Specification
| Role | Military cargo carrier, troops carrier, medical patients carrier |
| Country of Origin | The United States of America |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin |
| Length | 29.79 metres/98.42 feet |
| Wing Area | 40.41 metres/132.60 feet |
| First Date of Service | 1954 |
| Developed Into | C-130J Super Hercules |
| Number Built | More than 2,300 till 2009 |
| Crew Strength | 92 combat troops/74 litter patients with 2 medical assistants/64 fully-equipped paratroops |
| Mainly Used By | The US Air Force, NASA |
| Highest Speed | 593 km/hr |
| Variants | C-130J-30 Super Hercules, HC-130J combat King II/Coast Guard, C-130XJ Expandable, MC-130J Commando II, EC-130J Commando Solo, KC-130J Tanker, SC-130J Sea Herc, LM-100J, WC-130J Weatherbird |
| Maximum Endurance | 3,862 kilometres |
| Current Status | In service |
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Design & Development
Lockheed C-130 Hercules is purpose-built for military transportation. It is designed for maximum capacity and convenient loading and unloading. The military carrier has enough internal space for 92 combat troops, 64 fully-equipped paratroops or 74 litter patients with 2 medical attendants. The default seating arrangement in the C-130 Hercules is side-facing. There are 2 doors behind landing gear fairings on both sides of the aircraft. They are used mainly by members of the personnel for exit. There is another exit off the rear, and it is used mainly for airdrops. Apart from landing, C-130 supports 3 different parachuted delivery systems.
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Purpose
The main purpose of Lockheed C-130 Hercules is transportation of military personnel, equipment and vehicles. Several variants of the aircraft have been developed through the years. The C-130 models are specially built for civilian services such as mass transportation of patients and similar requirement. C-130J-30 is a larger aircraft than its predecessors.
C-130 Hercules has served for the purpose of aerial delivery, aerial fire-fighting, aerial mapping, aerial refuelling, rapid ground refuelling, airlift, oil-spill control, weather observation, NASA research, satellite recovery, missile tracking, airborne hospital and more, including even commercial passenger service.
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History
C-130 Hercules was developed as per the requirement of the US Air Force during the Korean War. The air force needed a tough and versatile air-lifter with ample cargo space. The competition to build the prototype was won by Lockheed Martin, and the first prototype was inaugurated on 23rd August, 1954. It was built with the capacity of carrying more than 136 kilograms per square-feet. Besides, it was highly manoeuvrable and could lift after a run of less than 261 metres. The variants of C-130 Hercules that have been developed later retain the versatility of the original aircraft but have consistently enhanced in overall performance.
In fact, it is the versatility of Lockheed C-130 Hercules that the aircraft has flown to almost every part of the world with nearly everything that can be carried.
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Modern Day
Lockheed C-130 Hercules and its variants have set 54 world records in relevant fields of aviation. Presently, 16 countries currently operate or will soon operate the aircraft. More than 16 different types of missions can be supported by the variants of C-130 altogether.
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