In the News · Lockheed Martin C-130J Model Dedicated at Robins, Partnership Soars DVIDS // Robins AFB Public Affairs // June 29, 2016 George Shultz, Air Mobility and Maritime Missions vice president and Lockheed Martin general manager, and Mike Sorial, C-130 Hercules Division chief at Robins, officially dedicate and display C-130J model and plaque. Lockheed delivers two C-130Js to U.S. Air Force UPI // Geoff Ziezulewicz // June 15, 2016 Lockheed Martin delivered two new C-130J Super Hercules aircraft to the U.S. Air Force last week, the company announced Wednesday. Lockheed Notches Another C-130 Order with $61.3M Coast Guard Contract Washington Business Journal // James Bach // April 19, 2016 The U.S. Coast Guard awarded Bethesda-based Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT) a $61.3 million contract for an extended-range, search-and-recovery variant of the company’s signature C-130 military transport craft.

C-130J Fleet Additions Sought by Israel Flight Global // Arie Egozi // April 19, 2016 Israel is close to starting negotiations linked to a planned deal to boost its fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical transports, sources in the nation have indicated. Three of the airlifters – named "Samson" in Israeli service – are already in operational use at Nevatim air base. Another two will arrive this year under with a further example to follow later. The air force previously outlined a requirement to introduce additional examples on top of those six. Yokota Aids Japan with Earthquake Relief AF.mil // 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs // April 18, 2016 The 374th Airlift Wing sent two C-130 Hercules aircraft and aircrew to the Kyushu region April 18, supporting the government of Japan in their relief efforts for the series of earthquakes that took place in Kumamoto Prefecture and surrounding areas. Mobility Airmen Support Canadian Exercise in High Arctic AF.mil // Tech. Sgt.

Catharine Schmidt, New York National Guard // April 17, 2016 Fifty Airmen from the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing and two ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules are in the High Arctic supporting the Canadian Armed Forces’ annual Operation Nunalivut exercise in Canada's Nunavut territory. First C-130T Now Formally Transferred to Air Force Update Philippines // April 12, 2016 The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Tuesday formally accepted into service one of the two Lockheed C-130T “Hercules” cargo aircraft acquired from the US through the Excess Defense Articles Program. Officially, there are now four C-130 aircraft in the Philippine Air Force (PAF) inventory. Canada Aviation and Space Museum to Receive C-130 E Hercules Ottawa Citizen // David Puliese // April 1, 2016 The Department of National Defence will donate the last CC-130 E Hercules in service to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa.

Lockheed Martin Nabs $5.3B Deal for C-130Js Defense News // Lara Seligman // Jan. 4, 2016 Lockheed Martin has nabbed a multiyear contract worth $5.3 billion to deliver 78 C-130J Super Hercules aircraft to the US armed forces. Just before the New Year, the Pentagon announced the award of more than $1 billion for the first 32 aircraft of the second multiyear contract, according to a Dec. 31 company statement. 2,500th C-130 Lands at Moody AF.mil // Senior Airman Ceaira Tinsley, 23rd Wing Public Affairs // Dec. 14, 2015 Fifty-nine years after the first C-130 Hercules was delivered to the Air Force, the 2,500th Lockheed Martin Corp. manufactured C-130 joined the 71st Rescue Squadron's fleet and legacy here Dec. 11. The Air Force is the world's largest Hercules operator and Moody Air Force Base is home to its newest HC-130J Combat King II.

Why Lockheed Martin's C-130 Transport Craft is the Energizer Bunny of the Industry The Business Journal // James Bach // Nov. 23. 2015 Lockheed Martin Corp.’s C-130 line of transport craft is more than 60 years old and is coming up on its 2,500th delivery. It is significant for an aerospace and defense industry dogged by production delays and cost overruns that a plane can be this successful for so long. And it’s been a boon to the Bethesda-based defense giant for some time even as all the conversation focuses on Lockheed’s signature product, the F-35 Lightning II. Lockheed Wins $969 Mln Contract for 17 C-130J Aircraft Reuters // Idrees Ali // Nov. 10, 2015 Nov 10 Lockheed Martin Corp has been awarded a contract worth nearly $969 million to build 17 C-130J military transport aircraft, the Pentagon said on Tuesday. The work is expected to be completed by April 2020, the Department of Defense said in its daily digest of major contract awards.

DUBAI: Lockheed Upbeat on UAE, Saudi C-130J Sales Flight Global // Greg Waldron // Nov. 9, 2015 Lockheed Martin is staying upbeat about the potential for further C-130J sales in the region, and is pleased with progress on the type’s civilian variant, the LM-100J. Timothy German, international business development manager for the Middle East, says that the company is still in communication with Saudi Arabia about a deal for up to 23 C-130Js, in addition to its existing order for two KC-130J tankers. USAF, Lockheed Reach Verbal Deal on C-130 Multiyear Sale Defense News // Lara Seligman // Oct. 21, 2015 The US Air Force and Lockheed Martin have reached a verbal agreement on a five-year contract for the aerospace company’s C-130J transport plane, according to the company. Haze Assistance to Indonesia Deployed TodayOnline.com // Oct.

10, 2015 After a delay in the haze assistance yesterday, a Chinook helicopter and 34 Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel were deployed at around 12.30pm today (Oct 10) to help fight the ongoing forest fires in Sumatra, Indonesia, said the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) in a media statement. They were accompanied by a six-man Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and a 5,000-litre heli-bucket. Two RSAF C-130 aircraft were also deployed to transport the SAF and SCDF personnel and their equipment. Air Force Preparing for Beary Important Cargo ABC News Australia // Stephanie Anderson // Oct. 2, 2015 The Royal Australian Air Force is preparing to fly a two-year-old polar bear from a Queensland animal theme park to a bear habitat in Canada. Henry, the second polar bear to be born in Australia, will be flown from Sea World to Sydney tomorrow – the first step in his journey to the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat in Ontario.

