USAF's Last 'Spooky' Gunship Heads to the Boneyard
The AC-130U is being replaced by the newer, eventually laser-armed AC-130J.
By Kyle Mizokami
Jun 29, 2020
The last AC-130U gunship, “Spooky,†flew off to retirement on June 26, 2020.
A second -U model, “Big Daddy,†will go to an outdoor Air Force special operations museum in Florida.
“Big Daddy†is also the first AC-130 to receive a “black letter,†signifying zero discrepancies before flight.
The U.S. Air Force has sent the last AC-130U “Spooky†gunship to the Boneyard, capping a career spanning three decades. The gunship, named “Gunslinger,†was sent to the Arizona desert for what is likely a one-way trip. Another of the heavily armed transport planes, “Big Daddy,†earned a coveted black letter for excellence and a spot at the Hurlburt Field outdoor museum.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a33000578/ac-130u-spooky-retire/
