An 'Angel of Death' will release 'controlled fury' over Indiana. But no need to panic
A military warplane nicknamed the "Angel of Death" will swoop over the Indiana skies later this month to unleash "controlled fury," officials said. Don't be alarmed though. It's all part of an aerial gunnery training exercise for the AC-130J Ghostrider at Camp Atterbury, which is operated by the Indiana National Guard.
"This is strictly TRAINING," a social media post on the official Camp Atterbury Facebook page reads, "and will focus on the 105mm howitzer and the 30mm minigun."
Here's what we know about the AC-130J Ghostrider when Camp Atterbury hosts its training exercises in December.
When is aerial gunnery training for the AC-130J Ghostrider at Camp Atterbury scheduled?
The training is tentatively scheduled between 1200-1800 hours (that's noon to 6 p.m. for you civilians) on Dec. 28, 2023.
"Camp Atterbury routinely hosts military training events," said Indiana National Guard Public Affairs Officer, Capt. Oliver Wenck in a message to IndyStar. "Residents can expect to see additional air traffic and infrequent noises that may be louder than normal."
What is the AC-130J Ghostrider?
In short? It's an absolute monster of a warplane.
The AC-130J is a fifth-generation gunship, according to a fact sheet provided by the U.S. Air Force. This series of planes has extensive combat history dating back to Vietnam where gunships destroyed more than 10,000 trucks, officials said, and were credited with many life-saving, close air support missions.
It has a wingspan of more than 132 feet, a maximum carrying capacity of 155,000 pounds and the ability to refuel midair, providing close air support and armed reconnaissance with a punishing amount of firepower.
What firepower does the AC-130J Ghostrider have?
The AC-130J's "precision strike package," according to the Air Force Times, includes a 30mm and 105mm cannon — essentially a plane-mounted Howitzer — as well as Hellfire missiles, small diameter bombs and AGM-176 Griffin missiles.
The 30mm cannon can fire up to 200 rounds per minute, each about the size of a Coca-Cola bottle.
In 2015, writes the Air Force Times, Lt. Gen. Bradley Heithold called it “the ultimate battle plane“ and a “bomb truck with guns.”
Defense
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How will the pilots be training?
The AC-130J Ghostrider will make 45-degree banks around Camp Atterbury to unleash "controlled fury," according to its official social media page, allowing service members a chance to hone their skills for future combat missions.
Why is the AC-130 nicknamed the 'Angel of Death'?
The AC-130 is equipped with an arsenal of side- and rear-mounted weapons such as cannons, miniguns, bombs and missiles. When deployed, these lethal weapons rain down from the sky leaving smoke trails that have the appearance of feathered wings.
How much does each plane cost?
Each AC-130J Ghostrider built by Lockheed Martin has a price tag of $165 million.
How many AC-130J Ghostrider planes are there?
There will be 37 active duty AC-130J Ghostriders in the fiscal year of 2024, according to the Air Force.
How many people are on the crew?
The 9-person crew consists of two pilots, one combat systems officer, one weapon system operator, one sensor operator and four special mission aviators.
Will Camp Atterbury allow visitors inside to watch the plane?
"The installation will not be accessible for the public or media coverage that day," Wenck said, but suggested it might be possible to view some of the flights from Johnson County Park, located at 2949 E North St, Nineveh, IN.
Where is Camp Atterbury?
Camp Atterbury is in south-central Indiana, about 4 miles west of Edinburgh and roughly 35 miles south of Indianapolis.
John Tufts covers evening breaking and trending news for the Indianapolis Star. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Camp Atterbury hosts AC-130J Ghostrider training exercise
