On January 17, the US General Assembly of Georgia passed a resolution commemorating the 70th anniversary of the first flight of the Lockheed Martin C-130 “Super Hercules”. The resolution designates 2024 as the “Year of the Super Hercules” to honor the C-130’s contributions to Georgia’s aerospace sector.

For the past seven decades, the Marietta facility in Georgia has been the only place to build Hercules aircraft, earning it the title of “Georgia’s aerospace ambassador to the world,” as described by Rod McLean, general factory manager. 

The first flight of the Lockheed YC-130 Hercules prototype took place on August 23, 1954 and it has been in continuous production since then. McLean also noted that the C-130 is the longest running military aircraft production program in history.  

Expressing gratitude for the support of the Gold Dome (Georgia State Capitol), McLean emphasized that this support helps Georgia maintain its leadership position in aerospace research, development and manufacturing pillar. 

The C-130 has been Georgia’s aerospace representative globally, with more than 2,700 aircraft delivered to more than 70 customers and operators worldwide. Looking ahead, McLean predicts Lockheed will continue to produce the C-130 into the next decade, emphasizing the remarkable achievements of more than 70 years of production. 

The Marietta plant’s steady production of C-130s is possible thanks to a strong partnership with local authorities and the dedicated efforts of its employees.

McLean also emphasized the growing demand for the C-130, with emerging customers such as Indonesia and the Philippines, playing a key role in the company’s success and growth in the aerospace industry. 

The senators mentioned that C-130J production sustains the livelihoods of many locals, providing employment opportunities in a variety of fields, including advanced manufacturing, engineering, artificial intelligence data creation, analysis, information technology, finance and operations.

Tested through time

The C-130 Hercules is a large military transport aircraft and often considered a symbol of military technology made by American manufacturer Lockheed Martin, it is an important aircraft in the military aviation industry. 

The C-130 was originally designed for troop and cargo transport as well as medical evacuation, but the Hercules was later developed into a multi-role vehicle with a variety of roles. Over the years, Hercules has continuously adapted to many different roles, becoming a multi-purpose transport aircraft that can participate in many operations.

The latest version, the C-130J Super Hercules was introduced in 1999, hailed as “the most advanced Hercules ever built.” And more than 520 C-130Js have been produced at the Marietta plant.

In 2018, the US Air Force emphasized the importance of the aircraft, affirming the C-130’s contributions to tactical air transport, resupply in Antarctica, and aerial medical evacuation. , disaster relief, search and rescue, firefighting and special operations support. 

History of the C-130

The origin of this type of aircraft dates back to the Korean War, when there was a need for a military aircraft capable of transporting soldiers over large distances, under the conditions of field airstrips. Lockheed Aircraft Corporation won the bidding which led to the start of the C-130 program.

Transferred to the US military in the early months of 1956, the first C-130 squadrons assumed a core role in many different airlift units across the US, before expanding their range of operations to Europe and globally. 

Participating in their first combat mission over Europe in late 1956, C-130s experienced their first combat loss in 1958, when a C-130A-II was shot down out of the sky. Armenia on a reconnaissance mission. 

The C-130 is also the heaviest aircraft that can take off and land from an aircraft carrier. This achievement occurred in October 1963 during a test designed to evaluate the C-130’s viability as a carrier transport aircraft. 

In the following years, the C-130A began serving the USAF in Vietnam, performing a variety of missions, including transporting cargo, dropping leaflets, and transporting weapons along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

In addition to its reputation as a military machine, the C-130 also shows its diverse roles. During the 1960s, the C-130 was one of three legendary Lockheed aircraft operated by the CIA, along with the U-2 and A-12 (SR-71) aircraft tasked with intelligence gathering.

In 1969, a C-130E operated by the CIA carried out a secret drop of sensor pallets near China’s Lop Nur Nuclear Weapons Testing Base to gather vital intelligence. about this country’s nuclear capabilities.

In another surprising and unique role, the EC-130E Commando Solo conducted radio and television transmissions to Iraq at night. This tactic was deployed as part of a psychological warfare campaign, setting the stage for the 1991 Gulf War and the 2003 Iraq War. 

In addition, the C-130 Hercules further strengthened its role when it participated in a daring raid in Entebbe, Uganda in 1976. During this campaign, Israeli commandos carried out a daring mission. was to rescue 103 passengers from a plane hijacked by Palestinian and German terrorist groups at Entebbe Airport in Uganda. This arduous journey was supported by four Hercules aircraft of the Israeli Air Force (IAF). 

During the 1982 Falklands War, C-130 aircraft operated by the Argentine Air Force participated in dangerous nighttime resupply missions, serving as essential transport aircraft in support of the forces. Argentine garrison stationed on the Falkland Islands.

In addition to its military achievements, the C-130 Hercules has proven indispensable to NASA, as evidenced by its recent mission. On January 9, 2024, NASA’s C-130 Hercules provided airlift support for a successful, crewed commercial airdrop test at the U.S. Army’s Yuma Test Range in Arizona. This emphasizes the adaptability and importance of the C-130 Hercules in a variety of military and civilian missions.