Henry will travel on a RAAF C-130J Hercules aircraft, piloted by Flight Lieutenant Conan Brett. C-130J Super Hercules has a Vital Role at Dyess Abilene Reporter News // Brian Bethel // Oct. 2, 2015 The C-130J, nicknamed the Super Hercules, has been a fixture at Dyess Air Force Base since 2010. The largest version of the C-130 series, the aircraft replaced the C-130H, which had been based at Dyess since the 1970s. DSEi: Lockheed Martin Pitches SC-130J Conversion to UK Flight Globe // Craig Hoyle // Sept. 15, 2015 Lockheed Martin is proposing to adapt part of the Royal Air Force’s in-service fleet of C-130J tactical transports to meet a potential UK requirement for a maritime patrol or multi-mission aircraft capability. It's Been 61 Years Since the US Military's Most Versatile Plane had its First Flight Business Insider Australia // Jeremy Bender // Aug.

23, 2015 The endlessly flexible Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an absolutely astounding aircraft that can adapt to any challenge thrown its way. Designed against the backdrop of the Korean War, the C-130 flew its first flight 61 years ago today on August 23, 1954. Despite its age, the plane’s airframe continues to be adapted and upgraded for novel uses across the full spectrum of the US military. From humanitarian rescue to paratrooper airdrops to gunship-type functions, the C-130 airframe is a marvel of ingenuity and versatility. TAAC- Air Maintainers Instruct Afghan Air Force on C-130H Maintenance 438th Air Expeditionary Wing // Sgt. Edith Sakura // July 28, 2015 Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan – Coalition maintainers at the Train, Advise, Assist Command – Air (TAAC-Air) in Kabul provide hands-on training to Afghan Air Force personnel in repairing and operating the Afghan C-130H Hercules aircraft. AF Special Operations Command Receives First AC-130J U.S. Air Force // Staff Sgt.

Marleah Robertson // July 31, 2015 The first AC-130J Ghostrider landed here July 29, making it Air Force Special Operations Command’s first AC-130J. After completing the initial developmental test and evaluation by the 413th Flight Test Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, the aircraft will be flown by the 1st Special Operations Group Detachment 2 and maintained by the 1st Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron during its initial operational tests and evaluations at Hurlburt Field. ArkansasOnline.com // Senior Airman Stephanie Serrano // May 10, 2015 A C-130 aircrew delivered precision airdrops, helping Army soldiers sharpen their drop-zone security skills. The most recent iteration of Green Flag Little Rock used a combat airlift to support the Army’s Pathfinder course. US and UK Mobility Airmen Put the 'Air' in Airborne During Multinational Exercise DVIDSHub.net // May 1, 2015 U.S.

Air Force and British Royal Air Force Mobility Airmen and 25 aircraft conducted the largest multinational Combined Joint Operational Access Exercise over the last 20 years alongside U.S. Army and British soldiers here April 10 through April 17. Blue Angels 'Fat Albert Airlines' Delivers Exciting Ride KSLA.com // Jeff Ferreell // May 1, 2015 The Blue Angels will cap off both days of the Defenders of Liberty Air Show this weekend at Barksdale Air Force Base. But before those six F/A 18 Hornet jet fighters begin their precision maneuvers, there's an opening act. It's a Lockheed Martin C-130T Hercules, nicknamed "Fat Albert." US Air Force Grants Lockheed Martin $80 Million C-130 Contract Aviation Today // Juliet Van Wagenen // April 27, 2015 The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract valued at more than $80 million for C-130 aircrew and maintenance training.

IAF's C-130 Leaves for Nepal with NDRF Team Business Standard // April 25, 2015 An IAF C-130J Super Hercules aircraft left for Nepal on Saturday with a team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and relief material from Hindon airbase after the Himalayan country was hit by a major earthquake. Hercules to Fly Over Narooma on Anzac Day Narooma News // April 22, 2015 In a coup for the Far South Coast, the local “Nashos” have organised an official flyover by a C130 Hercules on Anzac Day. The Eurobodalla and Far South Coast National Servicemen’s Association of Australia received confirmation from the Directorate of Centenary Events Air Force, that a C130 Hercules aircraft will fly over the marching and assembly sites in eight South Coast townships on Anzac Day. First Female Blue Angels Pilot To Perform At OCMD Air Show CBS Baltimore // April 21, 2015 Maryland native and the first female pilot to ever fly with the U.S.

Navy Blue Angels will be performing for hometown fans at the Ocean City Air Show in June. Marine Capt. Katie Higgins, of Severna Park, will fly C-130 ‘Fat Albert’ for spectators June 13 and June 14. Now and Then The Marietta Daily Journal // Philip Clements // April 8, 2015 Gov. Nathan Deal helped recreate history to celebrate an aeronautics milestone Tuesday as he christened an MC-130J Commando 2 aircraft with a bottle of Chattahoochee River water, just as Gov. Marvin Griffin did in 1955. Marietta Mayor Steve Tumlin, Kennesaw Mayor Mark Mathews and Commissioner JoAnn Birrell were among those who turned out for the 60th anniversary of the first flight of the first C-130 Hercules built at Lockheed Martin’s Marietta plant as the 2,500th C-130 sits on the production line.

Deal to Take Swing at C-130, History MDJOnline.com // March 31, 2015 Governor Nathan Deal will be on hand at Lockheed early next month to echo the role played by one of his predecessors, the late Marvin Griffin, as the Lockheed plant celebrates the 60th anniversary of the rollout of the plant’s first C-130 Hercules. The first two “Herks” were built by Lockheed in California, but all of the nearly 2,500 built since then have been assembled at the plant here in Marietta, making the C-130 the longest continuously produced military aircraft in history. C-130 Provide Unique Support for Marines Pacom.mil // Lance Cpl. Carlos Cruz Jr. // March 30, 2015 With the Marine Corps’ sudden deployments and need of support, the Lockheed KC-130J Hercules aircraft is an essential part of accomplishing missions. Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadrons, like VMGR-152, are in charge of operating the Marine Corps’ C-130 aircraft.

