The “Heroic” Hercules Military Aircraft

By Avi Heiligman

In addition to fighters and bombers, air forces across the globe operate numerous types of other aircraft. A military transport aircraft, sometimes called an airlifter, is designed to move large groups of service members as well as cargo and support ongoing operations. They could be configured to perform other tasks. In the case of the C-130 Hercules, that includes a wide array of missions. Over 40 variants of the Hercules have been produced and are used by air forces and other units worldwide. The capabilities and long history have made the C-130 Hercules an indispensable asset for close to 70 years.

Transports from World War II and the Korean War had proven their worth in battle but were far from adequate in terms of the number of troops and cargo they could carry. The air force wanted a plane that could carry at least 92 passengers and had a longer range. Lockheed submitted its design for the C-130, and it made its first flight in 1954. It was named the Hercules, and its specifications were above and beyond anything the air force had ever seen. A crew of five mans the four-bladed propeller turboprop aircraft that has a wingspan of 132 feet and a payload capacity of 42,000 pounds. There is enough room on board for 92 passengers, 64 fully equipped airborne troops, or 74 litter patients with a medical team. It could carry several pallets of cargo, at least two Humvees, or armored personnel carriers.

A C-130 can reach speeds of 336 MPH, has a range of over 2,000 miles, and when empty has a ceiling of 33,000 feet. It holds the record for the largest and heaviest plane to take off and land from an aircraft carrier, achieving the record in 1963. A KC-130F made 21 takeoffs and landings from the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) flown by Lt. James Flatley III and his copilot, Lt. Cmdr. W.W. Stovall.

Over the years, the C-130 had been given significant upgrades such as a modern avionics system with weather and navigational radar. In addition to its original capabilities of troop, cargo and medavac operations, the Hercules can be designed as a gunship (AC-130), aerial refueling tanker (KC-130), and conduct missions such as intelligence gathering, search and rescue, maritime patrol, weather reconnaissance, surveillance, and aerial firefighting. Over 2,500 of different variants have been produced, and it has seen action across the globe in both wartime and civilian uses.

While most C-130 planes are not armed, the AC-130 Spectre gunship plays a very different role. During the Vietnam War, a plane for close air support was needed to replace aging gunships, and the specifications included longer range and capacity for large amounts of weapons. A C-130 was modified to include night vision technology, a fire-control computer, and an array of miniguns, cannons and other weapons. AC-130 gunships began arriving in combat zones in 1967, and a year later, a squadron of the planes was formed. They were active for the duration of the war and destroyed thousands of enemy vehicles while providing vital close air support for troops on the ground.

Operation Urgent Fury took place in 1983. In response to the political unrest in the island nation, the U.S. sent a force of 7,300 troops at the request of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and to rescue 600 medical students stranded by the fighting. A group of Navy SEALs was sent to rescue Governor General Paul Scoon, but during the mission, one of their helicopters had to be abandoned after receiving heavy damage. Still, they proceeded into the mansion and secured Scoon and his family. Soon, their only radio ran out of power, and they had to use the landline inside the house to call in fire support on the advancing enemy. That fire support came from an AC-130 gunship way above in the night sky. AC-130 Spectre planes also provided air support at the Point Salinas Airfield, and the crew of one plane earned medals for the mission.

AC-130 gunships were very active during the War in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Working with Special Forces on the ground, the gunships were used to direct fire on known Taliban hotspots. They flew over a prison riot in November 2001 at a prison-fort in Northern Afghanistan and were called upon to fire when things were really getting out of hand. In September 2019, the crew of an AC130J Ghostrider, call sign Shadow 71, were credited with saving the lives of 88 Special Forces members. They were on scene for two hours firing non-stop at enemy combatants in Afghanistan. Nine crewmembers received medals for their actions, including five who were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Air Forces across the globe operate C-130 planes, including the Israeli Air Force. The IAF have three different ver - sions of the plane, including the KC-130 for aerial refueling, the C-130 J for tactical airlift, and C-130E/H for transport and search and rescue. The first models were delivered to Israel in the 1970s and took part in the 1976 rescue of hostages at Entebbe Airport in Uganda. An Air France airliner had been hijacked by Palestinian terrorists, and 106 hostages were being held at the Entebbe Airport. Seyeret Matkal commandos were led by Yoni Netanyahu, who became the only Israeli military casualty during the raid.

At midnight on July 4, 1976, the lead Hercules C-130 transport plane landed at Entebbe Airport with 29 soldiers on board. There were three other C-130 planes that participated in the successful rescue. The flight was long from Israel, and the planes had to stop in Kenya for refueling on their way back to Israel.

Currently, the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules is in production with over 500 planes already in service. The C-130 is the longest continuously produced military plane in the world, and there are no real plans to retire it from service anytime soon. For close to 70 years, the C-130 has provided a valuable service to air forces globally and is continually receiving upgrades to be a go-to multi-purpose aircraft for years to come.

Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com.