most memorable moment was my very 1st flight as a student at Altus AFB. We landed at Clinton Sherman Field somewhere close to Altus AFB, I was sitting at the panel for the very first time, The pilot announced that he was going to do a TRT takeoff, what happened next scared the shit out of me and at the same time gave me a feel of what raw power was capable of doing. 1st the pilot set the brakes, advanced the throttles to the TRT settingand then said "HERE WE GO". All my books in front of me just disappeared, they all went into the crew bunk to the right of the engineer station, the runway was only 8000 ft,and by that time we were on our way past the 10,000 ft mark. Those memories will be with me forever. What a hotrod!!!!

Awarded a Starlifter @ UPT, I promptly 'grew' a spoon in my flight suit arm pocket; bummed about no fighter, but glad to miss SAC. I met my wife of 36+ years at Altus, of all places; a Cali girl and we still groan when recalling winds from the south!

At CHS, I was once #2 in flight time, of active duty pilots, to Les Smith; flew CAM early on, as copilot. This awesome bird took me to every continent but Antarctica and included an amazing range of missions, from diplomatic and Cold Banner to empty shuttles, to airdrop training at Benning and FayetNam; the incredible improvement in RW vis at Pope, when the fog lifted by the dozens of Panama-bound MITO Starlifters, 82nd aboard. Other crews quickly tired of hearing the treats my gourmet loadmaster whipped up, starting with a nut-encased cheeseball w/ crackers!

Grouper fishing on Ascension, using Moray bait; steel mat RW @ 29 Palms, with RTB at 45M'(ABQ center queried: "U really a 141?"; two trips to Red Flag-- holy cow!; Sondestrom AFB; Vietnam refugees, Guam to Hickam, then Ft. Smith; sitting for days, waiting for <8 kts wind for the new Army jump class, then 20,000fpm climb, momentarily, on departure with only min fuel aboard. Demoed the old close-in formation, but never liked SKE. Only one engine quit and one windscreen heat failure in 5 years.

I think airdrop speeds were 150 for equipment and 130 for personnel; remember the smokin' rollers as those pallets extracted? Remember slipping the lead bird to give #2 more room on approach?

Still owe my classmate 'thnx' for almost getting us into China (Red) enroute to Kathmandu for troop P/U who had their 1st motorized ride ever in a truck to our airplane, passing elephants on the road! I wonder how much they understood about the O2 brief?

Many, many memories, 99% good, about you folks,(2-Lt. Gary Sintes, I remember your lie).

Flew BAC1-11s for an upstart; REALLY illustrated how great the 141 was, then 20/25 at NWA on another tremendous airplane: the 747. The 727 and 757 were fantastic, too.

Enjoyed the stories; keep them coming, and thanks Eric, for this link.

- A Bennett's Bandit. (Is my Israeli money still on the wall in that Madrid tasca?)

Assigned to the 7th MAS at Travis AFB in'75 right out of UPT. Flew it from Jan '75 through Sep '79. My first operational aircraft and will always be my first love. Awesome airplane, made a lot of history hauling whatever needed hauling. Hell of a ride for a young Lieutenant. I have nothing but respect for all who contributed to her mission.

I went through C-141 training with Class 8 at Tinker AFB, OK in spring 1965. Then to Travis AFB, CA that had 1 (one) C-141 at the time. Fantastic aircraft. The only other aircraft that was as thrilling during take-off was the B-36, another remarkable airplane. Flew the "line" during Vietnam. Upgraded to FEFE in two years then went to the simulator. In 1970 went to Altus AFB, OK where I retired in 1973.

I was stationed at Travis AFB, CA. 69-73. I became a crew chief in 70. I flew over 200 hrs. with my plane and I couldn't have asked for a better one. She was easy to maintain and later was slatted to be one of the Hanoi,Taxi, but at the last minute was bumped to standby, but I was still proud to be part of it all...

I spent my entire AF career 1967-71 working on C141A models at Dover AFB, Del. Great aircraft and early on they didn't break many parts and were easy to get in and out of ISO inspections and back on the flightline ready for the next trip. The museum at Dover now has one in its inventory and available to visit.

I was trained at Chanute AFB on B-52's but spent most of my 4 years at Elmendorf AFB, AK (1967-1969) servicing 141-A's on their way to SE Asia. The rest of my enlistment was at Norton AFB, CA (63 MAW, MAC). While at Elmendorf (602 MASS), we worked on just about every mechanical system from wheels and brakes to engines and flight controls, as well as regular duties such as refueling, etc. I helped change flap motors, horizontal stabilizer actuators, engines, and many other components on planes making their way to SE Asia and back to their home base. Planes carried everything from concertina wire to bulls (for agricultural programs), to troops, and coffins. Many were also configured for Med-Evac purposes. Although I was assigned to "ground" maintenance, I had the privilege to fly in the cockpit jump seat while going to Japan for a week of leave. Our teams also serviced C-130's, but in far fewer numbers. While at Elmendorf, our maintenance section was honored by our home base, 62 MAW, McCord AFB, with their "Pride Award" for outstanding maintenance service. Though our work was not always pleasant, the C-141-A was a great plane to work on.

STILL WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM CREW MEMBER IF ANYONE HAD EVER MADE A FLIGHT (NON-STOP) FROM VIETNAM TO HAWAII. I AM TRYING TO HELP A VETERAN HERE IN CASS COUNTY, ND. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU IF YOU COULD SPARE A LITTLE TIME. IF THIS FLIGHT IS NOT POSSIBLE LET ME KNOW TOO. MIKE

Wow! Comments on this airplane? One just can't say enough about how reliable it was. I flew as a Flight Engineer on the C-141 from 1971 until 1995 when I retired. I accumulated well over 10,000 hours (and earned that rare 10,000hr plaque). In my flying career I had very few major mechanical problems. The old girl had power, economy, and heart. She will be missed by all who crewed her as either flight crew or ground crew. One of the reasons for being restricted to below 52,00 feet was the cabin altitude, at 52,000 feet the cabin altitude would exceed 10,000 feet and the horns would blow and oxygen use then became mandatory. And the coffin corner altitude/critical Mach would come into play.