The C-130 Hercules is a medium weight 4-turboprop engine tactical transport
aircraft, developed by the American company Lockheed for the US Air Force
(USAF). The hercules was specially developed for the transport of (airborne)
troops and cargo. It can drop the troops and/or cargo using a backwards
cargo door which can also be opened in-flight.
The
C-130 Hercules has the capability to take of and land, even without a
paved runway.
The airplane is in many versions. The standard version is to transport
troops and cargo and can fly in war environments. There is also a version
for electronic warfare; EC-130,
an air-to-ground attack version; AC-130
and lots of other versions. The first normal (transport) version was the
C-130A. The newest transport version is the C-130J SUper Hercules which
can transport 128 airborne troops. The newest version is the C-130U and
only in service with the USAF.
C-130 Versions
LC-130
Hercules
WC-130J
Hercules
Operators
The C-130 is in service with the militaries of at least:
1. United States
2. United-Kingdom
3. the Netherlands
4. Belgium
5. Italy
6. Greece
7. Spain
8. Sweden
9. Canada
10. Israel
11. New-Zealand
12. Oman
13. Indonesia
14. South-Korea
1.
United States
The
C-130 is now a day in service with the US Air Force, Air
National Guard, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. The first of the 229 ordered
C-130A Hercules aircraft for the USAF made his first flight on 7 april
1955.
C-130
C-130J
2.
United-Kingdom Years ago the Royal Air Force has ordered 25 airplanes (ten C-130J
versions and 15 C-130J-30).
On 30 January 2005 on 15:30 local time a C-130 Hercules crashed 40km of
Baghdad. In the aircraft were possible 10 soldiers of the British special
forces unit SAS. It's not yet sure the airplane is crashed or had a bomb
into the aircraft. Terrorists claim to have shot down the aircraft with
a anti-aircraft missile but military experts says that the airplane flow
on 5000 meters height and can't be shot down.
3.
the Netherlands
The
Royal Netherlands Air Force has 4 C-130 (2x C-130H & 2x C-130H-30)
Hercules transport aircraft vliegtuigen which are operated by 336 squadron
on Eindhoven Air Force Base (from
1994-2007 at 334 squadron).
On 1 march 1994, the first 2 C-130H-30 were delivered and on 2 March 2010
the first of 2 C-130H. Since a few years, all aircraft git a grey camouflage
paint.
In 2007, the
Royal Netherlands Air Force bought 3 more C-130H Hercules aircraft from
Marshall Aerospace of which 2 become part of 336 Hercules squadron as
the C-130H. The 3rd hercules is only used for spare parts.
C-130H-30
C-130H
4. Belgium
The Belgian air force initialy ordered 12 C-130H airplanes. One C-130H
crashed on Eindhoven Air Force base in the Netherlands while transporting
a military music corps. The 11 remaining aircraft are operational. They
will be replaced in the near future by 7 A400M aircraft.
5. Italy
The Italian Air Force has a fleet of 22 C-130J/ C-130J-30 Hercules aircraft.
Italian Air Force C-130J
6. Greece
The Greece Hellenic Air Force has C-130H/B Hercules aircraft.
7. Spain
The Spannish Air Force has 6 C-130H, 1 C-130H-30 and 5 KC-130H. The 6
C-130H and the C-130H-30 are with the 311 squadron, the 5 KC-130H with
the 312 squadron which are both stationed on a airbase near Zaragoza.
8. Sweden
The Swedish Air Force has a fleet of 8 C-130 Hercules aircraft (Tp 84).
These will be updated with the Boeing Avionics Modernization Program (AMP).
The Swedish were the first European export customer for the Hercules and
will now the first equipped with the AMP.
The update contains a fully integrated digital glass cockpit with head-up
displays.
The Swedish Air Force has 1 C-130H aircraft converted to a tanker to train
Saab Gripen fighters for aerial refueling.
9. Canada
Canada has bought 27 CC-130E/H Hercules aircraft in the beginning.
10.
Israel
The Israeli Air Force has the C-130E, C-130H and KC-130 Hercules.
C-130H
11. New-Zealand
C-130 Hercules from New-Zealand
12. Oman
In June 2009, Oman ordered 1 C-130J-30 Super Hercules which will be delivered
in mid-2012. Oman already operates a fleet of 3 C-130H Hercules.
14. South-Korea
In 2011, South-Korea ordered 4 C-130J-30's. The
first 2 C-130J's were delivered in march 2014 and the other 2 in may 2014.