Inside the AC-130 Gunship - Capabilities, Employment and Weapons episode artwork

EPISODE · Dec 5, 2025 · 2H 9M

Inside the AC-130 Gunship - Capabilities, Employment and Weapons

from 10 Percent True - Tales from the Cockpit · host Steve Davies

Get ad-free, early access to new 10 Percent True videos: https://www.10percenttrue.com/pricing-plans/list0:00 Support the channel0:33 welcome back Buck and episode outline2:59 an appeal and a thank you 5:28 AMA (Jim’s) question - division of labour among crew 10:43 Maintaining SA once engaged 13:20 journey to the Air Force and route to the Gunship17:10 route to AFSOC20:08 any lack of fulfilment having missed out on fighters?24:00 getting into AC-130 and history of the aircraft 26:31 getting mission qualified 30:43 explaining the orbit (and the finer details thereof) and managing the gun platform 35:51 details up front, HUD (geeks rejoice!)43:20 H model51:23 funny story time!53:23 returning to description including sensors, countermeasures, removal of M61s, getting “shovel qualified” and the smell of ‘Murica!1:01:36 Black Crow sensor1:03:28 40mm1:04:18 APQ-45 1:05:33 U model differences1:08:08 refuelling port and some refuelling tales and tanker bros1:11:53 shooting the guns - in detail1:19:44 aircraft movement from recoil?1:21:03 stories for perspective 1:26:08 Responsibility of satisfying ROE1:27:13 weapon effects, weapon selection etc1:29:43 shooting a Phantom story1:32:38 returning to the “crowd pleaser” (105) and teasing the “smiley face”1:35:43 permissive vs non permissive environments 1:41:45 theatre tasking/focus/knowledge?1:44:38 massive teaser and reminder for air to air story!1:45:45 handling qualities and eng fire tale1:52:45 no notice checkrides1:53:58 2 engines out on one side?2:00:21 the mission and the dangers2:01:48 returning to double engine failures2:04:03 130H instruments and elective engine shutdowns2:06:08 gear feather flap debriefing and debriefing in general2:10:05 wrap up

Get ad-free, early access to new 10 Percent True videos: https://www.10percenttrue.com/pricing-plans/list0:00 Support the channel0:33 welcome back Buck and episode outline2:59 an appeal and a thank you 5:28 AMA (Jim’s) question - division of labour among crew 10:43 Maintaining SA once engaged 13:20 journey to the Air Force and route to the Gunship17:10 route to AFSOC20:08 any lack of fulfilment having missed out on fighters?24:00 getting into AC-130 and history of the aircraft 26:31 getting mission qualified 30:43 explaining the orbit (and the finer details thereof) and managing the gun platform 35:51 details up front, HUD (geeks rejoice!)43:20 H model51:23 funny story time!53:23 returning to description including sensors, countermeasures, removal of M61s, getting “shovel qualified” and the smell of ‘Murica!1:01:36 Black Crow sensor1:03:28 40mm1:04:18 APQ-45 1:05:33 U model differences1:08:08 refuelling port and some refuelling tales and tanker bros1:11:53 shooting the guns - in detail1:19:44 aircraft movement from recoil?1:21:03 stories for perspective 1:26:08 Responsibility of satisfying ROE1:27:13 weapon effects, weapon selection etc1:29:43 shooting a Phantom story1:32:38 returning to the “crowd pleaser” (105) and teasing the “smiley face”1:35:43 permissive vs non permissive environments 1:41:45 theatre tasking/focus/knowledge?1:44:38 massive teaser and reminder for air to air story!1:45:45 handling qualities and eng fire tale1:52:45 no notice checkrides1:53:58 2 engines out on one side?2:00:21 the mission and the dangers2:01:48 returning to double engine failures2:04:03 130H instruments and elective engine shutdowns2:06:08 gear feather flap debriefing and debriefing in general2:10:05 wrap up

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Inside the AC-130 Gunship - Capabilities, Employment and Weapons

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This episode was published on December 5, 2025.

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Get ad-free, early access to new 10 Percent True videos: https://www.10percenttrue.com/pricing-plans/list0:00 Support the channel0:33 welcome back Buck and episode outline2:59 an appeal and a thank you 5:28 AMA (Jim’s) question - division of labour...

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