What is this plane even used for? King air marked United States of America
Posted by TheSauceIsTheBoss69@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 123 comments
Posted by TheSauceIsTheBoss69@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 123 comments
Hot_Net_4845@reddit
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_C-12_Huron
TheSauceIsTheBoss69@reddit (OP)
Ok dumb question I guess. Seemed more interesting than reality. Thank you
quarterdecay@reddit
Reality, as it turns out, can be extremely uninteresting
rdmorley@reddit
Don’t you dare ever say that to a conspiracy theorist. Everything has a wildly complex and sinister explanation!
quarterdecay@reddit
Because chemtrails, there's probably fluoride in the jet-A.
DrBag@reddit
me when “chemtrails” are nothing more than clouds suffering from standard atmospheric pollution
quarterdecay@reddit
Ahh... you're probably going on a list
DrBag@reddit
probably already am given my degree is in atmospheric sciences and the current US administration does not like that
life is disappointing. wish i could help more people.
quarterdecay@reddit
Well Canada will probably hire you and give you some citizenship and some of the free healthcare.
NotCook59@reddit
Tore, he’s going to love that free healthcare. I’m told it’s worth every penny they pay for it!
DrBag@reddit
honestly probably. may where i end up, or maybe in germany. their weather center is nice.
quarterdecay@reddit
All things aside, you won't get arguments with me about air quality. Pretty sure my management structure despises my opinion on it and our responsibility to the community we operate in.
DrBag@reddit
i love when higher powers don’t like us sharing opinions.
society is so fun
Affectionate_Hair534@reddit
Why, what did you hear????
quarterdecay@reddit
You're already on the list
Affectionate_Hair534@reddit
I KNEW IT!!!!’
Cool-Acanthaceae8968@reddit
There’s definitely dihydrogen monoxide.
NotCook59@reddit
I need to get me some of that. I like it in the solid state. Don’t tell the authorities, but I put it in my rum and coke!
Routine-Judgment-541@reddit
What I like to do with my DHMO, is get it really hot, then pour it through a filter full of ground up coffee beans into a cup. I drink that every day. Don't tell anyone.
NotCook59@reddit
Your secret is safe with me. Does that keep you awake at night?
quarterdecay@reddit
That's the true killer
ManifestDestinysChld@reddit
The ones they shove full of communications and surveillance gear are kind of interesting.
TheSauceIsTheBoss69@reddit (OP)
Yeah that’s kinda what I was thinking, I suppose no obvious extra antennas or anything gives it away that it’s not one of those ones yeah?
ManifestDestinysChld@reddit
Nah, they're covered in blades, humps and bulges. (It's hard to tell, but in addition to the hump on the back - presumably a satcom of some sort - there's a big equipment bay on the bottom too, between the landing gear.)
TheSauceIsTheBoss69@reddit (OP)
Ah yes that looks far more interesting😂 thank you
i_should_go_to_sleep@reddit
My favorite is the RC-12N:
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/AIR_RC-12N_Guardrail_lg.jpg
TheSauceIsTheBoss69@reddit (OP)
There’s no way😂 is that real??
ClassicDragon@reddit
They used them in South America to counter the cartels. Source: my coworkers dad flew them.
airmantharp@reddit
One of the many "oh shit we need more airborne intel stat!" programs of the war on terror
FiddlerOnThePotato@reddit
The Guardrail birds are very much real! They more-or-less would skirt the edges of hostile territory and peer in as far as they could for sigint and comint. Hence the "guardrail" name.
i_should_go_to_sleep@reddit
It is! I am not experienced in the program, but between this and the RC-12X it seems like there are many different configurations of antenna so maybe most don’t have this many…
GKrollin@reddit
Seeing things like this makes me wonder how so many planes struggle with a few mm of icing
quarterdecay@reddit
I've noticed one of those off the Washington coast and it just creeps me out.
AAROD121@reddit
Google: EMARSS
RKEPhoto@reddit
I used to work next door to a DEA hangar where they stored and maintained several King Airs stuffed full of gear.
WIlf_Brim@reddit
A couple of guys from VRC-50 (RIP) flew me from Guam to Chuuk and back to pick up a dive accident victim back in the day in one of these.
It was dusk to night, and they missed two (maybe three) approaches before they were finally able to land (bad storms, par for the course in that part of the world at that time of year). I woke up for after miss 2. I remember the event because several months later the LPO of the N-3 shop showed me an article about the aircrew getting NCMs for that mission.
Busy_Environment5574@reddit
Not a dumb question at all, you just didn’t know. Embassies as well as some military bases have them as well to shuttle VIPs around. I flew on one from Japan to Korea for an exercise pre brief once.
Suckatguardpassing@reddit
You can see them on FR24 in places like Romania for example.
Random_Reddit99@reddit
Just because you can afford a Gulfstream doesn't mean it's the best plane for the job. A Gulfstream requires twice the takeoff distance as a King Air and costs 5 times as much per hour to operate. A King Air is also faster, travels further, can carry more, and also cost 33% less to operate than a Bell Jet Ranger.