RNZAF Hails 50th Birthday of Hercules Waypoint AirMed & Rescue // March 30, 2015 NZ7001, a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Hercules, turned 50 this March, as it was delivering aid in the Pacific. The cargo plane was the first of five C-130s that arrived at RNZAF Base Auckland in Whenuapai in 1965. Since then, the C-130 has been at the forefront of many New Zealand Defence Force operations, missions and exercises. Kiwi Hercs Celebrate 50 Years in Service AustralianAviation.com.au // March 27, 2015 The first C-130H Hercules delivered to the Royal New Zealand Air Force has celebrated its 50th birthday while on operations supporting the Vanuatu cyclone recovery effort. NZ7001 was the first of five C-130Hs delivered the RNZAF at Whenuapai on March 24 1965.

On its 50th birthday, the aircraft was tasked to fly from Suva to Port Vila with a Fijian aid team before returning to Whenuapai that evening. To commemorate the milestone NZ7001 has been painted with a special 50th anniversary tail art scheme which it will wear for a year. SAF Mobilises Helicopters to Put Out Forest Fires in Chiang Mai TodayOnline.com // March 18, 2015 The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has mobilised helicopters to Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand to help put out forest fires raging in the area, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen. The SAF’s C-130 aircraft will deliver a 5000L water bucket from the Singapore Civil Defence Force, following which two SAF CH-47 Chinooks will be deployed “to conduct aerial fire-fighting and ferry operations”, said Dr Ng. United States Africa Command // Nov.

19, 2014 Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Contingency Response Group transferred control of a humanitarian cargo hub to replacement forces here today, successfully completing their support of an Ebola-response mission that has processed more than 750 tons of relief supplies for airlift into Liberia. VIDEO: Flying High Inside Fat Albert 10News San Diego // Oct. 4, 2014 The C-130 plane known as Fat Albert weighs 100,000 pounds, but pilots can stop it in about 1,000 feet.10News anchor Itica Milanes got to ride inside the cargo plane that serves as a source of support for the Navy's Blue Angels. DoD Supports Firefighting Efforts in California U.S. Department of Defense // Sept. 22, 2014 Two Department of Defense C-130 aircraft equipped with U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems and under the command and control of U.S. Northern Command will be assisting with wildfire suppression efforts in California and the Northwest Geographic Area at the request of the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho.

After 60 Years, C-130 Still a 'Magnificent Machine' Fox News // Aug. 19, 2014 Tim Nguyen regards the C-130 “Hercules” as a “good friend.” The 60-year-old military aircraft has been the focus of his professional career, and quite possibly saved his life. During the 1975 Fall of Saigon, Nguyen escaped on the last C-130 out of Vietnam. Nguyen came to the U.S. as a refugee. He earned an engineering degree and Lockheed Martin hired him in 1983. Bagram C-130J Loadmasters Use New System for Airdrops AF.mil // Aug. 5, 2014 A C-130J Super Hercules aircraft from the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron completed an airdrop for the Afghan National Army using the new Wireless Gate Release System Aug. 1, 2014 at Bagram Airfield Afghanistan. While still in the testing phase in the U.S., the WGRS, is the primary method crews use in Afghanistan.

Eagle Airlifters Take to the Alaskan Skies DVIDS // Aug. 5, 2014 Four C-130 Hercules' and more than 70 personnel assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base Japan arrived at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, this week to undergo joint-aerial training with paratroopers from the 725th Brigade Support Battalion. C-130J Hercules Makes Tricky Night Landing in Nepal NDTV // Aug. 4, 2014 The Indian Air Force deployed its C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft to transport a team of geologists and disaster management officials to Nepal for clearing the landslide in a river there which is threatening to cause flood in Bihar. C-130 Airlifter: the Most Successful Military Aircraft Ever Forbes // Aug.

4, 2014 The latest version of the plane is called the C-130J Super Hercules, and if you measure success in the military aircraft business by how many users a plane has, how many missions it performs, or how long it has been in continuous production, then Hercules is hands down the most successful military aircraft ever. Lockheed Gets First Customer for Commercial C-130J Defense News // July 16, 2014 ASL Aviation Group has become the first customer for Lockheed Martin’s LM-100J, the new civil version of its popular C-130J military cargo transport, in a move that could potentially create return for military customers down the line. Look Ma, No Hook: How A C-130 Hercules Managed to Land on an Aircraft Carrier The Aviationist // July 16, 2014 With the successful test, which took place in moderately rough seas in the North Atlantic 500 miles off the coast of Boston, the Hercules became the largest and heaviest aircraft to ever land on an aircraft carrier, a record that stands to this day.

C-130 Training Takes Flight Little Rock Air Force Base // June 27, 2014 The 314th Airlift Wing, Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., is the nation's tactical airlift "Center of Excellence" and trains C-130 aircrew members from the Department of Defense, Coast Guard, and 47 allied nations. Wingin' It: C-130 Team Installs Center Wing Box Robins Air Force Base // June 20, 2014 A C-130U model gunship received a new center wing box Tuesday, representing another successful installment for the program and the 560th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. C-130Js Record a First with Landing at Latvian Base Air Force Times // June 19, 2014 On Tuesday, three Air Force C-130Js assigned to the 37th Airlift Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, became the first U.S. aircraft to use a runway at the newly renovated Lielvarde Air Base, Latvia.

Video Shows C-130s Flying at Very Low Altitude Through the Valleys During Red Flag Alaska The Aviationist // June 1, 2014 This video shows a C-130H from the U.S. Air Force’s 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota airbase Japan while conducting training operations during Red Flag Alaska 13-1. You can also spot another Hercules leading the formation through the valleys. Another New C-130J for Little Rock Air Force Magazine // May 20, 2014 Lt. Gen. Brooks Bash, Air Mobility Command’s vice commander, ferried the C-130J from the company’s assembly facility in Marietta, Ga., to Little Rock on May 15 Video: Blue Angels' C-130 Workhorse ‘Fat Albert’ Takes High-Performing RI Guardsmen on Thrilling Ride Providence Journal // May 16, 2014 “We’re going to max perform this airplane,” promised one of the C-130’s Marine pilots, Capt. Dusty Cook.

