Our Aircrafts History

Lockheed C-130H “Hercules” (S/N 88-4401; MSN #382-5154) ~ The Hercules was originally designed as a troop, medevac and/or cargo transport. In time, they became more versatile: gunship, search & rescue, scientific research support, weather recon, aerial refueling, maritime patrol and aerial firefighting. 

Here is the history of this C-130:

  • January 1989 – Delivered to the United States Air Force (USAF) 
  • August 1989 – Assigned with the USAF 95th Tactical Airlift Squadron “Flying Badgers” (TAS)
  • February 1992 – with the USAF 95th AS; USAF Reserve’s 440th Airlift Wing (ALW) General Mitchell International Airport–Air Reserve Station, Wisconsin
  • 1993 – participated in the Balkan region as part of Operation Provide Promise
  • September 1994/March 1995 – Participated in Haiti region as part of Operation Uphold Democracy
  • 1996 – participated in Ecuador/Peru region as part of Operation Safe Border
  • 1999 -participated in Kosovo region as part of Operation Shining Hope
  • June 2001 – participated in Quito Ecuador as part of the Peacekeeping Operations
  • Started in 2006/completed in October 2007 -440th ALW moved to Pope AFB at Fort Bragg, North Carolina
  • June 2014 – USAF 758th Airlift Squadron, as part of the 911th Operations Group in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • June 2016 – with the 440th AS being deactivated the following September, the last C-130’s left the 440th ALW
  • December 2019 USAF/Ohio Air National Guard (ANG) 179th ALW; 164th AS as “Spirit of Ontario”  at Mansfield Lahm ANGB, Ohio
  • July 2022 – “Spirit of Mansfield” departs Mansfield Lahm ANGB for de-militarization, in preparation for MAPS Air Museum
  • January 7, 2023 ~ arrives at MAPS Air Museum for museum static display 

Specifications/Performance (C-130H)

  • Crew: 2 pilots, CSO/navigator, flight engineer & loadmaster (crew, depending on variants)
  • Role: Original Transport; more than 12 variants
  • Nation of Origin: United States
  • Manufacturer: Lockheed Corporation/Lockheed Martin
  • First Flight: August 23, 1954
  • Entered Service: December 1956
  • Status in the United States Military: In service
  • Produced: 1954-present
  • Number Built: 2,500 as of 2015
  • Unit Cost: $75.5 Million for C-130J Super Hercules (2020)
  • Engine: 4 x Allison T56-A-15 turboprop engines, 4,590 shp (3,420 kW) each
  • Length: 97 ft 9 in
  • Height: 38 ft 3 in
  • Empty Weight: 75,800 lb
  • Max Weight: 155,000 lb
  • Cruise Speed: 336 mph
  • Max Speed: 370 mph at 20,000 ft
  • Range: 2,360 mi
  • Service Ceiling: 33,000 ft empty; 23,000 ft with 42,000 lb payload

Capacity (42,000 lbs)

  • 92 passengers or
  • 62 airborne troops or 
  • 74 litter patients with 5 medical crew  or
  • 6 pallets or
  • 2-3 Humvees or
  • 2 M113 armored personnel carriers or
  • 1 CAESAR self-propelled howitzer

Museum display notes: TBD

Armaments, notable (AC-130J Ghostrider)

  • 1 x 30mm ATK GAU-23A autocannon
  • 1 x 105mm M102 Howitzer
  • ‘Gunslinger’ weapons system: AGM-176 Griffin missiles and/or GBU-44/B Viper Strike munitions
  • Wing mounted, AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, GBU-39 or 53 Small Diameter Bombs

Designed to replace:  Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars, Douglas C-47 Skytrains and Curtiss C-46 Commandoes

Intended replacement: No current replacement planned; though multiple countries are planning for replacements, including, but not limited to: FVL Program: JML-Ultra, Airbus A400M Atlas and the Embraer C-390 Millennium