‘Fat Albert’ remains in limbo

After more than two months since the crash of a Marine Corps KC-130T transport plane that killed all 16 personnel aboard on July 10 in northern Mississippi, the Navy and Marine Corps have yet to lift a no-fly order for 23 similar grounded aircraft. Those aircraft includes the Marines’ C-130T “Fat Albert” aircraft crew that provides logistics and transportation to the Navy’s Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron based out of NAS Pensacola, Fla. Since the crash, Fat Albert has been absent from seven shows across the country. Similar Navy and Marine Corps Reserve unit aircraft have also been grounded. For the Blue Angels, the absence of “Fat Albert’s” presents a logistics and transportation issue. The C-130T flies some 35,000 pounds of gear, and a 40-person maintenance technician team to those show locations. Blue Angels spokesman Lt. Joe Hontz said the team is currently utilizing C-130J Super Hercules from various Marine squadrons to transport equipment and personnel, and some Navy C-40 Clipper aircraft for longer hauls. It remains unclear when the aircraft will resume normal operations. The investigation into the crash over Mississippi, which officials said occurred after something went wrong at cruising altitude, remains ongoing. No findings have been made public. (Source: Military.com 09/28/17) Gulf Coast Note: The Marine Corps crash occurred between the communities of Itta Bena and Moorhead, in the Mississippi Delta.