The Lockheed Martin C130A Hercules Transport Aircraft is among the strongest in the world. The Lockheed Martin C130A Hercules has a long history and is still in use by over 60 countries. The aircraft was originally designed to transport troops. It has since evolved into a reliable workhorse capable of flying both commercial and military missions. The C130 family is capable of performing a wide range of missions.
Since its first flight in 1954, the C130 Hercules is flown by hundreds and has been served in many different countries. It has performed more than 20,000,000 flight hours and accumulated 20 percent more flying time than any other aircraft. This makes the aircraft a top-notch workhorse. A number of variants are available to meet the needs of any mission.
The C130H was one of the first C-130 models to enter service. It was equipped with a brand new engine. This model also incorporated avionics upgrades and an external fuel tank. Another variant, the C-130E, was an improved model that had a new engine and had an additional fuel tank installed on the cargo compartment.
The A-model Hercules carried out classified special operations missions during the Vietnam War such as BLIND BATF FAC/Flare. They also participated in many relief operations throughout the world. They have also landed or dropped military supplies in hot spots, and attacked ground targets with cannons.
With many variants, C-130 can take off from and land at short runways. Many Hercules models have the ability to be configured for different cargo types, including palletized and truck-delivery containers. The aircraft's unmatched versatility and proven performance make it the favorite aircraft in the United States and other countries, regardless of what the requirements may be.
Today, the C-130 Hercules remains the US government's preferred choice for transport, search-and-rescue, and resupply operations. The aircraft was used in many operations, including during the 2003 invasion. The aircraft was deployed in operational roles by Australia and the United Kingdom during 2003's invasion of Iraq. The C-130, which was at an altitude approximately 50 meters, was captured and destroyed by insurgents during the conflict. Despite this incident the aircraft continued to be used throughout the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
The aircraft was involved in numerous humanitarian missions, including the rescue and release of 103 hijacked passengers at Entebbe Airport. It is the only plane to have accomplished such a mission. The aircraft has also been used for oil dispersing in the Gulf of Mexico. Many of the aircraft have been deployed in the International Security Assistance Force (Operation Enduring Freedom), and are still used to this day. There are over 70 variants available, making the C-130 currently the fourth-longest-running American aircraft manufacturing line.