King Air 66-7943 used the "Air Force One" designation when was used as the primary transport for President Johnson to travel between Bergstrom Air Force Base and LBJ Ranch as the ranch's short airstrip could not accomodate the 707s then used as Air Force One. Budget conscious governors, military field commanders, and agriculture, interior, & forestry officials might use King Airs to access remote properties with only rural airstrips...and its long range, slower speed, and low operating cost makes it an ideal observation platform compared to similar sized helicopters and jets.
drmarcj@reddit
I once met some USAF pilots who flew these out of Japan. They just ferry around VIPs to various exotic locales. It sounded like a pretty sweet gig.
QuestionMean1943@reddit
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_King_Air
p3p3_sylvia@reddit
I flew these for the Army Reserve (Guard has them too)
It's a C-12 for VIP transport
10% of the time I did exactly that.
The other 90% I was flying somewhere to grab lunch and shoot approaches on the way home to stay current.
_FROOT_LOOPS_@reddit
This sounds like the dream ngl
p3p3_sylvia@reddit
The flying part of being an Army pilot is awesome. The ground part sucks HARD
(I just hate officer office staff bs with a burning passion)
Embarrassed_Key7153@reddit
what does this mean?
_FROOT_LOOPS_@reddit
In addition to what the other guy said, op is probably referring to the 6 instrument approaches that IFR-rated pilots need to have logged within a six-calendar-month period to keep their instrument rating current.
p3p3_sylvia@reddit
Find an airport or two on the way to where you're going to do a few practice approaches and add a little more flight time. Regs requires me to make certain amount of flight time but the unit wanted us to shoot a few approaches per flight to get some training value out of it when you're not carrying pax
27803@reddit
Touch and go’s contrary to belief most military pilots don’t get that many hours and need to fly practice flights to remain current
Outrageous-Wing-1848@reddit
We must be in the same unit lol
p3p3_sylvia@reddit
Do you have a bald field grade get drunk and make a fool out of himself at a change of command ceremony?
Outrageous-Wing-1848@reddit
Haha, Sounds oddly familiar but can’t say for sure. Was out of JB MDL
p3p3_sylvia@reddit
I was at Pope/Bragg
ChiefTestPilot87@reddit
Chemptrails?
mattincalif@reddit
To fly the President when the 747s aren’t available. /s
briyyz@reddit
It happened! VC-6A used by Johnson
The “Lady Bird Special”
VC-6A used as Air Force 1
mattincalif@reddit
Very interesting!
indimedia@reddit
Skydiving after service with the gubermint! I jumped out of one at 18,000 for my FIRST dive
quietflowsthedodder@reddit
It may be Air Force 839. And it's basically used for flying.
dsw1088@reddit
That's Franklin's personal transport.
Beaver_Sauce@reddit
VIP transport. Generals or other officers, government officials etc.
FartInGenDirection@reddit
And coke smuggling
OkBubbyBaka@reddit
Why are you smuggling coke? I can easily get one for $1 a can at my nearest gas station.
derekbox@reddit
You spelled ripit wrong
takingphotosmakingdo@reddit
DUKE## as of late for a lot of them
TheSauceIsTheBoss69@reddit (OP)
That simple? I kinda figured if you were important enough to be flown around privately you’d be on a jet but I guess not necessarily the case?
RisingDingleDong@reddit
As someone else said, it's similar to a regional carrier. These will be based somewhere and do short flights from that base depending on what the units there need. I got to ride on one across Japan to pick up some aircraft parts a few years ago.
MaddingtonBear@reddit
The Army also has a fleet of small jets, but these will get you there at 75% of the speed and 50% of the cost. On the 300-400 mile hops; the King Air is only going to be about 15 minutes slower than a jet.
InspectorNoName@reddit
Gov't officials have to go to a lot of airports that aren't jet-compatible.
TheSauceIsTheBoss69@reddit (OP)
Makes sense, thank you
slyskyflyby@reddit
A lot of military officials in Alaska go to the villages to build community relations and meet with village leaders. Often times the runways are gravel or dirt and not in the best condition and short. Something a Gulfstream can't land at.
real_pasta@reddit
Consider it the military’s “regional carrier”. Short flights, small airports, or also cargo. Saw a Blackhawk pilot who used one of these as their helicopters were being transported for a deployment.
Icy_Huckleberry_8049@reddit
VIP transport
carrying important people
BriefCollar4@reddit
Definitely not drugs. No, sir!
Moist_N_Yeasty@reddit
transport.
ArchiCEC@reddit
Just a note, these aren’t just for VIPs.
The pilots will fly them to maintain their hours even if there are no missions. I had the opportunity to have the base commanding officer fly me to a 1 week class as a junior officer.
Grep2grok@reddit
Bro, that cocaine's not running guns by itself.