'SkiBird' Flies South, Visits Andrews DVIDS // May 8, 2014 A visit to Joint Base Andrews May 8 by the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing provided a rare opportunity to get an inside view of the Guard’s polar mission and their signature ski-equipped Air Force LC-130H Hercules “SkiBird” aircraft. Multi Mission Operator Skies Magazine // May 7, 2014 The Coulson Group may have started as a logging contractor in British Columbia, but it has diversified. Today, Coulson’s customized firefighting Lockheed C-130Q Hercules — also known as Tanker 131 — is on aerial firefighting duty for the United States Forest Service. 10 Interesting Facts about the C-130J Super Hercules MilitarySpot.com // April 15, 2014 Perhaps one of the most familiar series' of airplanes in aviation history, the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules and her predecessors have played diverse roles in the success of military, humanitarian, and special operations.

Stunning, Rare, Air-to-Air Image of the First Israeli Air Force C-130J in Formation The Aviationist // April 9, 2014 The first Israeli Air Force C-130J Super Hercules (dubbed “Samson”) arrived at Nevatim air base. But on its way to its new airbase, it was welcomed by other IAF support aircraft for a fantastic and unusual shot. 403rd Wing Surges C-130s in Major Exercise AF.mil // April 7, 2014 Sixteen aircraft from the 403rd Wing took to the skies over the Mississippi Gulf Coast region April 5 in Operation Surge Capacity, a large-ship formation training exercise. California Air National Guard Conducts Rescue off Coast of Mexico AF.mil // April 3, 2014 A team of Air National Guardsmen from the Bay Area's 129th Rescue Wing departed Moffett Federal Airfield this afternoon to conduct a complex, overwater rescue mission to save the life of an American infant on a vessel approximately 900 nautical miles off the coast of Mexico.

C-130 Crew Flies Aircraft’s Last Mission DVIDS // March 28, 2014 An Airman with the 303rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron (ERQS) performs pre-flight procedures inside an HC-130 P/N King before takeoff on Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, March 28, 2014. US Airmen Arrive for FIDAE, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges in Chile DVIDS // March 24, 2014 The exchanges, conducted regularly throughout the year, involve U.S. Airmen sharing best practices and procedures to build partnerships and promote interoperability with partner-nations throughout South America, Central America and the Caribbean. VMGR-234 ‘Rangers’ First to Begin Reserve Transition to KC-130J Aircraft Marines.mil // March 18, 2014 "The KC-130J ‘Super Hercules’ boasts a more advanced avionics set and has approximately thirty percent more power,” said Lt. Col. Patrick F. Tiernan, VMGR-234 commanding officer.

"In addition to being newer and more reliable, the aircraft boosts efficiency by reducing the number of personnel needed to operate in flight." Fat Albert Integral Part of Blue Angels Show Imperial Valley Press // March 15, 2014 Serving primarily as the team’s work horse, the large, blue and yellow Lockheed C-130 Hercules, affectionately known as Fat Albert, has been part of the Blue Angels team since 1970, said Staff Sgt. Christian Villalobos, who served as navigator aboard a special Fat Albert flight for media and educators Friday afternoon. C-130 Fat Albert Flies Over the Silent Drill Platoon Navy.mil // March 4, 2014 The C-130 Hercules known as Fat Albert, assigned to the U.S. Navy flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels, flies over the silent drill platoon during flight practice at Marine Corps Air Station. The Dump Truck of Airplanes Smithsonian Air & Space // Feb. 27, 2014 Winter got you down? Tired of the gray, slushy snow? Try living at NEEM Camp, a remote research facility consisting of two tents and a hut in northwest Greenland.

To get there, scientists must rely on the members of the 109th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard. Amazing Images Captured of Melbourne Skyline as Hercules C-130J Cruised through Surrounding Skies Herald Sun // Feb. 8, 2014 The enormous metal military bird was out to promote the Centenary of Military Aviation at Point Cook on March 1 and 2. New AC-130J Completes First Test Flight Eglin AFB on AF.mil // Feb. 7, 2014 After more than a year of modification maintenance, the newly created AC-130J Ghostrider took to the skies for the first time as a gunship here Jan. 31. Lockheed Launches Civil Version of C-130J Military Transport Plane DVIDS // Feb. 3, 2014 Lockheed Martin Corp on Monday launched the civil variant of its C-130J Super Hercules military transport plane, the LM-100J, saying it expected to sell about 75 of the planes to mining and energy companies, and other commercial and government customers in coming years.

Air to Ground: A Father and Son Rare Moment DVIDS // Feb. 3, 2014 What makes the basic airdrop different is that Chuck Barth will be controlling the drop that his son will be releasing. They have never had the opportunity to work together until Northern Strike at Grayling Air and Gunner Range, Alpena, Mich. Fat Albert Turns Heads in Yuma DVIDS // Feb. 3, 2014 Heads turned when the bright blue and yellow “Fat Albert” made its appearance here; flying a little lower than they were used to seeing. Aircrew Flight Equipment Has Aircrew's Six DVIDS // Jan. 26, 2014 Without the work of the six airmen, who run the C-130J Aircrew Flight Equipment shop 24 hours a day at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, C-130 pilots and aircrew would not be able to support Operation Enduring Freedom with aeromedical evacuations, cargo and troop transportation and strategic airlift capabilities. 16 SOS Moving Forward AFSOC.AF.mil // Jan.

22, 2014 Heads turned when the bright blue and yellow “Fat Albert” made its appearance here; flying a little lower than they were used to seeing. One Million Hours for C-130J Credit: RAF Australian Air Force Oct. 20, 2013 Lockheed Martin’s Herculean effort to profit from defense spending - Salon.com Monday, Mar 11, 2013 12:10 PM UTC Lockheed Martin’s Herculean effort to profit from defense spending How the defense contractor profited from an aircraft (Credit: via Wikipedia) This piece originally appeared on TomDispatch . When I was a kid obsessed with military aircraft, I loved Chicago’s O’Hare airport. If I was lucky and scored a window seat, I might get to see a line of C-130 Hercules transport planes parked on the tarmac in front of the 928th Airlift Wing’s hangars. For a precious moment on takeoff or landing, I would have a chance to stare at those giant gray beasts with their snub noses and huge propellers until they passed from sight.

What I didn’t know then was why the Air Force Reserve, as well as the Air National Guard, had squadrons of these big planes eternally parked at O’Hare and many other airports and air stations around the country. It’s a tale made to order for this time of sequestration that makes a mockery of all the hyperbole about how any spending cuts will “hollow out” our forces and “devastate” our national security. Consider this a parable to help us see past the alarmist talking points issued by defense contractor lobbyists, the public relations teams they hire, and the think tanks they fund. It may help us see just how effective defense contractors are in growing their businesses, whatever the mood of the moment. Meet the Herk The C-130 Hercules is a mid-sized transport airplane designed to airlift people or cargo around a theater of operations. It dates back to the Korean War, when the Air Force decided that it needed a next generation (“NextGen”) transport plane. In 1951, it asked for designs, and Lockheed won the competition. The first C-130s were delivered three years after the war ended.

The C-130 Hercules, or Herk for short, isn’t a sexy plane. It hasn’t inspired hit Hollywood films, though it has prompted a few photo books, a beer , and a “ Robby the C-130 ” trilogy for children whose military parents are deployed. It has a fat sausage fuselage, that snub nose, overhead wings with two propellers each, and a big back gate that comes down to load and unload up to 21 tons of cargo. The Herk can land on short runways, even ones made of dirt or grass; it can airdrop parachutists or cargo; it can carry four drones under its wings; it can refuel aircraft; it can fight forest fires; it can morph into a frightening gunship. It’s big and strong and can do at least 12 types of labor — hence, Hercules. Too Much of a Good Thing Here’s where the story starts to get interesting. After 25 years, the Pentagon decided that it was well stocked with C-130s, so President Jimmy Carter’s administration stopped asking Congress for more of them. Lockheed was in trouble.

A few years earlier, the Air Force had started looking into replacing the Hercules with a new medium-sized transport plane that could handle really short runways, and Lockheed wasn’t selected as one of the finalists. Facing bankruptcy due to cost overruns and cancellations of programs, the company squeezed Uncle Sam for a bailout of around $1 billion in loan guarantees and other relief (which was unusual back then, as William Hartung points out his magisterial Prophets of War: Lockheed Martin and the Making of the Military-Industrial Complex ). Then a scandal exploded when it was revealed that Lockheed had proceeded to spend some $22 million of those funds in bribes to foreign officials to persuade them to buy its aircraft. This helped prompt Congress to pass the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. So what did Lockheed do about the fate of the C-130? It bypassed the Pentagon and went straight to Congress. Using a procedure known as a congressional “add-on” — that is, an earmark — Lockheed was able to sell the military another fleet of C-130s that it didn’t want. To be fair, the Air Force did request some C-130s.

Thanks to Senator John McCain, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) did a study of how many more C-130s the Air Force requested between 1978 and 1998. The answer: Five. How many did Congress add on? Two hundred and fifty-six . As Hartung commented , this must “surely [be] a record in pork-barrel politics.” Standard Operating Procedure Lockheed made this happen by putting its lobbyists to work. They focused on legislators in key committee positions and in states where Lockheed, like others in the defense industry, had strategically located their operations and subcontracts. The company poured millions of dollars into lobbying and political donations. Tracking lobbying is hard to do, but to give a sense of the scope of the numbers, Lockheed has reported $22,289,859 in political donations since 1990 and millions in lobbying expenses every year, peaking in 2008 at $16,181,506 , according to the Center for Responsive Politics. And that doesn’t include what it paid its PR people or the work of defense and aerospace industry advocacy groups or the think tanks those industries fund.

As an example of the latter, consider the boldly titled “research study,” C-130J: How the Best Military Aircraft Became Even Better , written by Lockheed consultant Loren Thompson and published by the Lexington Institute , which was founded by a Lockheed lobbyist. Of course, the puff piece mentions no affiliations with the company. For these reasons, Dina Rasor of the Project on Government Oversight, which ranks the company #1 on its Federal Contractor Misconduct Database , calls Lockheed “the ultimate pay-to-play contractor.” Most of the dollars the company spends on lobbying are tax dollars. According to its 2011 annual report , “82% of our $46.5 billion in net sales were from the U.S. Government, including 61% from the Department of Defense.” And don’t forget that a significant part of the 17% of its sales that went to international customers in 2011 were actually paid for by Uncle Sam under the rubric of foreign military aid. Only 1% of its sales that year were to “U.S.

commercial and other customers.” Its CEO made $20,538,981 , while the company paid only $722 million in net federal and foreign taxes in that same year. When it came to the C-130, the process worked like a dream. “By following this strategy from year to year,” writes a team of scholars of lobbying, “Lockheed has been able to turn what was to be the C-130’s doom in the 1970s into a regularly funded military spending program, all without a single request having been sent by the administration to Congress.” Lockheed was so successful on Capitol Hill that its work even garnered a name in honor of the 50 planes bought for every one requested: “C-130 math.” John McCain complained that “we’re going to have a C-130 for every schoolyard in America before this is over.” The “add-on” legislators were unabashed. Senator Max Cleland of Georgia — where Lockheed assembles the C-130 — responded , “I’m for schoolyards being able to be moved anywhere in the world on a moment’s notice.” I felt that way, too — when I was five.

How to Win Friends in the States and Influence People in Congress So what happened to those extra planes? The Air Force didn’t have the space for them, so they retired some older models that still had plenty of life in them and shunted most of the rest off to the Air Force Reserves and Air National Guard. That’s why I used to see them at O’Hare. The reason I usually saw them parked in front of the hangars is that sufficient operating and maintenance funds didn’t always come with the planes, which mattered even more after Lockheed introduced a new version, the C-130J Super Hercules, in the mid-1990s. The Air Force’s approach of passing unwanted Herks off to the Air Guard and Reserves worked out nicely for Lockheed. The company allied with Air Guard and reservist advocacy groups to lobby Congress further. In an era of base closures, heavily lobbied governors would use the arrival of new planes to argue for the continuing life of bases in their states. In turn, states and their congressional delegations would fight to get new planes or hang onto existing ones. It was a veritable Lockheed feedback loop.

Washington Post reporter Walter Pincus quoted a Pentagon official as seeing C-130 politics as a twist on the old military-industrial complex: “a triangle of the Guard, Lockheed, and politicians.” The result: the military was often prevented from retiring the oldest Herks, the ones that really needed to be put out to pasture. For example, as Pincus reported, the Joint Chiefs and the Air Force concluded in 1996 that they had 50 more C-130s than they needed, but Congress stymied efforts to retire any of them. One tactic used was to hold nominees hostage: a Kentucky senator repeatedly held up Air Force promotions until four Kentucky Air Guard C-130s were taken off the chopping block. And it hasn’t ended yet. In its FY2013 budget, the Pentagon planned to retire 65 older C-130s to save a little money. However, National Guard groups successfully mobilized state governors and congressional delegations from states like Alaska to, in the words of Alaska Senator Mark Begich “ fight this action every step of the way.” Congress managed to save all of them for a year, and half of them permanently.

The Not-So-Super Hercules, or the Program That Just Won’t Die Air Force attempts to replace the C-130 with a new generation of transport planes also have a habit of dying or getting rerouted. The Herk’s turf has generally proved remarkably sacrosanct. The “Advanced Medium STOL” (short takeoff and landing) program of the 1970s, for instance, fizzled , possibly due to Lockheed’s lobbying. The competing C-27J is being cancelled in favor of more C-130s. The C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP), which in a surprise move was handed to competitor Boeing — as one of several gifts from a senior Pentagon procurement official shortly before she took a high-paying job there (en route to prison) — is being cancelled , too.

(Though a new congressional C-130 Modernization Caucus spawned by Boeing and led by the congressman in whose district the AMP’s training program is located, is doing its best to cancel the cancellation.) Knowing that it could keep the C-130 alive through congressional add-ons and foreign sales well into the future, Lockheed took the unusual step of developing the next generation of the plane without new funding from the Pentagon. It invested $1 billion of its profits from government contracts in the new C-130J Super Hercules. This has kept the factory in Marietta, Georgia, humming, and with over 2,400 C-130s already built, Lockheed calls it “the longest continuously operating military aircraft production line in history .” Humming, yes, but not always in tune. The C-130J has been plagued by problems. In 2004, after the military had acquired 50 of the planes, the Pentagon’s Inspector General found that, even while the Air Force and Congress kept ordering more of the planes, they didn’t meet contracted standards. The weather chasers couldn’t chase storms because propellers would crack in bad weather.

The military wouldn’t use C-130Js for air drops in Iraq or Afghanistan because they didn’t think they were safe. “The design of the C-130J is not stable and the C-130J aircraft has not passed operational testing,” the Inspector General concluded. It “is not operationally effective or suitable.” To fix these problems, the unit cost rapidly ran up to $81 million per plane . The problems proved so daunting that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld axed the C-130J program in 2005 — or tried to . For the lobbyists and the plane’s fans in Congress, it was once more unto the breach. Lockheed also got help on the inside. The Air Force made up some numbers indicating that it would be far more expensive to cancel the program than to just keep buying — overstating the possible cancellation cost by at least $1.1 billion . In the end, Rumsfeld surrendered . In 2006, in a relatively rare step, the Pentagon forced Lockheed to take a hit on its profits and negotiate a new contract reducing the sticker price of the planes by several million dollars. But that didn’t last long.

The unit cost soon bounced back; the basic C-130J now costs $93.6 million . When it comes to military contracting like this, it doesn’t seem to matter which party occupies the White House or controls Congress. It doesn’t even seem to matter how many planes the Air Force puts on its additional “unfunded” wish list beyond the Pentagon’s official request, because Congress so often buys more. Sure, some years Congress doesn’t provide. In 2010, the Air Force asked for 12 Herks in its main request and put two more on its unfunded wish list, yet Congress only gave it six . And sometimes money is pushed around from one year to another or from one bucket to another, making it challenging to track through the intentionally hard-to-understand (and not even auditable ) Pentagon labyrinth . At the present time, the military is asking both for more standard C-130Js (to replace old or heavily used Herks) and for new AC-130 gunships as well as Special Operations MC-130 variants on the plane in the questionable belief that these will be “invaluable” for fighting insurgents and terrorists.

This means that the abolition of earmarks isn’t all that big a deal for Lockheed. But that doesn’t stop it. Even with the threat of sequestration looming, and the Pentagon asking for seven new Herks in 2013, the House still inserted funding for 14 . What will happen in this year’s request? We don’t know yet, because it’s late in coming thanks to sequestration. But Lockheed isn’t worried: even while threatening sequestration layoffs, the company forecasts record profits this year. And why should it worry? As of last October, it had contracts to build 337 more Herks for the Pentagon and a variety of foreign countries. In November, it scored the program’s biggest foreign military sale ever, $6.7 billion to build 25 of the planes for the Royal Saudi Air Force. It has three NextGen models in the works, including a wider version (suitably named the XL) to carry oversized new Army equipment. And with the Air Force starting to think about replacing the C-130 (again), Lockheed has already secured a spot as one of the two companies developing prototypes for that future plane with its nifty “ Speed Agile ” design.

