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Military Aircraft Lockheed C-130H HERCULES Photo By Salamander |
| To meet a US Air Force Tactical Air Command requirement for a medium weight transport capable of operating in and out unprepared landing strips, a design competition was launched in 1951. Lockheed won and the c-130 prototype flew in August 1954. The high wing airlifted was centered on a very spacious fuselage, with an access ramp at the rear that could be lowered in flight for air drops. Orders soared and the plane was in high rate production for many years resulting in the 1,900th unit delivered in 1988, with production continuing at three a month. At the beginning of the 1990 the C-130 was still in production, and in service with the air forces of 61 countries. The first batch of 219 c-130As began to enter TAC service in December 1956, and was followed by 142 C-130Bs. Work began in 1961 on the C-130E model for Military Airlift Command, and 488 were built through 1975. The C-130H version, with more powerful engines saw 297 for the Air Force and The Navy plus over 500 for other countries. It seems that the c-130 has performed every mission possible for a transport plane, from cargo carrier to flying hospital, as well as unusual task such as the aerial recovery of spy satellite films. The type has been been fitted out as a gun ship, electronic warfare platform and in-flight refueling tanker, and there are even ski fitted models for supply in the Antarctic, operating though New Zealand. |
TECHNICAL DATA
| Description | Specifications |
| Manufacturer: Lockheed | Length: 97 ft. 9 in. |
| First Flight: August 1954 | Height: 38 ft. 3 in. |
| Model: H | Wing Span: 132 ft. 7 in. |
| Crew: Five. | Wing Area: 1,745.0 sq. ft. |
| Nickname: Hercules | Empty Weight: 76,470 lb. |
| Basic Role: Tactical transport plane. | Max. Weight: 175,000 lb. |
| Other
Versions: C-130A initial production version.
C-130B payload improvement. C-130E more payload for MAC. C-130H more powerful engines & new avionics. C-130K UK model of H. C-130H-30 stretched KC-130F aerial tanker. |
Payload: 92 troops or 64 paratroops or 42,645 lb of freight. |
| Principal User: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Great Britain, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and USA. |
Propulsion |
|
Performance |
Power Plant: Allison T56-A-15 turboprops. |
| Range: 2,487 miles. | Horsepower: 4,508-chp |
| Max. Speed: 384 mph. | No. Of Engines: Four |
| Ceiling: 42,900 ft. | |
| Climb Rate: 1,900 ft. per minute. |