C-130 Hercules

Originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation and cargo transport aircraft, this versatile airframe has found uses in other roles as a gunship, search and rescue, weather reconnaissance and aerial firefighting. It is capable of short takeoffs and landings from unprepared rough dirt strip runways and has the ability to fly with one failed engine. The Hercules has over 40 variants, serves more than 60 countries and has the longest continuous production run of any military aircraft in history.
A C-130 Hercules, equipped with the modular airborne firefighting system, takes off from McClellan Airfield, California.

  

FACTS & STATS:

First Flown
1954
Range		 2,237 miles (3,600 km)
Length 97 ft 9 in (29.8 m)
Engine Four Allison T56-A-15 turboprops
Wingspan 132 ft 7 in (40.4 m)
Max Speed 366 mph (589 kmh)
Ceiling 28,000 ft (8,534 m)
Weight

Empty 75,800 lbs (34,382 kgs);
Max takeoff: 155,000 lbs (70,307 kgs)
Number Built

Over 2,400
Armament

None (except armed variant AC-130: 40 mm and 105 mm cannons; AC-130U: 40 mm, 105 mm cannons and 25 mm Gatling gun)

 

The US Coast Guard began using the C-130 Hercules in 1958. The configuration of these aircraft is suitable for a variety of extreme missions.
Image Description: The US Coast Guard began using the C-130 Hercules in 1958. The configuration of these aircraft is suitable for a variety of extreme missions.
A C-130 conducts an in-flight refueling of a rescue helicopter, allowing the helicopter to continue its search and rescue mission.

 Image Description: A C-130 conducts an in-flight refueling of a rescue helicopter, allowing the helicopter to continue its search and rescue mission.