Besides, judging by the Pentagon’s ongoing experiences with Lockheed’s F-22 and F-35 advanced fighters, whose costs have hit the stratosphere, any next generation “trash hauler” is bound to carry a strikingly higher initial sticker price than the C-130J — and that, of course, is before the inevitable cost upticks begin. Out the Window C-130s have a special place in my heart. The first military aircraft I got to ride in was a Coast Guard Herk. An Air Force C-130 got me out of Iraq. Now that the 928th Airlift Wing is no more, I get a little wistful when I fly through Chicago and all I see out the window are private cargo hangars. Or at least I did before I wrote this story. But not to worry. There are plenty of other airports around the country with excess C-130s just sitting out there on the tarmac, gathering dust. To stay on top of important articles like these, sign up to receive the latest updates from TomDispatch.com here . Jeremiah Goulka writes about American politics and culture.

His most recent work has been published in the American Prospect and Salon. Building The C-130J – Jonesblog Building The C-130J Lockheed Martin invited me down to Marietta, Georgia to have a look at the production line of the C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft a little while ago. Having flown on and crawled through the bones of older C-130s as well as seen the repair and refurbishment of C-130s up at Hill AFB , I eagerly accepted the offer wanting to see what had changed on an aircraft that almost did not get made were it not for Lockheed privately investing over $1 Billion on their own without a government contract. The basic C-130 design goes back to 1951 with the first flight in 1953, a schedule that I suspect could simply not be matched these days. The fact that the design is still in production makes it the only military aircraft in the world to be continuously produced by the same company for over 50 years.

Though, saying that the C-130J is like the original C-130 is like comparing a 2012 Porsche 911 with a 1953 Porsche 356 . The basic layout is the same, but everything else is completely different. The C-130 was originally conceived as a troop and cargo transport aircraft, but has seen service as a search and rescue platform, aerial refueling, special operations derivatives designed for communication access, interference and delivery, other special operations derivatives designed to serve as aerial artillery platforms, Other versions still are used for weather reconnaissance, atmospheric research, aerial mapping (I’ve hung out of the back of one C-130 making photos of the Earth below), remote sensing and firefighting. There is even a direct action modification used by the Marine Corps called Harvest Hawk . The aircraft is in service with over 60 nations worldwide symbolized by the line of flags of customer nations on the production floor of the building.

C-130Js are now flown by the United States Air Force and Air National Guard , the United States Marine Corps , and United States Coast Guard ; and by the governments and military of Australia, Britain, Canada, Denmark, India, Israel, Italy, Iraq, Norway, Oman, Qatar, South Korea and Tunisia. I have to also say something about the building where the C-130J is finally assembled… The building itself at Dobbins Air Reserve Base , is *HUGE*. Its one of the biggest buildings I’ve ever been in and has a long history, notably being used to produce Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers in WWII. Given its size, one might assume that the entire plane was built here, but a large number of components for the aircraft are actually fabricated and sourced from all over the United States and even the world. Some components are fabricated in Pinellas Park, Florida while much of the fuselage is fabricated in Meridian, Mississippi along with the cargo floor. Many of the sheet metal components are supplied from Johnstown, Pennsylvania with other subassemblies like the rear cargo ramp are sourced from Clarksburg, West Virginia while the tail assembly seen above is made in Nashville, Tennessee.

Forward fuselage components and the cockpits are constructed here at Marietta on jigs designed to speed assembly while maintaining precision. The new C-130J is designed to reduce manning and be operated by two pilots and a loadmaster rather than the two pilots, flight engineer and loadmaster previously required. The flight deck is all new with digital avionics and mission dedicated computers that allow instrument only cargo drops with AN/APN-241 radar providing high resolution imagery and ground mapping capability. There is a sophisticated, enhanced cargo handling system as well designed to speed cargo loading and unloading, though a new lower cost model, the C-130XJ does without the cargo handling system for a substantial reduction in unit cost. All other features and performance for this model remains the same. The landing gears are made in Canada and are designed to facilitate rough field or unimproved landing conditions. Though I’ve only flown on C-130s that have made landings on pavement, I’ve seen footage of some rough field landings of the C-130 and its impressive that these landing gears can take that kind of abuse, particularly when loaded with cargo.

Final assembly really is a beautiful thing as these planes get their wings and engines. The engines are Rolls Royce AE2100D3 turboprops generating 4,700 horsepower each and made in the UK. They are fitted with 6-blade Dowty all composite propellers also made in the U.K. The engines and propellers are largely responsible for the increase in performance of the J model (29% more thrust with 15% more efficiency), but also important are many structural weight saving uses of composites. In these assembly pictures, anything on the skin or control surfaces you see in black is a carbon fiber composite made in Australia. The new C-130, despite being a far more capable aircraft than its predecessor is designed to be more affordable for its customers with a total cost of ownership that is substantially reduced in the C-130J, reducing by increasing fuel efficiency, reducing manning and cutting by more than half the number of maintenance hours per flight hour. On top of that, Lockheed is secretly hoping that the newer lower cost model, the C-130XJ will help preserve some market share against the potential competition from other manufacturers.

The length of time this design has been around truly is amazing, but one still gets the feeling that this plane is absolutely modern. The new cockpit, quieter engines and substantially increased performance help out, so I’ll have to find an opportunity to go along for a ride on a new C-130J and see what has changed from the passengers perspective since the older C-130H that I last had the pleasure to travel in. Throwback: The USAF Marathon's featured planes since 1997 Throwback: The USAF Marathon's featured planes since 1997 By: Vivienne Machi, Staff Writer Sure, the annual United States Air Force Marathon draws tens of thousands of runners from all over the country to Wright Patterson Air Force base, and they all deserve our heartfelt admiration for the immense time and effort they put into those long miles. But let's talk now about the other big stars of the Marathon's show, the impressive and oftentimes intimidating featured planes that, over the years, have reflected the Air Force's changing military tactics and strategies. Check out each year's featured plane, from 2014 back to the inaugural marathon in 1997.

