Lockheed C-130 Hercules

A C-130E Hercules from the 43rd Airlift Wing, Pope Air Force Base, N.C., flies over the Atlantic Ocean on March 13th, 2014.

Lockheed C-130 Hercules in flight.

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport aircraft. The versatile airframe has found uses in a variety of other roles, including as a gunship (AC-130), for airborne assault, search and rescue, scientific research support, weather reconnaissance, aerial refueling, maritime patrol, and aerial firefighting. It is now the main tactical airlifter for many military forces worldwide. Over forty models and variants of the Hercules serve with more than 60 nations.

The C-130 entered service with U.S. in the 1950s, followed by Australia and others. During its years of service, the Hercules family has participated in numerous military, civilian and humanitarian aid operations. The family has the longest continuous production run of any military aircraft in history. In 2007, the C-130 became the fifth aircraft—after the English Electric Canberra, Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, Tupolev Tu-95, and Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, all designs with various forms of aviation gas turbine powerplants—to mark 50 years of continuous use with its original primary customer, in this case, the United States Air Force. The C-130 is one of the only military aircraft to remain in continuous production for over 50 years with its original customer, as the updated C-130J Super Hercules.

Users

• Afghanistan
  • Afghan Air Force
• Algeria
  • Algerian Air Force
• Angola
  • Angolan Air Force
• Argentina
  • Argentine Air Force
• Australia
  • Royal Australian Air Force
• Austria
  • Austrian Air Force
• Bangladesh
  • Bangladesh Air Force
• Bahrain
  • Royal Bahrain Air Force
• Belgium
  • Belgian Air Component
• Bolivia
  • Bolivian Air Force
• Botswana
  • Botswana Air Force
• Brazil
  • Brazilian Air Force
• Cameroon
  • Cameroon Air Force
• Canada
  • Royal Canadian Air Force
• Chad
  • Chad Air Force
• Chile
  • Chilean Air Force
• Republic of China
  • Republic of China Air Force
• Colombia
  • Colombian Air Force
• Denmark
  • Royal Danish Air Force
• Ecuador
  • Ecuadorian Air Force
• Egypt
  • Egyptian Air Force
• Eritrea
  • Eritrean Air Force
• Ethiopia
  • Ethiopian Air Force
• France
  • French Air Force
• Gabon
  • Gabonese Air Force
• Greece
  • Hellenic Air Force
• Guatemala
  • Guatemalan Air Force
• Honduras
  • Honduran Air Force
• Indonesia
  • Indonesian Air Force
• Iran
  • Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
• Israel
  • Israeli Air Force
• Italy
  • Regia Aeronautica
• Japan
  • Japan Air Self-Defense Force
  • Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
• Jordan
  • Royal Jordanian Air Force
• Republic of Korea
  • Republic of Korea Air Force
• Kuwait
  • Kuwait Air Force
• Liberia
  • Liberian Air Force
• Libya
  • Libyan Air Force
• Malaysia
  • Royal Malaysian Air Force
• Mexico
  • Mexican Air Force
• Morocco
  • Royal Moroccan Air Force
• Netherlands]
  • Royal Netherlands Air Force
• New Zealand
  • Royal New Zealand Air Force
• Niger
  • Niger Air Force
• Nigeria
  • Nigerian Air Force
• Norway
  • Royal Norwegian Air Force
• Oman
  • Royal Air Force of Oman
• Pakistan
  • Pakistan Air Force
• Peru
  • Peruvian Air Force
• Philippines
  • Philippine Air Force
• Poland
  • Polish Air Force
• Portugal
  • Portuguese Air Force
• Romania
  • Romanian Air Force
• Saudi Arabia
  • Royal Saudi Air Force
• Singapore
  • Republic of Singapore Air Force
• South Africa
  • South African Air Force
• Spain
  • Spanish Air Force
• Sri Lanka
  • Sri Lankan Air Force
• Sudan
  • Sudanese Air Force
• Sweden
  • Royal Swedish Air Force
• Thailand
  • Royal Thai Air Force
• Tunisia
  • Tunisian Air Force
• Turkey
  • Turkish Air Force
• United Arab Emirates
  • United Arab Emirates Air Force
• United Kingdom
  • Royal Air Force
• United States
  • United States Air Force
  • United States Coast Guard
  • United States Marine Corps
  • United States Navy
• Uruguay
  • Uruguayan Air Force
• Venezuela
  • Venezuelan Air Force
• Vietnam
  • Vietnam People's Air Force
• Yemen
  • Yemen Air Force
• Zambia
  • Zambian Air Force

See Also

Related Development

• Lockheed L-100 Hercules
• Lockheed AC-130
  • Lockheed Martin CA-130 Vampire
• Lockheed KC-130 Hercules
• Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules