LOCKHEED HERCULES 100 YEARS OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE
PATROLLERS AND AIRLIFTERS RAF CENTENARY CELEBRATION 79example took to the skies on January
10, 1980. Refurbishment was
completed by November 1985.
OPERATIONAL FLYING
Over the last five decades the RAF
C-130 fleet has served extensively
around the world. Highlights have
included the withdrawal of troops
from Aden in 1967, a vital role
in the 1982 Falklands campaign,
delivery of aid to Ethiopian
famine victims in 1985 and the
support of British forces in battle
zones as diverse as Iraq, Bosnia
and Afghanistan.
The arrival of the C.1K tanker
variant in the early 1980s gave the
fleet a new role, providing much
needed ‘sustenance’ to fighters,
bombers and transport aircraft
when the RAF’s larger refuellers
were unavailable.
The need to extend the Hercules’
own range at the start of the
Falklands conflict led to a ‘post-
haste’ programme to install some
airframes with their own inflight-
refuelling probes. Modified aircraft
were designated C.1P and the first
refuelling contact was made with
a Handley Page Victor on May 3,- Less than two weeks later the
type was refuelling operationally
within a combat environment.
NEXT GENERATION ‘HERK’
In 1993 the MoD identified a need
for a Hercules replacement and it
was felt the only substitute for aHercules was the ‘next generation’
Hercules. The C-130J benefits
from new Rolls-Royce AE 2100
D3 turboprops with Dowty
composite scimitar propeller and
digital avionics. Compared to
earlier airframes, the ‘Juliet’ has
40% greater range, 20% higher
maximum speed and 40% shorter
take-off distance.
An order for ten standard C-130Js
and 15 of the longer C-130J-30s
was placed in December 1994, with
the first delivery to an operational
squadron on November 21, 1999.
Designated Hercules C.4 in
service, the C-130J-30 is just a little
shorter than the C.3, while the
Hercules C.5 has the same fuselage
length as the C.1. Inflight-refuelling
probes are installed as standard,
while the type’s improved range
enables most sorties to be flown
without the underwing fuel tanks
often seen on older variants.
The last of the C-130K variants
were retired by the RAF in October
2013, and today around 15
C-130Js remain operational with 47
Squadron at RAF Brize Norton, as
well as the OCU (24 Squadron) and
Heavy Aircraft Test & Evaluation
Squadron (206 Squadron).
The Airbus A400M will ultimately
replace the C-130 in RAF service,
but the 2015 Strategic Defence and
Security Review announced that
14 Hercules C.4s will remain active
until 2030.Above
Hercules C.1 XV304
lands after a sortie
in 1973. The aircraft
survived until 2010
when it was written
off following a
wheels-up landing at
RAF Brize Norton.
NEIL HARRISLeft
Members of Number
2 Force Protection
Wing/34 Squadron
RAF Regiment, and an
RAF C-130J Hercules,
taking part in
Exercise Lions Dawn.
CROWN COPYRIGHTBelow
The RAF Museum’s
Hercules C.3 XV202
is displayed at RAF
Cosford. It was
delivered as a C.1 in
1967 but converted
to C.3 standard in
September 1984.
It retired from 47
Squadron in 2011 and
was delivered to the
RAF Museum by air on
August 11 that year.
STEVE BRIDGEWATER