2014: The F-35A Lightning II The F-35A Lightning II. Photo source: Dayton Daily News archives According to the United States Air Force Marathon website, the 2014 featured plane is the U.S. Air Force's latest fifth generation fighter. While still undergoing final development and testing, the Lockheed Martin stealth fighter is designed for ground attack, aerial reconnaissance and air defense missions. It will replace the U.S. Air Force's fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons and A-10 Thunderbolt II's, the primary fighter aircraft for over 20 years. Look for F-35s in movies like Superman Returns, Live Free or Die Hard, The Avengers, and Man of Steel. 2013: The C-130J Super Hercules The C-130J Super Hercules. Photo source: Lockheed Martin Considered one of the most advanced tactical airlifters worldwide, this latest model of the C-130 (the longest continuously produced military aircraft, according to Lockheed Martin) is agile and rugged, able to work on missions for humanitarian relief, to surveillance, to refueling, to recovery and delivery.

Spot one in the James Bond film The Living Daylights, as well as in Transformers, Olympus Has Fallen, and Lone Survivor. 2012: The B-2 Spirit The B-2 Spirit. TY GREENLEES / STAFF The Northrop B-2 Spirit, aka the Stealth Bomber, not only casts an iconic shadow against the skyline, but is capable of all-altitude attack missions up to 50,000 feet and can deliver both conventional and nuclear munitions. Did you spot it in the 2002 film version of Tom Clancy's The Sum of All Fears? 2011: The B-1B Lancer The B-1B Lancer. TY GREENLEES / STAFF This strategic bomber has been in service since 1986, and "is the backbone of America's long-range bomber force," according to the United States Air Force Marathon website. It's affectionately (or perhaps not) nicknamed the "Bone," originally from "B-One." 2010: The B-52 The B-52. Photo contributed by the United States Air Force.

Yes, you know that song from that band, but more than any '80s dance tune, the B-52 Stratofortress has been the iconic, dependable mainstay for our country's manned strategic bomber force, capable of carrying up to 70,000 lbs. of weapons. First introduced in 1955 and in service ever since, it's expected to serve into the 2040s. You can't miss talk of the B-52 in Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove. 2009: The RQ-4 Global Hawk The RQ-4 Global Hawk. Photo source: Dayton Daily News Archives This unmanned aircraft, the featured plane for the 2009 Marathon, is used in a variety of surveillance missions, allowing more precise weapons targeting and better protection of friendly forces, according to the United States Air Force. 2008: The F-22 Raptor The F-22 Raptor. TY GREENLEES / STAFF You probably recognize this one the best; the F-22 Raptor plays an enormous role as one of the U.S. Air Force's main stealth air fighters, with near unprecedented air combat capabilities.

It's made movie appearances in 2003's Hulk, Transformers, and Iron Man. 2007: The C-5 Galaxy The C-5 Galaxy. TY GREENLEES / STAFF For the United States Air Force's 60th anniversary year, the C-5 Galaxy was introduced to the Marathon crowd. In service since 1970, it's one of the largest military aircraft in the world, and carries all air-certifiable cargo along with outsize and oversize loads all around the world. 2006: The A-10 Thunderbolt II Two A-10 Thunderbolt II aircrafts. Photo source: DDN Archives 2006 marked the 25th anniversary of the A-10's initial deployment, according to the U.S. Air Force Marathon's website. The only USAF aircraft designed solely for close air support, it received its popular nickname "Warthog" from its pilots and crews. You can spot it in films like Jarhead, Transformers, Terminator Salvation and Man of Steel. 2005: The U-2 Dragon Lady The U-2 Dragon Lady.

Photo source: DDN Archives 2005 marked the 50th anniversary of the U-2, which has been used for high-altitude reconnaissance in the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis and more. It's only one of a few aircrafts that have served the U.S. Air Force for over 50 years. 2004: The F-117A Nighthawk The F-117A Nighthawk. TY GREENLEES / STAFF This distinctive-looking stealth attack plane operated for over 20 years before being retired in 2008 ahead of the new F-22 Raptors. It played a huge role in the Gulf War of 1991, and you've probably seen it on the Omaha Nighthawks' football logo. 2003: The B-2 Spirit The B-2 Spirit. TY GREENLEES / STAFF See year 2012 above. Still cuts a great silhouette from every angle. 2002: The F-15E Strike Eagle Col. Mark Larsen after flying an F-15E Strike Eagle, in the background.

TY GREENLEES / STAFF This multi-role F-15 fighter has been deployed for many military operations since its introduction in 1988, mostly carrying out strikes against high-value targets, combat air patrols, and providing close air support for coalition troops. The "E" model, a variant of the F-15 Eagle which carries only air-to-air combat responsibility. 2001: N/A A September 11, 2001, NEVER FORGET, Ceremonial program was held at Butler Tech, Friday, Sept. 11, 2015. GREG LYNCH / STAFF The 2001 USAF Marathon was canceled in remembrance of those who lost their lives 11 days before the marathon was to take place. The B-1B Lancer was scheduled to be featured. 2000: The F-16 Fighting Falcon The F-16 Fighting Falcon.

NICK GRAHAM / STAFF Though the F-16's official name is "Fighting Falcon," its notable shape has led to many of its pilots calling it "Viper." The F-16 is used for air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attacks, according to the USAF Marathon website. 1999: The C-17 Globemaster III The C-17 Globemaster III. LISA POWELL / STAFF One of the U.S. Air Force's cargo aircraft, the C-17 often transports troops and cargo, and assists with medical evacuation, airdrops and tactical airlift. 1998: The F-22 Raptor The F-22 Raptor. TY GREENLEES / STAFF See year 2008. This shot from the 2008 Dayton Vectren Air Show displays the craft's large weapons bay. 1997: The Wright 1909 Military Flyer The Wright 1909 Military Flyer. Photo source: The United States Air Force Museum For the USAF Marathon's inaugural year, what better aircraft to feature than the one that started it all?

The Wright Brothers conceived of and built the original military aircraft right here in the Miami Valley.

Question: What Lockheed plane model is claimed to be the longest continuously produced military aircraft in history (at 2013)?
Answer: Hercules