You Don’t See This Every Day!
Back in 1963, a Lockheed KC-130F Hercules tanker conducted a series of test landings and takeoffs from the deck of the USS Forrestal (CVA-59). The crew made 29 touch-and-go landings, 21 full-stop landings (Look Ma- No Hook!), and 21 unassisted takeoffs (deck-run takeoffs without catapult assist) while weighing from 85,000 pounds all the way up to 121,000 pounds.
The only modifications made to the airlifter were to the nose landing gear bay, removal of the underwing refueling pods, and beefed-up anti-lock brakes. Even though operating Herks from carrier decks proved to be impractical and somewhat dangerous, the fact that the mighty Herk could even accomplish such a feat (multiple times) is a testament to the ruggedness of the C-130.
The Incredible Versatile Herk
Herks have flown into hurricanes and typhoons to gather storm data, controlled all manner of aerial drones, flown airborne early warning and control, electronic eavesdropping, and jamming missions, and inserted and supported personnel behind borders and enemy lines by flying we-were-never-there, nap-of-the-earth ingress and egress routes.
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C-130s do aerial firefighting, recover spy satellites and their “take”- there are even Hercules tankers that can be converted to gunships on the spot and back again after mission completion. C-130s have been flying for the United States Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard for more than 60 years and they’re still going strong.
