The Aviation Magazine Volume 6, Issue 4, May 2015 Special Edition | Page 74
United States Marine Corps C‐130T Hercules “The Fat Albert Airlines”
known as “Fat Albert” actually is more than just a support aircraft
carrying spare parts, equipment, and to carry support personnel be‐
tween shows. In fact it is also a performer at air shows and a plat‐
form for media rides for a few lucky reporters.
Captain Katie Higgins,
USMC
© 2015 Norman A. Graf
© 2015 Clifford Martin
© 2009 Laszlo Nyary
© 2009 Laszlo Nyary
© 2009 Laszlo Nyary
All pilot images courtesy of Blue Angels
Major Mark Hamilton,
USMC
From the cockpit Hitting ZERO‐G The crew in 2015 and after landing waving to the crowds
© 2015 Clifford Martin
Major Dusty Cook,
USMC
From 1975 to 2009 Fat Albert nicknamed “Bert” at selected air shows
used Jet Assisted Take Off (JATO) eight rocket boosters (four on each
side) to show the short take‐off capabilities just prior to the main event
which featured the Blue Angels Jet Team.
Over the years I had two opportunities to receive this much coveted ride.
Luckily, my first one was with the JATO rocket booster attached, at one
of the last rides with such in 2009, as a passenger in the back. It was a
thrilling ride, to say the least with the roar and smoke of the eight JATO
rocket booster lifting off at a 45 degree incline.
My second ride was a more memorable one: being inside the cockpit,
although it was without the JATO, thus the ascent was not as dramatic,
but certainly had a much better view of the surroundings and gave me a
better understanding how Fat Albert is flown.
"Fat Albert Airlines" flies with an all‐Marine crew of three officers, who
must be aircraft commander qualified with at least 1,200 flight hours,
and five enlisted personnel. For 2015 one of the pilots is a female, Cap‐
tain Katie Higgins, for the first time.
Fat Albert with JATO in 2009, below
Fat Albert in 2015, on the right