January 9, 2006: A long standing complaint among paratroopers has finally gotten some official confirmation. The Australia Defense Science and Technology Organization reported that paratroopers sitting next to the wing (and, thus, the engines) received so much engine noise and vibration that they suffered from impaired motor and memory skills. The study was done using the latest version of the C-130 (the C-130J). For the last sixty years, paratroopers have complained about the noise and vibration they had to endure when riding to work in propeller aircraft. There are no such problems in jet transports, which are much quieter and virtually vibration free. The Australian report suggested not sitting paratroopers near the wing, if possible, to minimize the problem.
