In 2007, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) initiated a program to upgrade the armament of AC-130s. Regardless of their project names the aircraft were more commonly referred to by the squadron's call sign 'Spectre'. Conversion of C-130Es into AC-130Es for the "PAVE Spectre" project followed. In the summer of 1971, Surprise Package equipped AC-130s were converted to the Pave Pronto configuration and assumed their new nickname 'Thor'. In 1970, ten more AC-130As were acquired under the "Pave Pronto" project. Surprise Package served as a test bed for the avionic systems and armament for the AC-130E. Seven more warplanes were converted to the "Plain Jane" configuration like the AC-130 prototype in 1968, and one aircraft received the "Surprise Package" equipment in 1969.Surprise Package included the latest 20 mm rotary cannons and 40 mm Bofors cannon but no 7.62 mm close support armament. The AC-130 was later supplemented by the AC-119 Shadow (Project Gunship III), which later proved to be underpowered. By September 1967, the aircraft was certified ready for combat testing and was flown to Nha Trang Air Base, South Vietnam for a 90-day test program. Flight testing of the prototype was performed primarily at Eglin Air Force Base, followed by further testing and modifications. The analog fire control computer prototype was handcrafted by RAF Wing Commander Tom Pinkerton at the USAF Avionics Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB. A direct view night vision telescope was installed in the forward door, an early forward looking infrared (FLIR) in the forward part of the left wheel well, and Gatling guns fixed facing down and aft along the left side. The modifications were done at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base by the Aeronautical Systems Division. In 1967, JC-130A USAF 54-1626 was selected for conversion into the prototype AC-130A gunship (Project Gunship II). Capable of flying faster than helicopters and at high altitudes with excellent loiter time, the use of the pylon turn allowed the AC-47 to deliver continuous accurate fire to a single point on the ground. In order to improve mission endurance and increase capacity to carry munitions. In the end, the C-130 didn't replace the C-47 but worked along side the AC-47s till the Fairchild AC-119 Shadow/Stinger replaced the AC-47s in the Gunship III program. Carried several names including "dragonship" or "Puff, the Magic Dragon." Not long after the AC-47 program, the C-130 Hercules was selected replace the AC-47 Spooky gunship. The modified C-47 was designated FC-47 and later AC-47. ![]() First aircraft to receive this modification was not the C-130 but the C-47 Skytrain. Instead of strafing, the aircraft would fly a circle pattern around a target which kept it further away hazard. The key idea was to have all the heavy guns fire out of one side of the aircraft. Concept of the fixed wing "Gunship" has post World War II origin that became well known during the Vietnam War.
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