GoLionsJD107@reddit
This type of plane is also common at colleges with major sports programs. Most of the big ones have small private planes or jets they use for athletic recruiting visits and fundraising. The University of Michigan has at least two but the types are unknown, however King Airs that seat about 8 are ideal for this type of use- and they get flown a lot probably every day.
Penn State University, in specific, owns two planes - one of which is a Beech King Air B200 used for these exact purposes.
Plummeter@reddit
They use them to haul tires to fighters with flats that are parked at civilian airports
Rjspinell2@reddit
Mainly training. A few can transport passengers. But mostly training for cargo ops in military.
ChrissySubBottom@reddit
Saw one at the Birdsong Ranch… some dude and a chick named Penny
pickleportal@reddit
Remote AK passenger plane when Cesna 208 won’t cut it
No-Computer784@reddit
Our squadron shared a hangar with a few of these at NAS Whidbey Island. They were primarily used to transport high ranking officers and officials on US Navy business.
OxycontinEyedJoe@reddit
It's just a little airplane, they use them when they need a little airplane.
JuanMurphy@reddit
Flying generals around.
flyingscotsman12@reddit
Haven't you seen American Made? It's the CIA special.
4020_Driver@reddit
Epic movie. Probably the most accurate aviation movie ironically.😂😂
AdmiralTinFoil@reddit
I’ve been all up in 100s of Hurons and Guardrails.
hoveringuy@reddit
Out of Andrews AFB a typical mission for me would be to take a General to Fort Know, KY for a meeting, brief or something.
Door to door, it took us like 2 1/2 hours.
If he flew by airline it would be an all day ordeal, he'd need to leave the night before and the morning after.
Just WAY more efficient!
Danitoba94@reddit
Friend of mine flew high ranking officers in and out of hot zones with these.
woodandjeeps@reddit
Sarajevo was my route
woodandjeeps@reddit
Flew one in the army back in the Day. Great aircraft
Count-per-minute@reddit
Back in the 90’s they were great for moving bales of blow. Big cargo door to kick the shit out of on the fly!
ForsakenRacism@reddit
Flying people between places
G_Rubes@reddit
Technically correct. The best kind of correct.
JunkbaII@reddit
Good way to get out of a boat tour for a 3rd tour navy pilot
Magooose@reddit
I’ve seen these fly out of our local airport which is also an ANG base. They have a call sign of PAT ( priority air transport.)
i_farding@reddit
What Bakersfield?
Optionalheat@reddit
Yup! PAT.
wyohman@reddit
Even?
morbob@reddit
Girlfriends
JandKtxCouple124@reddit
I’ve jumped out of one a bunch of times?
old_skul@reddit
That's RFK Jr's plane. All the jets were busy laying chemtrails.
Bright_Broccoli1844@reddit
Ha!
toomuchoversteer@reddit
Some have spy equipment, and some have missile countermeasures for combat zones. The ones I'm familiar with are always going to south America
raidriar889@reddit
Transporting important people but not too important
Ok_Flounder59@reddit
You get in and take it into the sky
738cj@reddit
Where I live if you see one of those unmarked, it’s DOE, and something radioactive is probably on board
TaMere_26@reddit
That's a c-12 , those pilots have the best activity duty job in the Department of Defense.
cwwspurs@reddit
Flying
RonPossible@reddit
The Army uses the King Air for a variety of missions. This one appears to be in passenger configuration. They're also popular for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) roles.
MoeSzyslakMonobrow@reddit
Flying people to places.
walter_wheat@reddit
Jurassic Park 3
DocRogerThat@reddit
C-12, we used them all the time in USAFE and NAVY still uses alot of them. This bird is prob out of Andrews.
Dutch-VanDerPlan@reddit
I have 2 or 3 of the same King Air's come into my work for fuel. They go play "bad guy" for the navy ships.
Fresh_Ad4765@reddit
Kinda looks like a C12 I rode on one in Iraq with some big wigs because it was available for where I was going
kosherhalfsourpickle@reddit
My friend is in the Army reserves and he flys those planes. He is usually taking high ranking Army officials to various destinations. He used to be the commander at a big Army base of Blackhawk helicopters, but now in the reserves, he flys these.
MaddingtonBear@reddit
94-00322. Lives at Ft. Belvoir outside DC and shuttles around various Army bigwigs (though I don't see a flag officer placard in the window). Extremely common in civilian use; has a standard corporate interior without much in the way of excess equipment. Here's one from around the same vintage that will have a mostly similar interior. https://www.controller.com/listing/for-sale/238450647/1996-beechcraft-king-air-b200-turboprop-aircraft
thy_shortave@reddit
I actually seen this plane yesterday. A bunch of Air Force officers came into the FBO and left in it
MATCA_Phillies@reddit
C12s. Callsign from KNBC used to be “BUSHxxx” in early 90s :)
MangoKommando@reddit
They move small amounts of people and equipment
TremendousVarmint@reddit
Aerial survey too
49thDipper@reddit
Used for all kinds of official flights flying all kinds officials to and fro.
It’s just an airplane. The US owns a LOT of them
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