Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Im an african from the war torn region of central africa.
i have experienced the divers abilities and fonctions of this aircraft.
Reliability,efficiency under extreme conditions on the tropical conditions:heavy rain,wind etc...
what took my breath away is the ability to land and take off in our school football (+or- 95 meters length uneven grass terrain) field to deliver food aid.
i will never forget that day at our school.
i always dream to become one day either pilot or mechanic of this aircraft to help others of my region.

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I can't verify this is true, but I understand that the high altitude record jump was supposed to be from 45,000 feet but the 43,500 was as high as they could get.

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looking for c130 H -30 or L100. total of 4 aircraft 1984 or later please up date on email.many thanks

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I was a maintenace mechanic on a C130 that hauled high altitude paratroopers to a worlds record height of 43,500 ft. in 1963 in El Centro, Calif. I was responsible for the oxygen and pressurazation systems and high altitude oxygen console on the plane. This was know as Project Halo or Tac-Test 63-18. I was stationed at Sewart AFB at Smyrna, Tn. with the 314th.FMS at this time. You can search for Jumping in The Troposphere and read about this mission on the internet. Capt. Marvin Payne piloted this plane. Members of various branches of our sevices made the jump to set the record for high altitude jumping.

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I was a KC130F flight mech for 2 1 /2 years at VMGR 252 (Cherry Point N.C.) 1966-1969) and flight engineer VMGR 152 (Fatima /Da nang) into early 1970. My crew personally flew the last US Marines (load crew and fork lift) out of Quang Tre and Dong Ha. We just left everything as is for the Cong as we with drew. NOT GOOD!!! I recorded over 3,000 hrs in the bird and enough points for 5 air medals. We refueled over Hanoi and dropped flares at night to support Helicopters and downed aircraft retraction. Loved this bird. Wanted to be a pilot but the Col. said that enough Officers wanted flight school so I was SOL. Should have stayed in the Reserves, for an other retirement and maybe my pilot wings. Stayed in the air every hop that was available. Great air plane, that protected us for every mission. Semper Fi

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Served with the 2nd Aerial Port Squadron at Sewart AFB, Smyrna, TN in 1959-60 as Loadmaster on C-130 A&B models. Reserve was with Wilmington, OH and we used C-119s and 123s. Loaded the 101st Airborne from Ft.Campbell to Homestead AFB during the Cuban Crisis in 1962.

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Have more than 5,000 hours in HC /WC /KC /EC /MC /C130A /B /C /E /F /H /R. Probably forgot a few. Over 1,000 combat hours. 47 typhoon penetrations. Did you know that 15 typhoon penetrations got an Ari Medal? Took 20 combat missions. I didn't figure that out until I left the WX business. Flew with the Marines for awhile. Taught at the School house at Little Rock. Deputy at the 4950th Test Wing's Modification Center at Wright Pat. Worked at the Lockheed Aircraft Service Company for 10 years after retiring from the Air Force. Ran their Special Operations Programs including the upgrading of the old AC130H to the SOFI configuration. As I recall, sometimes the airplane got me home when I didn't help it as much as I should have. Not many airplanes would have done that.

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I flew the C-130 A,B,D from 1954 to 1971 all over the world five yrs in europe, 2yrs in vietnam , and USA. I believe this was the best aircraft built to perform a tactical airlift mission in military aviation history. No other aircraft approaches its safty , reliability, and abilty to get the job done under extremely difficult flying conditions. My hat is off to the brillant Lockheed aircraft engineers who designed an built this aircraft that has become a ledgend greater than any other including the C-47.

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work on the AC130U,newest version of the AC, fun to work on and cool to look at, C-130s do everything imaginable.

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spent a lot of time with this great a /c. 20 years in the airforce, 5 years in saudie arabia, seven years in egypt. in my opinion there has never been a better a /c built

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I HAVE A FORIEGN BUYER FOR 4 NOS. HERCULES C130 HS AIRCRTAFT. CAN SOME ONE OFFER?
REGARDS,
FAREED

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WE INTERESTED TO PURCHASE C130H FOR 5 A /C

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Those farmers in Ga. knew how to build a great plane when the C130A was invented. I worked there for awhile when they were replacing the center wing box section in the late 1960's. Not only did I get 2300 flt hours in it but also 350 hours in the c141a in the reserves. Great planes

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I was in c-130a's for 5 years in photo mapping then Viet Nam. T was in 815th tac and spent 15 daye in Nam a month all as a flt.engineer. A total of 9 years out of US all on c-130, also southern air transport for 7 years.I set flying records in Angola, worked for Edi Amin in Uganda

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3rd Anti Tanks attached to 3rd Marines in ICorp area between 66 /67 from Danang to Dong Ha. Mostly feet on ground but my few flights on the C130 (model?) were interesting, especially on first landing on metal plate temporary runways. Reversing engines and brakes (I suppose) gives you really funny feeling in your gut and stopping 3 feet from end of runway. A real work horse as I remember.
Sgt. USMC 63-67

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My first squadron out of A School, Millington, Tn. was VMGR-352, at El Toro. Spent a 13 month tour with VMGR-152 at Iwakuni, and managed to do a lot of traveling in that bird. Regret that I was never aboard a C-130 when they did a JATO demonstration - sure looks impressive. Got assigned to A-4's after Iwakuni.

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Although I never had the privilege to fly or crew on the C-130, but I do have many fond memories of taking off with them and flying in them but never landing with them! I was with the 82d ABN DIV (1971-1974) and we had many jumps from that workhorse of an aircraft. The jumps out the side doors were pretty good, as long as the blast doors were deployed. If they weren't deployed your jump could get pretty interesting if you didn't make a concerted effort to throw yourself out the door. If you didn't give a big push off from the door you would just slap the side of the fuselage with your body on the way out, understandably knocking the wind out you most times. All in all a great plane though!

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Ashyia AB, Japan...First C-130 to the Far East (1958). I was trained as a Flight Engineer by the Lockeed flght crew that delivered the A /C (transitioning from the C-119). As Wing Standboard Engineer, I was privilaged to take any flight I wanted to where ever. I have momentos of "first C-130" all over the Far East (as it was called then).

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Loved the Hercules and worked electronics on the C-130E Blackbird with FLR & Fulton Recovery System at Pope AFB & Nha Trang, Vietnam with 14th FMS tied to 15th SOS. What a really great versitle aircraft for the conflict! If you are a 68 /69 14th FMS or 15th SOS, email contact info.

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Flew as a load for 3 years, best aircraft ever made!

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