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C-130 Aircraft Database

Airframe Details for C-130 #3878

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C-130 Aircraft Profile

Aircraft: 3878
LM Aero T/V 3878
Plant Lockheed Marietta Plant
Local C/N
Delivered USNavy 151891
C-130G
Current USNavy 151891
TC-130G
Status [pre]
This bird was used for retransmitting vlf signals to the Polaris class subs for the so called failsafe system during the cold war. It was in Pago Pago spying on the French when they tested nuclear devices and transmitting signals to see if nuclear blasts would degrade the US signals.


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Aircraft History

Date Status Local S/N Airforce/Unit Version Name Info
Unknown [act] 151891 C-130G
May 1966 [con] 151891 EC-130G
Converted to EC-130G
Unknown [act] 151891 USNavy VQ-3 EC-130G
Unknown [act] 151891 USNavy VQ-4 EC-130G
Unknown [act] 151891 EC-130G
Anti-magnetic testing at Kirtland AFB.
Unknown [act] 151891 USNavy NATC EC-130G
Aug 1981 [act] 151891 EC-130Q
EC-130Q test bed.
May 1990 [act] 151891 TC-130G
Redesignated TC-130G
Unknown [act] 151891 USNavy Blue Angels TC-130G
Special characteristics:
  • Display team: Blue Angels
Blue Angles Fat Albert from 1991 to 1997. During part of 1997, the aircraft was extensively overhauled. It rejoined the Blue Angles later in 1997 and 163310 was borrowed during this time from VMGR-234. The aircraft was retired to the museum at Pensacola shortly after the Blue Angles homecoming show on September 8th and 9th, 2002.
08 Nov 2002 [pre] 151891 TC-130G
USN Museum at NAS Pensicola.


Abbreviations and symbols:
[act] Active [i/a] Instructional Airframe [sto] Stored (e.g. at AMARG)
[cld] Cancelled Order [msh] Involved in Mishap [w/o] Write-off
[con] Converted [o/o] On Order
[des] Destroyed (drone) [pre] Preserved (museum, gateguard) T/V LM Aero Type/Version (Construction) number
[emb] Embargoed [scr] Scrapped Photo Available
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