Lockheed AC-130

"Orbital strike cannon"

• The Lockheed AC-130 gunship is a heavily armed, long-endurance, ground-attack variant of the C-130 Hercules transport, fixed-wing aircraft. It carries a wide array of ground-attack weapons that are integrated with sensors, navigation, and fire-control systems. Unlike other modern military fixed-wing aircraft, the AC-130 relies on visual targeting. Since its large profile and low operating altitudes around 7,000 feet (2,100 m) make it an easy target, its close air support missions are usually flown at night.

• The airframe is manufactured by Lockheed Martin, while Boeing is responsible for the conversion into a gunship and for aircraft support. Its sole operator has been the United States Air Force, which currently uses the AC-130J Ghostrider. Developed during the Vietnam War as "Project Gunship II", the AC-130 replaced the Douglas AC-47 Spooky, or "Gunship I". Since then, it has seen combat in Grenada, Panama, the Persian Gulf, Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya. Close air support roles include supporting ground troops, escorting convoys, and urban operations. Air-interdiction missions are conducted against planned targets and targets of opportunity. Force-protection missions include defending air bases and other facilities. AC-130Js are based at Hurlburt Field, Florida and Cannon AFB, New Mexico;[9] gunships can be deployed worldwide.[10] The squadrons are part of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), a component of the United States Special Operations Command.

• The AC-130 has an unpressurized cabin, with the weaponry mounted to fire from the port side of the fuselage. During an attack, the gunship performs a pylon turn, flying in a large circle around the target, so is able to fire at it for far longer than in a conventional strafing attack.

• The AC-130H Spectre was armed with two 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannons, one L/60 Bofors 40 mm cannon, and M137 105 mm cannon and M37 recoil mechanism from the M102 howitzer; after 1994, the 20 mm cannons were removed. The upgraded AC-130U Spooky has a 25 mm GAU-12 Equalizer cannon in place of the Spectre's two 20 mm cannons, an improved fire-control system, and increased ammunition capacity. The new AC-130J was based on the MC-130J Commando II special-operations tanker. The AC-130W Stinger II is a modified C-130H with upgrades including a precision strike package.

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Controls:

(more information on craft instructions ingame)

Standard Aircraft Controls

AG1: Manual Control Mode
AG2: Switch 105mm Ammo (HE-HEAT)
AG3: 40mm HE Proximity Mode
AG7: Cargo Ramp

• Weapons controlled by Auto Aim (default) and Camera Control (AG1)

• Two types of gunsight view, Aiming System & LLLTV (its just auto aim gunsight)

• RECOMMENDED: Use Manual Mode because the Auto Aim is severely off tracked from the target, leading to inaccurate shots, apologies for that 🙏

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Armaments:

105mm M102
- 58x M67 HE-T
- 12x M552 HEAT-T

40mm L/60 Bofors
- 475x M81A1 HE-T

2x 20mm M61 Vulcan
- 3600x API-T

Note:

• Since Christmas is around the corner, I have decided to give you all a gift a bit early than intended, cuz I might not be online after next week, apologies for that

• Fire control system (Aiming System camera) is modified to be effective at the intended engagement altitude (≈2100m), higher than that might make the sight slightly off centered, although lower than the intended altitude seems to made it plausible.

• BUILD IS NOT FINAL; there might be bugs or features that made the aircraft seems unusable/unplayable

• Interior and exterior of the aircraft is roughly reproduced based on blueprint and reference images, apologize for any inaccuracies in the build

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Wish you all early, and Merry Christmas to everyone !