Book Review of Lockheed-Martin C-130 “Hercules”
Flying With Air Force Around the World
Aircraft in Detail no. 009
Author: Duke Hawkins
HMH Publications
ISBN: 978-2-9602488-8-3
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $39.00
ISBN: 978-2-9602488-8-3
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $39.00
HISTORY:
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American 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, medevac, 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.
More than 40 variants of the Hercules, including civilian versions marketed as the Lockheed L-100, operate in more than 60 nations. The C-130 entered service with the U.S. in 1956, followed by Australia and many other nations. During its years of service, the Hercules family has participated in numerous military, civilian and humanitarian aid operations.
In 2007, the C-130 became the fifth aircraft[N 1] to mark 50 years of continuous service with its original primary customer, which for the C-130 is the United States Air Force. The C-130 Hercules is the longest continuously produced military aircraft at over 60 years, with the updated Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules currently being produced.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Military transport aircraft
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Lockheed Corporation, Lockheed Martin
First flight: 23 August 1954; 66 years ago
Introduction to service: December 1956
Status: In service
Primary users: United States Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force
United States Coast Guard, Royal Air Force
Produced: 1954–present
Number built: Over 2,500 as of 2015
Unit cost: C-130E: $11.9 million, C-130H $30.1 million
Variants: Lockheed AC-130, Lockheed DC-130, Lockheed EC-130, Lockheed EC-130H Compass Call, Lockheed HC-130, Lockheed Martin KC-130, Lockheed LC-130, Lockheed MC-130, Lockheed RC-130, Lockheed WC-130, Lockheed L-100 Hercules, Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules.
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American 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, medevac, 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.
More than 40 variants of the Hercules, including civilian versions marketed as the Lockheed L-100, operate in more than 60 nations. The C-130 entered service with the U.S. in 1956, followed by Australia and many other nations. During its years of service, the Hercules family has participated in numerous military, civilian and humanitarian aid operations.
In 2007, the C-130 became the fifth aircraft[N 1] to mark 50 years of continuous service with its original primary customer, which for the C-130 is the United States Air Force. The C-130 Hercules is the longest continuously produced military aircraft at over 60 years, with the updated Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules currently being produced.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Military transport aircraft
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Lockheed Corporation, Lockheed Martin
First flight: 23 August 1954; 66 years ago
Introduction to service: December 1956
Status: In service
Primary users: United States Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force
United States Coast Guard, Royal Air Force
Produced: 1954–present
Number built: Over 2,500 as of 2015
Unit cost: C-130E: $11.9 million, C-130H $30.1 million
Variants: Lockheed AC-130, Lockheed DC-130, Lockheed EC-130, Lockheed EC-130H Compass Call, Lockheed HC-130, Lockheed Martin KC-130, Lockheed LC-130, Lockheed MC-130, Lockheed RC-130, Lockheed WC-130, Lockheed L-100 Hercules, Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules.
THE BOOK:
This book is soft-cover of 194 pages in 9 ½” x 9 ½”page format.
The cover art shows a Belgian Air Force C-130 flying low over the Portuguese countryside river. It is overall white with a black nose and propeller spinners.The front end is basically like a glass house. There are 21 or 23 windows for optimal visibility all around the pilot and co-pilot, with the ones in front of them equipped with windshield wipers.
The rear cover shows a C-130 parked on an airfield at night.
The book contains 477 color photos of the “Hercules”, shown in flight and on runways. Photos show it in action, walk-around type photos of it having work done, interior shots etc. Some in flight as tankers refueling aircraft.
Air Forces shown flying are: the U.S. Air Force, Royal Air Force, Belgian Air Force, Spanish Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard, Polish Air Force, Austrian Air Force, Royal Norwegian Air Force, “Fat Albert” the Blue Angels aircraft, Portuguese Air Force, Dutch Air Force.
Colors range from overall all white, overall grey, overall olive-drab and camouflage schemes.
A post war C-130, being dismantled for its parts has a large image of a indian chief with feathered headdress on its side.
Types of C-130’s featured are: RAF C-130, EC-130H Compass Call, EC-130J Commando Solo, AC-130W Stinger II, AC-130J Ghostrider, MC-130j Commando II, MC-130H Combat Talon II, HC-130P Combat King, HC-130J Combat King II, WC-130J Weatherbird and the LC-130H/J.
The last page of the book shows the color cover arts are other books in this series: The Jaguar, F-15 Fighting Falcon, Dassault Mirage 2000, Fulcrum, Tornado, Typhoon, Viggen, Hornet, and this book of the C-130 Hercules.
This is one great color photo album of the “Hercules”. It will be of great interest to modelers planning on building a “Hercules” and also to aviation historians alike.
I want to thank Casemate Publishers, the North American distributor of HMH Publications. All HMH titles can be seen on Casemate’s website at:
This book is soft-cover of 194 pages in 9 ½” x 9 ½”page format.
The cover art shows a Belgian Air Force C-130 flying low over the Portuguese countryside river. It is overall white with a black nose and propeller spinners.The front end is basically like a glass house. There are 21 or 23 windows for optimal visibility all around the pilot and co-pilot, with the ones in front of them equipped with windshield wipers.
The rear cover shows a C-130 parked on an airfield at night.
The book contains 477 color photos of the “Hercules”, shown in flight and on runways. Photos show it in action, walk-around type photos of it having work done, interior shots etc. Some in flight as tankers refueling aircraft.
Air Forces shown flying are: the U.S. Air Force, Royal Air Force, Belgian Air Force, Spanish Air Force, U.S. Coast Guard, Polish Air Force, Austrian Air Force, Royal Norwegian Air Force, “Fat Albert” the Blue Angels aircraft, Portuguese Air Force, Dutch Air Force.
Colors range from overall all white, overall grey, overall olive-drab and camouflage schemes.
A post war C-130, being dismantled for its parts has a large image of a indian chief with feathered headdress on its side.
Types of C-130’s featured are: RAF C-130, EC-130H Compass Call, EC-130J Commando Solo, AC-130W Stinger II, AC-130J Ghostrider, MC-130j Commando II, MC-130H Combat Talon II, HC-130P Combat King, HC-130J Combat King II, WC-130J Weatherbird and the LC-130H/J.
The last page of the book shows the color cover arts are other books in this series: The Jaguar, F-15 Fighting Falcon, Dassault Mirage 2000, Fulcrum, Tornado, Typhoon, Viggen, Hornet, and this book of the C-130 Hercules.
This is one great color photo album of the “Hercules”. It will be of great interest to modelers planning on building a “Hercules” and also to aviation historians alike.
I want to thank Casemate Publishers, the North American distributor of HMH Publications. All HMH titles can be seen on Casemate’s website at: