The interior of the plane consists of the cockpit and the cargo area. The doors on the back can open and close if built right. The cannons at the back of the aircraft can move up and down and the propellers turn.
I find it interesting how an aircraft with propellers can still be used in military operations. But when your most likely to be shot down by a ground based RPG, it probably isn't a concern fro the brave men and women who operate this aircraft.
I'm assuming that in a combat zone with hostile aircraft, this plane would be escorted because it technically is a bomber. The aircraft is used to deliver high explosives onto targets that are heavily fortified, or as support for troopers or tanks on the ground. It is basically a guardian angel if you are a soldier entering an area that is "over populated" by the enemy. This aircraft isn't just an aerial attack plane; because of the fact that it is high off the ground and circles around enemy positions, it is also a pretty good recon plane to let those on the ground know where the enemy is hiding.
During Vietnam, it also helped support the retreat of the US ground forces before South Vietnam fell to the Communist north.
During Operation desert shield, the AC-130 gunship played a vital role in defending allied territory from the Iraqi war machine. With the help of the gunships, the Iraqi war machine was stopped and this led to desert storm, where territory taken from the allied nations would be restored.
Since then, the AC-130 Gunship has had a long history of involvement in UN operations in Europe and Africa including Somalia, Bosnia, Haiti, Liberia and Albania.
AC130 gunships are currently in use over Afghanistan for operation: Enduring Freedom. They were also present during the Occupation of Iraq. In Iraq, the gunships were constantly in the air to support personnel on the ground.
General characteristics
- Crew: 13
- Officers: 5 (pilot, copilot, navigator, fire control officer, electronic warfare officer)
- Enlisted: 8 (flight engineer, TV operator, infrared detection set operator, loadmaster, four aerial gunners)
- Length: 97 ft 9 in (29.8 m)
- Wingspan: 132 ft 7 in (40.4 m)
- Height: 38 ft 6 in (11.7 m)
- Wing area: 1745.5 ft² (162.2 m²)
- Loaded weight: 122,400 lb (55,520 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 155,000 lb (69,750 kg)
- Powerplant: 4 × Allison T56-A-15 turboprops, 4,910 shp (3,700 kW) each
- Maximum speed: 260 knots (300 mph, 480 km/h)
- Range: 2,200 nm (2,530 mi, 4,070 km)
- Service ceiling: 30,000 ft (9,100 m)
Armament
AC-130A Project Gunship II- 4× 7.62 mm GAU-2/A miniguns
- 4× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan 6-barreled Gatling cannon
- AC-130A Surprise Package, Pave Pronto, AC-130E Pave Spectre
- 2× 7.62 mm GAU-2/A miniguns
- 2× 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon
- 2× 40 mm (1.58 in) L/60 Bofors cannon
- AC-130E Pave Aegis
- 2× 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon
- 1× 40 mm (1.58 in) L/60 Bofors cannon
- 1× 105 mm (4.13 in) M102 howitzer
- AC-130H Spectre
- 2× 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon
- 1× 40 mm (1.58 in) L/60 Bofors cannon
- 1× 105 mm (4.13 in) M102 howitzer
- 1× 40 mm (1.58 in) L/60 Bofors cannon
- 1× 105 mm (4.13 in) M102 howitzer
- AC-130U Spooky II
- 1× General Dynamics 25 mm (0.984 in) GAU-12/U Equalizer 5-barreled gatling cannon
- 1× 40 mm (1.58 in) L/60 Bofors cannon
- 1× 105 mm (4.13 in) M102 howitzer
